10 NFL Players Who Should Retire

SRW · Apr 8, 2008

10-pack: Players who should retire
By: Mike Florio, Sporting News

As we have now evolved from continuously wondering whether Brett Favre will retire to continuously wondering whether he will stay retired, allow me to say this: He should stay retired. If he cant make up his mind as to whether he wants to play football, then he should yield his roster spot to someone else. Theres no angsting in football.

While Im on the topic of players who should stay retired (or who are retired and who should shut up, like Mercury Morris), lets take a look at 10 current players who should retire. (Shutting up would be optional, but nevertheless appreciated.)
1. Jason Taylor, DE, Miami Dolphins: By skipping a big chunk of the offseason workout program so he could cut a rug in a dancing competition aimed at reviving the careers of has beens or kick-starting the show business runs of wannabes, Taylor is making it known that his passion for football has waned. Unless, of course, he cant parlay his twice-per-week exposure on national television into something that pays better. He still has the physical tools to play in the NFL, but football isnt really a priority for him anymore. If it were, hed save the Fred Astaire routine for later.

2. Zach Thomas, ILB, Dallas Cowboys: Im not a neurologist (and have not played one on television or stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night, or ever). The fact that being in a fender-bender caused Thomas to develop post-concussion syndrome tells me he has had his brain box busted a few times too many. Maybe he should be the one Dancing with the Starsits a better outcome than regularly seeing them. (New Orleans Saints middle linebacker Dan Morgan and St. Louis Rams quarterback Trent Green fall into this category as well, but without the fender-bender. It would have been easy to make them No. 3 and No. 4 on the list with See Zach Thomas as the explanation, but I get paid by the word. Yes. I do. By the word. Punctuation. Too.)

3. Michael Strahan, DE, New York Giants: Last year, Strahan wanted more money. When he didnt get it, he stayed away from training camp as he contemplated retirement, which most folks interpreted to mean, hoped for more money or a trade to a contender. The irony is he ended up playing for a legitimate contender and landing an unlikely Super Bowl trophy. Strahans best move would be to get out while hes still reasonably healthy and parlay that title into a media career that would instantly eclipse the well-engineered (but poorly executed) post-football endeavors of former teammate/nemesis Tiki Barber.

4. Brad Johnson, QB, Dallas Cowboys: With Vinny Testaverde finally packing it in, Johnson now is the official over-the-hill quarterback with the arm strength of a Tyrannosaurus. Johnson was dreadful in his final season as a starter with the Minnesota Vikings; if Tony Romo ever gets hurt, the team facing the Cowboys can confidently replace its safeties with nose tackles.

5. Byron Leftwich, QB, free agent: I actually feel bad for Leftwich. After four NFL seasons, Leftwich was abruptly dumped by the Jacksonville Jaguars in favor of a career backup who now has pocketed a big-money contract. Leftwich, meanwhile, was deemed to be not good enough for the quarterback-starved Atlanta Falcons and still is waiting for the phone to ring. He should exercise what little remaining control he has over his life by ripping the phone out of the wall. Permanently.

6. Jonathan Ogden, OT, Ravens: Ogden is another guy who should quit talking about retirement and just do it. For the future Hall of Famer, however, its not about whether he loves the game. Its about whether he can continue to use a constantly injured toe to push off his 345-pound frame. (Then again, its likely the toe is constantly injured from all those years of doing just that.)

7. Orlando Pace, OT, Rams: Although the first overall pick in the 1997 draft hasnt mused about calling it quits, he should. As the cornerstone of St. Louis offensive line, Pace has been too injured far too often. The Rams can no longer rely on him, and Pace can no longer rely on his body. The team might give him a nudge in a few weeks by drafting Michigans Jake Long. If Pace doesnt take the hint, the smarter move might be to move him to right tackle and treat any game in which hes actually able to play like a $20 bill found in an old pair of stone-washed jeans.

8. Chad Johnson, WR, Bengals: In a misguided effort to get out of town, the Bengals No. 1 wideout has been threatening to retire. Coach Marvin Lewis has called his bluff. Johnson should call Marvins bluff and pack it in. Not because its in Johnsons best long-term interests to do so, but because the football-following world is sick of listening to his routine. The only problem is someone would likely hire Johnson to talk about football on television. So maybe its better if he doesnt retire. Ever.

