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Ryan Kalil........to the.........................Jets

ncfan

By ncfan,
in Carolina Panthers

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JARROD Contributor

JARROD

Posted
Posted

Let’s not get all sour grapes. He retired, we brought in a starting center and Ryan decided to play. Unless he did some crazy Kosar or Mark Brunelle level stupidity with his money he’s fine there, just missed the routine. Going from the high strung brotherhood environment to doing whatever you want is tough for most, especially if they don’t have a plan for what comes next.

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ladypanther Grand Master

ladypanther

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Quote

 

"I want to apologize to anybody publicly or behind closed doors that I criticized for retiring and then coming back," he said with a smile. "I totally understand it now. I totally get it."

Kalil, who retired after 12 seasons with the Carolina Panthers, pulled a Brett Favre, saying he missed football and decided to make a comeback when the Jets reached out before training camp.

"I had a hard time moving on, I had a hard time turning the page," the five-time Pro Bowl center said. "I think most players go through this, but especially coming off 2018. [I was] healthy, feeling great, feeling spry. I just felt like I had more football in me."

Kalil, 34, didn't feel that way before the 2018 season, when he was coming off an injury-plagued year and declared 2018 would be his final season. After his final game last season, he returned to his home in Southern California and "started living the beach life."

By March, he had the football itch and started lifting weights. By late May, he was running at 6 a.m. at his alma mater, USC.

The Jets were in the market for an experienced center, in part to help continue Sam Darnold's development at quarterback. General manager Joe Douglas, in his first significant player acquisition, convinced Kalil the Jets were the right team for him.

"It was a unique opportunity with an unbelievable person and player," Douglas said. "I can't tell you how excited I am that he chose to be here."

 

On Thursday, Kalil agreed to an $8.4 million contract, including incentives. Now the question is, how long will it take him to get in football shape? The Jets are planning to slow-play it, giving him ample time to get ready for the regular season. Coach Adam Gase said they still haven't mapped out a specific plan.

"I feel like I'm in great shape," said Kalil, whose weight is back up to 297 after dropping as low as 260 during the offseason. "Football shape, I'm going to need a little time for that."

Kalil didn't make an impulsive decision to return. He talked to several former teammates, including Jake Delhomme, Greg Olsen, Christian McCaffrey and Luke Kuechly, and Panthers coach Ron Rivera.

"I'm sure people are mad at me in Carolina and rightfully so, but I love that place," said Kalil, who was a free agent after the season.

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/27315948/jets-c-kalil-had-hard-moving-nfl

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Woodie Newbie

Woodie

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Posted

Why all the hate? 

The guy gave his all to this team and the Charlotte community, but decided to hang it up when his body started to fail him.  We brought in his replacement, then he started to feel better physically and realized he wasn't mentally ready to give up on one of the biggest and most important parts of his life for almost 30 years.  There wasn't anything here for him anymore, so he had to start looking outside the Panthers for an opportunity to play and start.

This is a guy that deserves to be celebrated, not vilified and mocked.

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