N/S: All Retirement Team (1 Viewer)

[El Caliente]

I completely forgot, or was unaware that half of these guys retired this offseason. Good for them, and here's to their health.

2016 NFL all-retirement team - players who retired, Calvin Johnson of Detroit Lions, Marshawn Lynch of Seattle Seahawks

 

[jayd265]

and while not official, more than likely colston soon

 

[CountWhoDat]

Maybe recency bias affects my judgment here, but it seems that more guys are hanging up the cleats early in their careers since the long-term effects of playing football became widely acknowledged and accepted. This has to cause concern for the long-term survival of the sport.

 

[TheRealJRad]

That's pretty amazing.

 

[superchuck500]

Maybe recency bias affects my judgment here, but it seems that more guys are hanging up the cleats early in their careers since the long-term effects of playing football became widely acknowledged and accepted. This has to cause concern for the long-term survival of the sport.

It's absolutely true that more players now are choosing retirement earlier these days and they are citing the desire to maintain their health as the primary motivation.

That said, I don't think it's (yet) cause for concern. It still isn't that common (most players retire after a typical career or because they aren't making rosters anymore . . . not because they leave the game for health reasons). And some guys going six seasons instead of nine or 10, with a steady supply of eager young players of high caliber isn't likely to really impact the viability of the league. I don't think that will really happen until top caliber players are regularly choosing other sports or simply to not play in the league. And as long as the league is making the money it is making to pay the player salaries it is paying, that isn't terribly likely over the short or even medium term IMO.

 

[St. Geezy]

I wonder how many of these are retirements or truly "I'm retired until the last week or two of training camp."

 

[IceHot]

It's absolutely true that more players now are choosing retirement earlier these days and they are citing the desire to maintain their health as the primary motivation.

True.

Some of those guys are wrapping up rather lengthy careers.
Woodson - 18
Peyton - 17
Peanut - 13
Jared Allen - 12
Heath - 11
Mankins -11
Tuck - 11
Jennings - 10
Ferguson -10
Docket - 10

This will be one more reason to refrain from proclaiming somebody an HoF lock. With only 5 spots a year the voting will just get tighter. You easily have 8 or 9 guys on that list with semifinalist/finalist credentials.