Breaking - Andrew Luck to retire (1 Viewer)

[Dr. Octopus]

Not really, but I don't consider him very good behind the mic either. 

Well at least you gave him a chance based on watching his many years behind the mic and weren’t  soley basing it on the fact you find other men much more attractive than him.

 

[ConnSKINS26]

Disgusting to see how some Colts fans are acting around the internet after almost two decades of back-to-back Manning and Luck. The entitlement is absurd. 

 

[JohnnyU]

Disgusting to see how some Colts fans are acting around the internet after almost two decades of back-to-back Manning and Luck. The entitlement is absurd. 

No more so than 20 years of Tom Brady.

 

[Galileo]

With his education I would hope he goes a route that is far more important than staying in football.

He studied architectural design, so I guess there's that.

 

[ConnSKINS26]

No more so than 20 years of Tom Brady.

Don't even know what this means. And I'm not a Pats fan. 

 

[JohnnyU]

He studied architectural design, so I guess there's that.

Someone as smart as Luck can do almost anything he wants.  I don't think anyone is worried about Andrew Luck's post-football career.

 

[JohnnyU]

Don't even know what this means. And I'm not a Pats fan. 

Colts fans don't feel anymore entitled about Manning / Luck than Pats fans feel about Brady.  I think you know what I meant.

 

[Thunderlips]

the majority of guys in the nfl dont like playing football. 

If you had a physical job that you didnt like, you made $100 million and you kept getting hurt and having difficulties with recovering, wouldn't you eventually just say "why am I doing this!?!" and walk away? 

Rehab is terribly hard. I had heard he was not doing well with it. I dont blame him at all. It's not worth it and I'm surprised more athletes don't do this. instead they beat their bodies and brains into a pulp that doesnt get them past age 52.

Let's be honest... if any of you won the lottery and got 1/4 of what Luck has made, youd retire instantly!!!

I side with Luck in regards to him doing what he wants to do....but I think there's a lot of football fans out there who are disappointed with him who do physical jobs they don't like, don't make 100 million, do get hurt...or at the very least get significantly broken and worn down year after year....yet don't have a realistic option to say "why am I doing this?" and walk away. 

 

[Interseptopus]

I side with Luck in regards to him doing what he wants to do....but I think there's a lot of football fans out there who are disappointed with him who do physical jobs they don't like, don't make 100 million, do get hurt...or at the very least get significantly broken and worn down year after year....yet don't have a realistic option to say "why am I doing this?" and walk away. 

They might not be able to retire but there are many opportunities out there of alternative jobs 

 

[ConnSKINS26]

Colts fans don't feel anymore entitled about Manning / Luck than Pats fans feel about Brady.  I think you know what I meant.

I don't. 

My point was that they have been lucky enough to draft two franchise QBs in a row that most of the NFL would kill to have...20 straight years almost. And they're mad at the player for considering his own health instead of being mad at the team for shortening both men's careers with the Colts. 

The Patriots and their fans also got lucky with the drafting and developing of Brady...and then spent his entire career giving him what he needed to stay relatively healthy and successful.

So, no. I don't think you understand that the comparison isn't a good one. If this feels like "a death in the family" like you say and an opportunity squandered in the eyes of fans, then that blame needs to go where it belongs--on Irsay and Grigson, I guess. 

But being mad at Luck? That's pure childish entitlement. 

 

[sports_fan]

He studied architectural design, so I guess there's that.

Maybe he could build a statue of himself

 

[JohnnyU]

But being mad at Luck? That's pure childish entitlement. 

Perhaps, but at this point in time I'll give them a pass.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Too much emphasis on the money. Max Unger just did the same thing with the Saints, and regular role players do it all the time in the NFL. Sanders did it and Jim Brown did it.

 

[JohnnyU]

Too much emphasis on the money. Max Unger just did the same thing with the Saints, and regular role players do it all the time in the NFL. Sanders did it and James Brown did it.

But did they do it a week before the season starts?  Talk about a horrible blow to the Colts and their fans.  Again, good luck to #12 in his retirement, but just like any horrible news someone receives, they may react with anger, sadness, and shock over that news.  That is perfectly normal.