9. Troy Brown, WR, free agent: Brown is a legend in New England, but the Patriots arent interested in bringing him back for another year. Arguably, however, Brown has been on scholarship for several seasons; he has started only 12 games in four years. Last month, Brown visited the Jets. Sure, hes free to go where he wants, but why taint his legacy in Boston to spend another season riding the pine? He has as much of a claim to the launch of the Pats dynasty as does Tom Brady or Adam Vinatieri. If Brown finishes his career in another helmet, the memory of Pats fans regarding this specific point could fade a bit.

10. Matt Jones, WR, Jaguars: Three years ago, Jones created a huge buzz in the days leading up to the draft. Chris Mortensen of ESPN sang Jones praises, predicting hed qualify for more Pro Bowls than pretty much any of the rest of the skill-position players taken in Round 1. But in his third yearthe one in which receivers are supposed to break outJones had a career low in catches (24) and yards (317). Although he still has the physical tools to remain in the NFL for several more years, the reality is that Jones, by all appearances, doesnt care. And if he doesnt care, he should quit. There are too many guys with less natural ability, but loads more desire and heart.

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Crowned · Apr 8, 2008

If Brett Favre wasn't retired I'd hope he'd be on this list.

ball in the baskett · Apr 8, 2008

If chad johnson retired would the bengal still have rights to him if he wanted to come back?

Ridin Burgundy · Apr 8, 2008

Why the hell would Leftwich or Jones retire? What else would they do? Even though they won't be starting they can still get jobs somewhere and Jones still has the potential to make him self a starter.

86WARD · Apr 8, 2008

This is a silly list. I realize it is tongue in cheek, at least I hope it is, but Troy Brown is really the only player on that list that should retire. Maybe the list should be titled "10 players that should 'go away.'"

I'm sure we at GIF could come up with a better 10 for retirement. Starting with I don't know, maybe.........VINNY TESTAVERDE???

Ridin Burgundy · Apr 8, 2008

86WARD said: ↑

This is a silly list. I realize it is tongue in cheek, at least I hope it is, but Troy Brown is really the only player on that list that should retire. Maybe the list should be titled "10 players that should 'go away.'"

I'm sure we at GIF could come up with a better 10 for retirement. Starting with I don't know, maybe.........VINNY TESTAVERDE???
Click to expand...

Yeah it does kinda look like a joke but its pretty stupid anyway.

86WARD · Apr 8, 2008

Agree!

dolphindude13 · Apr 8, 2008

I agree with Zach Thomas, Brad Johnson and Troy Brown......the rest are still capable of playing some good to very good football. Leftwich......I don't know.....Taylor and Strahan are still premier DE's, Pace and Ogden are still damn good T's when healthy and Chad Johnson, love him or hate him is still one of the best WR's in the game. Bullcrap list imo.

nastynate184 · Apr 8, 2008

the list is pretty crappy but i really agree that it is time for Brad Johnson to call it quits. he has his super bowl ring just get out

86WARD · Apr 8, 2008

I think Brad Johnson is servicable...

ball in the baskett · Apr 8, 2008

Strahan will probably come back but he should retire.

Jammin Jaguar · Apr 8, 2008

Chad Johnson, Matt Jones and Byron Leftwich... :rofl:

spent · Apr 8, 2008

yall make me wonder about Brad now....always liked the guy, and the ring ;)

Bulluck53 · Apr 8, 2008

Steve McNair

dolphindude13 · Apr 8, 2008

Damn, didn't even think of Mccnair......he definitely needs to hang em up.

86WARD · Apr 8, 2008

Rod Smith.

dolphindude13 · Apr 8, 2008

^yep......Joey Porter

Stillelman · Apr 8, 2008

86WARD said: ↑

Rod Smith.
Click to expand...

Yes, and McNair.

Bulluck53 · Apr 8, 2008

Eric Moulds as well.... and probably Keyshawn. He will never admit he sucks though.

Inclulbus · Apr 8, 2008

Bulluck53 said: ↑

Eric Moulds as well.... and probably Keyshawn. He will never admit he sucks though.
Click to expand...

key's been retired?

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10 NFL Players Who Should Retire

SRW Ex-World's Worst Site Admin

Crowned Doesn't give a shit.

ball in the baskett First Team All Pro

Ridin Burgundy on the Magic Bandwagon

86WARD -

Ridin Burgundy on the Magic Bandwagon

86WARD -

dolphindude13 Jack Of All Trades

nastynate184 Fuck Michigan

86WARD -

ball in the baskett First Team All Pro

Jammin Jaguar English Student.

spent TSZ Groupie

Bulluck53 NFL-Fans

dolphindude13 Jack Of All Trades

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Stillelman Mommy told me I'm special

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Inclulbus WE ARE! .. Marshall!

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