Steve Beurlein blasts Luck for retiring

[SmokinwithWilly]

I have a very physically demanding job, or should say had. I've had multiple broken bones, knee injuries, back injuries, and a few more minor. Every time I thought I was good to go back to the job I loved. I have had lingering doubts in my mind about whether or not I made the right decision to come back. This year, I sustained a relatively minor back injury that's lingered now for 4 months. I knew when it happened this was it. Something in the back of my mind told me I was done. I'm in physical therapy and doing rehab but I dont have the same passion to return to my job as I used to. It's now time to move on.

I'm not going to blame him for calling it quits when he did. None of us know his mindset, but no matter what your age, there is a time when you know you're done with certain things in your life. He's made his millions and can walk away and live a happy life. Good for him. At the end of the day, it's a game and if he doesnt want to risk permanent disability any more, so be it. 

That said, he should have to return his bonus prorated. 

[Sgt Schultz]

After his injury history, how could the Colts have not been thinking that the Luck era might not last forever?   How can that question not be asked by the team after years of injuries.  The list I find is:

» Torn cartilage in 2 ribs
» partially torn abdomen
» a lacerated kidney that left him peeing blood
» at least 1 concussion
» a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder
» a calf/ankle issue 

The last one sounds the least serious, but it apparently wasn't getting any better.

I don't begrudge anybody retiring from the game early, while they can still walk away.  I'm not so sure Luck is walking, though. I do agree, he should have to return the prorated part of his bonus. 

As for the Colts, they should have been looking at possible replacements based on the injury history.  The same thing applies to the Panthers.  The worst that happens is you manage to draft a keeper and your rain maker is fine.  Then you parlay the keeper into draft picks or a needed starter somewhere else and start the process all over again.  We know how QB needy teams will overcompensate to get a promising QB. The Pats have been playing that game with their backups for years, even some that went on to be duds.

Point is, if an idiot like me can figure this out, how could the Colts not? 

I know, one word: Irsay.

 

[MHS831]

We can only go on what we know.  To walk away from your life's work and leave millions on the table is not an easy decision. 

Tell me, what would anyone have said to Darryl Stingly if he retired the game before he was hit by the Raiders' Jack Tatem? 

For you youngsters:

 

[Toomers]

7 minutes ago, MHS831 said:

We can only go on what we know.  To walk away from your life's work and leave millions on the table is not an easy decision. 

Tell me, what would anyone have said to Darryl Stingly if he retired the game before he was hit by the Raiders' Jack Tatem? 

For you youngsters:

 

  Still remember asking my Dad “why isn’t he moving”. I can’t watch now. 

[MHS831]

Just now, Toomers said:

  Still remember asking my Dad “why isn’t he moving”. I can’t watch now. 

It was horrible.  I watched films of it.  I hated it for Tatem as well.  My point--obviously, with nearly all players who have died recently being found to have some degree of CTE, I would not feel any obligation to the fans etc. if something triggered that fear in me.

[Anybodyhome]

"Reich told me Luck’s latest injury, to his left calf, was “like child’s play” compared to his return after all his shoulder issues. But in the days after Luck talked to me in training camp, he felt more pain in rehab. Further examination revealed a more extensive and slightly mysterious injury stretching from the calf to his ankle. There would be no quick fix. More rehab, and a good chance he’d either have to play hobbled, and in significant pain, if he played at the start of the season. And if he didn’t play to start the season, he’d be a question mark hovering over the franchise, as he’d been in 2015 (shoulder injury, fractured ribs, kidney laceration), 2016 (played through shoulder pain all year), 2017 (missed the year after labrum surgery) and the off-season and training camp of 2018 (shoulder soreness). Then four months of feeling good and playing great. Then, when he ramped up workouts for 2019, last March, this calf/ankle thing appeared and just wouldn’t go away."