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

But did they do it a week before the season starts?  Talk about a horrible blow to the Colts and their fans.  Again, good luck to #12 in his retirement, but just like any horrible news someone receives, they may react with anger, sadness, and shock over that news.  That is perfectly normal.

I agree with the point about timing, but Colts fans should be angry at Grigson & Irsay. He’s been constantly lied to I’m guessing in terms of the help they would be getting him. The guy is likely demoralized and he knows he’s just going to get pounded again this season. I really hope some of that sports talk anger is reserved for them because they’ve wasted a franchise keystone, say what you will but the guy’s love of football is obviously gone.

 

[cobalt_27]

But did they do it a week before the season starts?  Talk about a horrible blow to the Colts and their fans.  Again, good luck to #12 in his retirement, but just like any horrible news someone receives, they may react with anger, sadness, and shock over that news.  That is perfectly normal.

Sure.  But, is it too much to ask Colts fans to have a little bit of decency, perspective, and humanity?  Treating Luck like that makes them nothing more than self-focused chumps.

 

[JohnnyU]

I agree with the point about timing, but Colts fans should be angry at Grigson & Irsay. He’s been constantly lied to I’m guessing in terms of the help they would be getting him. The guy is likely demoralized and he knows he’s just going to get pounded again this season. I really hope some of that sports talk anger is reserved for them because they’ve wasted a franchise keystone, say what you will but the guy’s love of football is obviously gone.

I can agree with you on Irsay and Grigson, but the Colts had one of the best OL last year and have been building it for two years and allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL last year.  So you're wrong about the pounding this season.

 

[JohnnyU]

Sure.  But, is it too much to ask Colts fans to have a little bit of decency, perspective, and humanity?  Treating Luck like that makes them nothing more than self-focused chumps.

Those who live in glass houses.... It is not abnormal to lash out when horrible news hits us.

 

[cobalt_27]

Those who live in glass houses.... It is not abnormal to lash out when horrible news hits us.

Speak for yourself.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

Well at least you gave him a chance based on watching his many years behind the mic and weren’t  soley basing it on the fact you find other men much more attractive than him.

Well let's face it, Luck is no dreamboat like Phil Simms.

 

[DropKick]

Gronk seemed like he had to put body parts back together after every tackle.

I can see a Frankenstein comp.

 

[The General]

Pretty spot on-

@mikefreemanNFL: Past decisions of the Colts to not draft any ####### linemen ruined one of the best quarterback prospects of his generation.

On top of that, the Indianapolis Colts organization have mismanaged Andrew Luck's injuries and recovery for four years. 

This debacle is entirely on the Colts brass, not Luck. They screwed him up. A better run team would have him on the field for many more seasons to come.

They didn't do him any favors for sure, much like the Seahawks with Wilson.

Luck also wasn't the smartest about avoiding unnecessary hits. He was trying to make tackles after picks IIRC, the one where he got his kidney lacerated he should have just slid. 

 

[cobalt_27]

Sorry, but the Colts fans have every right to be angry at this time.  I'm sure many Colts fans are heartbroken over this and to lash out at a football game with boos when you just heard the news is understandable.  The Colts are leaving Luck with a parting gift to not recoup the money they could, so, the Colts have closed the book on Luck and the fans will soon.   But today, and last night, it feels like a death in the family for Colts fans..

Yup.  And take note that, taking your analogy a step further, Colts booed the dead guy at his funeral.  Real ####### classy fans.

 

[cobalt_27]

I’m not a Patriots fan, but you’d NEVER see Foxboro rain down boos on Tom Brady for retiring, even if it was a day before the season started.  

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

I can agree with you on Irsay and Grigson, but the Colts had one of the best OL last year and have been building it for two years and allowed the fewest sacks in the NFL last year.  So you're wrong about the pounding this season.

That’s a fair point, I know the sack rate went way down. 

 

[Tau837]

I know, I said they would have to suck in 2020.  That would mean 2021 draft

Ah, I see. The way you wrote it was ambiguous and I read it as suck this year for Lawrence in 2020 draft. Carry on.

 

[Daywalker]

Wonder if allowing Luck to keep all of the signing bonus makes it easier for him to return in a few years.  Smart to not go after it in any regard if you want him back down the line.

