Saints center Olin Kreutz has left the team because he has lost his passion for the game of football, leaving a hole in middle of New Orleans' offensive line. "He loves the games," said his agent, Mark Bartelstein. "He has to love the game. He just hasn't been feeling it." The Saints will place Kreutz on the left-team list and then eventually release him. By doing that, the team will be able to get out of the guaranteed portion of his contract. Kreutz has been battling a sprain of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. "He called me on Monday and Tuesday and said, 'I don't know if I can keep on doing this,'" Bartelstein said on "The Waddle and Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000 in Chicago. "Went in and talked to (coach) Sean Payton and (general manager) Mickey Loomis and expressed it to them. They tried to talk him out of it. They wanted him to stay and he actually thought he was going to give it another whirl and called yesterday and said, 'I just know, it's not in my heart. I'm not going to keep collecting a check if I know deep inside me I can't bring what I need to bring to play every week.'" Bartelstein said that Kreutz will not retire immediately. "We're not going to file anything right now," he said. "I just never think it makes sense to do that right away. He's going to step back and spend time with his family. My guess is I'm not sure he'll play again, but we'll see. The Saints made it clear that if he changed his mind, they'd love to have him come back. But knowing Olin and the way he handles himself, I don't think that's going to happen, but we'll see." Source: ESPN
Time for Matt Tenent to step up and show why the Saints thought so highly of him. Either him or that De la Puente guy. If Olin's heart isn't in it then he should retire.
This is sad...in the middle of the FREAKING season, just retire at the beginning of the year or play the whole year through this is freaking goobered...however if you have no passion for the game you should retire but this just leaves your team scrambling to figure out a replacement plan, thats selfish to me, just finish out the year...
And some people actually criticized the Bears for letting Olin walk...hell, even Mike Wilbon today on PTI was still raging about the Bears letting him go. Olin hasn't been playing worth a crap for years now.
Chicago should have never let him walk...PERIOD!! He always said he wanted to retire in a Bears uniform and after many years of faithful service they should have let him do just that. I honestly think he's still upset that he exited the Bears organization the way he was forced to. Olin Kreutz is nothing but a class act and if he wasn't feeling it anymore in a Saints uniform then who are we to say otherwise. He is sorely missed on the Bears offensive line and would be a welcome addition if the Saints release him and he comes back to Chicago.
Actually the Saints had their best running days with De la Puenta at center. Olin was hurt and was playing hurt. I love what he said. "I don't want to just show up and collect a paycheck". That is a fresh breath of air.
He was hurt those two games. If your knees are hurt it is hard to play center and be effective. Maybe when his knees heal up more and he wants to play he can come back. He hasn't retired yet so maybe that is what will happen. Also, I am sure he is set financially so he may want to get out while he can still walk. Smart man.
Yeah...so it's a bunch of crap...I'd be willing to bet he is still butthurt about not being in Chicago... I can respect the guys actions here.