Put it this way: For about 42 of the last 47 months, dating back to the original shoulder injury in September 2015, football meant pain to Andrew Luck. Not joy. Pain. As Luck described Saturday night: “It’s been unceasing, unrelenting, both in-season and off-season … Taken the joy out of the game. And after 2016, when I played in pain and was unable to regularly practice, I made a vow to myself that I will not go down that path again.”

https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/08/26/fmia-andrew-luck-the-colts-and-the-retirement-that-rocked-nfls-world/

Guy walked when he is still able to walk. He's got a family, a life and football was simply a game which provided a means.

[332nd]

Meh... If the Colts felt his rehab wasn't going as well as they liked they could release him with far less notice, & it would be called a business decision.

He owes them only what they owe him.

[LinvilleGorge]

Here is why I find it difficult to fault a player for doing what's best for himself with little to no regard for the team.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/clay-matthews-packers-told-no-151159141.html

The Packers tossed out their all-time sack leader like yesterday's garbage.

[rippadonn]

1 hour ago, SmokinwithWilly said:

I have a very physically demanding job, or should say had. I've had multiple broken bones, knee injuries, back injuries, and a few more minor. Every time I thought I was good to go back to the job I loved. I have had lingering doubts in my mind about whether or not I made the right decision to come back. This year, I sustained a relatively minor back injury that's lingered now for 4 months. I knew when it happened this was it. Something in the back of my mind told me I was done. I'm in physical therapy and doing rehab but I dont have the same passion to return to my job as I used to. It's now time to move on.

I'm not going to blame him for calling it quits when he did. None of us know his mindset, but no matter what your age, there is a time when you know you're done with certain things in your life. He's made his millions and can walk away and live a happy life. Good for him. At the end of the day, it's a game and if he doesnt want to risk permanent disability any more, so be it. 

That said, he should have to return his bonus prorated. 

Thanks for sharing.

[Ricky Spanish]

1 hour ago, pantherclaw said:

 this is the point that I made in this thread it's still is my opinion. Nowhere in my post did I say that he doesn't have the right to make a decision for what's best in his life. No where am I calling him soft. The NFL is not a sport for the weak. It definitely chewed him up and spit him out.  It's quite unfortunate, but it also happens.  He could have handled this better. 

I know it's extremely unpopular in this day and age for anybody to put anything above themselves.  

It could be argued he's putting his family and their future ahead of himself. 

Sacrifice your body, your life expectancy, potentially your brain for a few million more dollars, or retire now completely comfortably and spend time watching your family grow with fewer lasting health issues.

I know what I'd pick 10 out of 10 times. 

 

[PghPanther]

His timing is bad (unless it was a medical issue)..............but for someone with brains to do something else in life other than run and jump around with a ball I salute him for getting out of that kind of lifestyle..........more than a few ex pro ball players have told me in confidence you have to be certifiably out of your mind to play this game.......

[raz]

he's getting to keep the signing bonus because the colts mis-diagnosed his shoulder to the point of provable malpractice.  how much any of you think that shoulder was worth?  more than 25 mil i can guarantee that.   

he also let them know during the shoulder rehab he may retire.   

his injuries have all taken longer to heal than the normal athlete.  something about his genetic makeup. 

dude can't play anymore or dude would play.   his punter said earlier in his career he didn't know he could demand a better line, that he had clout.  he was too nice.  he had no vets to learn how to be off the field with management, as a franchise qb.   they cost him his career with those lines.  they got him killed.  there is no debating that.   

he can't play, so your point about bad timing is literally non-consequential.  he wouldn't have played this entire year. he's hurt.

[tiger7_88]

7 hours ago, The Huddler said:

i like he got a free 25 million dollars that the colts ARENT making him pay back

Is your profile pic Roger Waters? 

[L-TownCat]

I’m all for walking away when you want.  I still support Luck’s ultimate decision.

However;

it being revealed he spent a whole week and a half pondering such a huge decision that directly effects dozens and indirectly thousands, I have to agree with Steve here.  It’s a bad look.