 

[rascal]

I remember that indy/denver game several years ago.  He was just getting destroyed but somehow managed to keep making plays.  Players have to rely on themselves to do what is best. 

2015...lacerated kidney and torn abdomen.  Missed rest of the season.

 

[ghostguy123]

Wonder if allowing Luck to keep all of the signing bonus makes it easier for him to return in a few years.  Smart to not go after it in any regard if you want him back down the line.

Firm NO for me on this.

Wonder if waiting till now has anything to do with ticket sales.  Did waiting a few months make the organization more than 24 million?

 

[Tau837]

He’s been constantly lied to I’m guessing in terms of the help they would be getting him. The guy is likely demoralized and he knows he’s just going to get pounded again this season.

Is this a thing, that they haven't been giving him enough help? Over the past 4 drafts, they used 2 1st round picks and 1 2nd round pick to draft their 3 starting interior OL, and they also drafted 3 RBs and 3 WRs. In that same span, they signed free agents Ebron and Funchess, plus Glowinski, another OL starter. They also totally overhauled and improved the defense.

 

[JohnnyU]

Is this a thing, that they haven't been giving him enough help? Over the past 4 drafts, they used 2 1st round picks and 1 2nd round pick to draft their 3 starting interior OL, and they also drafted 3 RBs and 3 WRs. In that same span, they signed free agents Ebron and Funchess, plus Glowinski, another OL starter. They also totally overhauled and improved the defense.

Yes, the Colts had the best OL in the NFL last year, allowing the fewest sacks in the league.

 

[ConnSKINS26]

Is this a thing, that they haven't been giving him enough help? Over the past 4 drafts, they used 2 1st round picks and 1 2nd round pick to draft their 3 starting interior OL, and they also drafted 3 RBs and 3 WRs. In that same span, they signed free agents Ebron and Funchess, plus Glowinski, another OL starter. They also totally overhauled and improved the defense.

Yeah, the damage was already done by 2015/2016 though. It was malpractice, and they finally fired Grigson. But it was done and he's never been the same. 

 

[JohnnyU]

Yeah, the damage was already done bt 2015 though. It was malpractice, and they finally fired Grigson. But it was done and he's never been the same. 

Luck had a hell of a year last year.  I'm wondering if he had some kind of birth defect with his latest issue with his calf / ankle.

 

[ConnSKINS26]

Luck had a hell of a year last year.  I'm wondering if he had some kind of birth defect with his latest issue with his calf / ankle.

Sounds to me like he was in a dark place after all the early career injuries. It sounds like he believes if he had continued trying to play through the pain during the season he sat out, like he had in the past, he wouldn't have ended up marrying his wife because he'd have messed it up. He said that. That sounds to me like he hit some dark periods. Maybe it was a Favre-like pill issue, or maybe it was general mental health stuff. 

All speculation, but not hard to read between the lines. If he started sinking back into that hole this off-season, I could see that being a breaking point. 

 

[Tool]

Luck had a hell of a year last year.  I'm wondering if he had some kind of birth defect with his latest issue with his calf / ankle.

There was some talk of retirement before last year. At some point just became too much

 

[CletiusMaximus]

This issue has been covered many times throughout history in many different sports.

These are the rules:

1.  Everyone has a right to boo a player.

2.  Everyone has a right to say the people booing are ###holes.

3.  No one but the player and his close friends/family knows the reasons for his decision. No one else has any right to know anything about it.

4.  The player has an absolute right to make decisions regarding his career, based on whatever reasons are important to him.  He does not owe anyone anything other than what is specified in his employment contract.

 

[cobalt_27]

Birth defect?  How exactly would that work?  

 

[JohnnyU]

Birth defect?  How exactly would that work?  

There was rumors floating around here of a possible congenital  condition 

 

[JohnnyU]

Would Mr. Brett Favre please pickup a white courtesy phone, you have a call.

 

[cobalt_27]

There was rumors floating around here of a possible congenial condition 

Strictly speaking, congenital conditions <> birth defects.  Even so, the most parsimonious explanation is that an injury and rehab cascaded to another area.  And, even so, what does it matter?  Would you boo him with less vigor if it was a childhood condition?

