pghrob
Footballguy
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/sfl-channing-crowder-retires-miami-dolphins-11,0,1276501.story
CHANNING CROWDER RETIRES FROM NFL
Former Miami Dolphins LB Channing Crowder announces retirement
By Keven Lerner
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
6:34 PM CDT, August 9, 2011
Veteran linebacker Channing Crowder, who was released by the Miami Dolphins less than two weeks ago, announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday.
Crowder made the announcement on The Sid Rosenberg Show on Miami-based radio station WQAM (560-AM).
"I know I can still play football, but I'm hanging it up," Crowder said. "I woke up and saw my pregnant wife and all the teams that were talking to me and I said, 'I don't want to do it.' "
Crowder, who worked out for the New England Patriots last week, was released by the Dolphins following the team's first practice of training camp.
Crowder, 27, said in addition to talking with the Patriots, he also received interest from the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears.
"It was weird when I went up to New England and was walking through the Patriots' lockerroom," Crowder told WQAM. "[Patriots left tackle] Matt Light came up to talk to me and guys I've hated for so long. It was just weird. I played for the Dolphins for six years, so I only played for one team. After hating other teams for so long, it felt so funny. I was just sitting there thinking about free agency and I said, 'I don't want to do it.' "
Crowder, known for his trash-talking on the field, is best remembered by Patriots fans for getting into a fight with Light during a game in 2008, one that led to a memorable hair-pulling incident, shouting match and ejection.
See photos of Crowder's fight with Light by clicking here.
Crowder, who was slated to make $2.5 million in 2011, the final year of a contract he signed in 2008, said he is financially stable having saved "most of his money."
Crowder, the Dolphins' third-round pick out of the University of Florida in 2005, is the son of former Dolphins defensive lineman Randy Crowder.
During his six seasons with the Dolphins, Crowder tallied 469 tackles (343 solo), but he only produced 2.5 sacks and one interception.
Crowder has missed 14 games the past four years nursing a handful of leg and groin injuries. Last season he missed the first five games of the season because of a groin injury, but when he returned the Dolphins defense tightened, becoming one of the NFL's best at stopping the run.
To replace Crowder, the Dolphins signed veteran linebacker Kevin Burnett to a four-year deal.
Burnett, a second-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2005, spent four seasons with the Cowboys as a reserve and the past two seasons with the San Diego Chargers. He started seven games in 2009 and all 16 games last year, when he had 80 tackles, six sacks and two interceptions.
Copyright © 2011, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
CHANNING CROWDER RETIRES FROM NFL
Former Miami Dolphins LB Channing Crowder announces retirement
By Keven Lerner
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
6:34 PM CDT, August 9, 2011
Veteran linebacker Channing Crowder, who was released by the Miami Dolphins less than two weeks ago, announced his retirement from the NFL on Tuesday.
Crowder made the announcement on The Sid Rosenberg Show on Miami-based radio station WQAM (560-AM).
"I know I can still play football, but I'm hanging it up," Crowder said. "I woke up and saw my pregnant wife and all the teams that were talking to me and I said, 'I don't want to do it.' "
Crowder, who worked out for the New England Patriots last week, was released by the Dolphins following the team's first practice of training camp.
Crowder, 27, said in addition to talking with the Patriots, he also received interest from the Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears.
"It was weird when I went up to New England and was walking through the Patriots' lockerroom," Crowder told WQAM. "[Patriots left tackle] Matt Light came up to talk to me and guys I've hated for so long. It was just weird. I played for the Dolphins for six years, so I only played for one team. After hating other teams for so long, it felt so funny. I was just sitting there thinking about free agency and I said, 'I don't want to do it.' "
Crowder, known for his trash-talking on the field, is best remembered by Patriots fans for getting into a fight with Light during a game in 2008, one that led to a memorable hair-pulling incident, shouting match and ejection.
See photos of Crowder's fight with Light by clicking here.
Crowder, who was slated to make $2.5 million in 2011, the final year of a contract he signed in 2008, said he is financially stable having saved "most of his money."
Crowder, the Dolphins' third-round pick out of the University of Florida in 2005, is the son of former Dolphins defensive lineman Randy Crowder.
During his six seasons with the Dolphins, Crowder tallied 469 tackles (343 solo), but he only produced 2.5 sacks and one interception.
Crowder has missed 14 games the past four years nursing a handful of leg and groin injuries. Last season he missed the first five games of the season because of a groin injury, but when he returned the Dolphins defense tightened, becoming one of the NFL's best at stopping the run.
To replace Crowder, the Dolphins signed veteran linebacker Kevin Burnett to a four-year deal.
Burnett, a second-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2005, spent four seasons with the Cowboys as a reserve and the past two seasons with the San Diego Chargers. He started seven games in 2009 and all 16 games last year, when he had 80 tackles, six sacks and two interceptions.
Copyright © 2011, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
I'm sure most men would love to retire before the age of 30 to spend time with their family and pursue whatever catches their fancy.