 

[GroveDiesel]

I feel like there are some people getting off without any criticism here and IMO they should be criticized. The first is whoever leaked Luck's retirement to Schefter. That was an incredibly crappy and petty thing to do. There was zero reason to not just let Luck inform his teammates and go out the way he wanted. The disrespect in leaking the news to Schefter is disgusting.

Speaking of, I know it's his "job" and in today's world speed is everything, but Schefter breaking the news when he did was really crappy. That timing is what lead to the (presumably minority) of Colts fans to take the opportunity to boo him. It was tremendously disrespectful to Luck and reporting his retirement before Luck was ready to and before he had a chance to handle it the way he wanted treated Luck now better than Luck was treated by the Colts for most of his career and by the booing fans. To Schefter, Luck was just a piece of news, a "get", and reporting it first just another feather in his cap. There was zero humanity or care for Luck in doing what he did and I have lost a tremendous amount of respect for Schefter because of this. Reporters LOVE to write about how teams treat players like assets and chew them up and spit them out without any care for the people, but modern journalists do the same thing over and over again.

 

[JohnnyU]

Strictly speaking, congenital conditions <> birth defects.  Even so, the most parsimonious explanation is that an injury and rehab cascaded to another area.  And, even so, what does it matter?  Would you boo him with less vigor if it was a childhood condition?

I didn’t boo him, but I understand fan reactions to such horrible news while you’re at the game.  People react to horrible news in many ways at the time they receive it.  Anger and sadness are two of those reactions.

 

[ConnSKINS26]

I feel like there are some people getting off without any criticism here and IMO they should be criticized. The first is whoever leaked Luck's retirement to Schefter. That was an incredibly crappy and petty thing to do. There was zero reason to not just let Luck inform his teammates and go out the way he wanted. The disrespect in leaking the news to Schefter is disgusting.

Speaking of, I know it's his "job" and in today's world speed is everything, but Schefter breaking the news when he did was really crappy. That timing is what lead to the (presumably minority) of Colts fans to take the opportunity to boo him. It was tremendously disrespectful to Luck and reporting his retirement before Luck was ready to and before he had a chance to handle it the way he wanted treated Luck now better than Luck was treated by the Colts for most of his career and by the booing fans. To Schefter, Luck was just a piece of news, a "get", and reporting it first just another feather in his cap. There was zero humanity or care for Luck in doing what he did and I have lost a tremendous amount of respect for Schefter because of this. Reporters LOVE to write about how teams treat players like assets and chew them up and spit them out without any care for the people, but modern journalists do the same thing over and over again.

Dude, whoever leaked this wanted it leaked. That's the #######. If it wasn't Schefter it would be the first person to agree to report it. Schefter did his job and got the story of the year out of it. But someone would have reported it eventually. There was no holding it back once someone wanted to leak it. 

What's crazier is that there was one specific doosh connected to the Colts or Luck who for some reason wanted this story out early, and we'll never know who it was. 

 

[JohnnyU]

Strictly speaking, congenital conditions <> birth defects. 

con·gen·i·tal

/kənˈjenədl/

adjective

(of a disease or physical abnormality) present from birth.

 

[cobalt_27]

con·gen·i·tal

/kənˈjenədl/

adjective

(of a disease or physical abnormality) present from birth.

What's the defect?

What does it matter?

Would it make you boo Luck with less vigor?

And, this has nothing to do with stages of grief.  No other fans would do this to a guy as genuinely great as Luck and has given you far more than you've ever given him.  

 

[GroveDiesel]

Dude, whoever leaked this wanted it leaked. That's the #######. If it wasn't Schefter it would be the first person to agree to report it. Schefter did his job and got the story of the year out of it. But someone would have reported it eventually. There was no holding it back once someone wanted to leak it. 

What's crazier is that there was one specific doosh connected to the Colts or Luck who for some reason wanted this story out early, and we'll never know who it was. 

Yeah, someone else would have reported it and that person would have been the #####. There was a time when being the first to break a story wasn't looked at as the most important thing and reporters would respect the dignity of the people they were reporting on. The news was coming out eventually anyway and would have been announced today. This wasn't some crazy conspiracy, or cover-up, or some story that wouldn't have seen the light of day if not reported. And it wasn't a matter of urgency where it HAD to be reported right away to have value. Schefter reported it when he did simply to be the first so he can claim victory in that and be seen as a "breaking news" guy and he did it at a tremendous cost to Andrew Luck. 

Every reporter has a choice too make on when to report things. In fact, other reporters may very well have already known as well but made the choice to respect Luck enough to not report it. Sure, some slimeball reporter would have eventually "broke" it anyway, but in this case, Schefter played the role of slimeball.

 

[JohnnyU]

What's the defect?

What does it matter?

Would it make you boo Luck with less vigor?

And, this has nothing to do with stages of grief.  No other fans would do this to a guy as genuinely great as Luck and has given you far more than you've ever given him.  

Again, I didn’t boo Luck, but I understand the shock to the fans.  I’ll give the minority few who did boo a pass given the suddenness of the news while at the game,

 

[BassNBrew]

I feel like there are some people getting off without any criticism here and IMO they should be criticized. The first is whoever leaked Luck's retirement to Schefter. That was an incredibly crappy and petty thing to do. There was zero reason to not just let Luck inform his teammates and go out the way he wanted. The disrespect in leaking the news to Schefter is disgusting.

Speaking of, I know it's his "job" and in today's world speed is everything, but Schefter breaking the news when he did was really crappy. That timing is what lead to the (presumably minority) of Colts fans to take the opportunity to boo him. It was tremendously disrespectful to Luck and reporting his retirement before Luck was ready to and before he had a chance to handle it the way he wanted treated Luck now better than Luck was treated by the Colts for most of his career and by the booing fans. To Schefter, Luck was just a piece of news, a "get", and reporting it first just another feather in his cap. There was zero humanity or care for Luck in doing what he did and I have lost a tremendous amount of respect for Schefter because of this. Reporters LOVE to write about how teams treat players like assets and chew them up and spit them out without any care for the people, but modern journalists do the same thing over and over again.

I was thinking that at for about schefter but I’m sure the guys drafting in $200-$1000 entry leagues appreciated the news. 

 

[BassNBrew]

I feel like there are some people getting off without any criticism here and IMO they should be criticized. The first is whoever leaked Luck's retirement to Schefter. That was an incredibly crappy and petty thing to do. There was zero reason to not just let Luck inform his teammates and go out the way he wanted. The disrespect in leaking the news to Schefter is disgusting.

Speaking of, I know it's his "job" and in today's world speed is everything, but Schefter breaking the news when he did was really crappy. That timing is what lead to the (presumably minority) of Colts fans to take the opportunity to boo him. It was tremendously disrespectful to Luck and reporting his retirement before Luck was ready to and before he had a chance to handle it the way he wanted treated Luck now better than Luck was treated by the Colts for most of his career and by the booing fans. To Schefter, Luck was just a piece of news, a "get", and reporting it first just another feather in his cap. There was zero humanity or care for Luck in doing what he did and I have lost a tremendous amount of respect for Schefter because of this. Reporters LOVE to write about how teams treat players like assets and chew them up and spit them out without any care for the people, but modern journalists do the same thing over and over again.

I was thinking that at for about schefter but I’m sure the guys drafting in $200-$1000 entry leagues appreciated the news. 

 

[Neil Beaufort Zod]

Interesting that Luck and Gronk retired at the same age with completely different narratives and reactions.

Gronk retired at the best possible time for the Patriots -- before free agency, the draft, and everything else. They had all the time in the world to prepare for his 2019 departure. The Colts have a couple weeks to replace a more-important position than TE. 

I understand why the timing frustrates people. But these discussions could have gone in for a while between the player and the team. We're finding out now, but the team could have known for some time that this was a possibility.

Assuming the team had some knowledge of this decision ahead of time, it's just a situation that got worse over time. Couldn't be helped. If he sprung it on them out of nowhere, terrible timing and I don't think it was a respectful way to leave your team right before the season. But Luck doesn't seem to be a shady guy. He seemed earnest at his press conference, so I'll assume it's more likely the former. He probably kept holding out hope that things would change, but his mind and body weren't cooperating.