23 NFL Players Who Should Retire Before Things Get Ugly

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Each player reaches this certain point of their career; a time where they should question their ability to still perform at a high level. 

The players that I have listed here, some of them definitely should retire, and some should definitely consider hanging up the cleats for good, before it gets ugly. 

Here are 23 players that should retire before things get ugly. 

Adam "Pacman" Jones

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How is Pacman Jones still in the league? He's been involved in several off-the-field issues, with two of them resulting in a full-year suspension in 2007 and for a part in the 2008 season.

Jones is currently under contract with the Cincinnati Bengals with just one year remaining on his deal. He signed with the Bengals in 2010 but only five games with the team and recorded just one interception. 

There's definitely still talent there, but Jones simply doesn't get it and is the scum of the NFL. 

Chad Pennington

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Poor, Chad Pennington—he can never stay healthy. 

The 35-year-old has only played four games over the course of the last two seasons with the Miami Dolphins; it's almost like Pennington is constructed out of paper. 

Pennington has had several shoulder surgeries and most recently suffered a torn ACL while playing a pick-up-game this summer. 

If Pennington wants to be able to walk and move his shoulders when he's 50 years old, he should give it up while he's still ahead in the health department. 

Adam Vinatieri

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Adam Vinatieri will be remembered as one of the most clutch kickers in NFL history, but at 38 years old, he needs to consider hanging up the cleats for good. 

Vinatieri has never had a strong leg, and as he's gotten older, his leg has only gotten weaker and weaker. 

Ever since joining the Indianapolis Colts in 2006, Vinatieri has only made a little more than 90 percent of his kicks. 

Clinton Portis

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Can Clinton Portis ever stay healthy? I mean, when he is healthy, he's one of the league's best running backs. 

Portis has managed to only play 13 games over the past two seasons with the Redskins and is now currently a free agent. 

You may look at Portis and say that he's not too old. However, at 29-years-old, his time in the NFL is limited, as we all know that running back's shelf-lives aren't very long. 

Lofa Tatupu

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Lofa Tatupu has been on a downhill slide for the past couple of seasons. In fact, it's been so bad that he was released by the Seattle Seahawks earlier this offseason.

Tatupu is currently a free agent, and there have been no concrete reports of any NFL team showing any interest in his services.

The 28-year-old should be entering the prime of his career, but his production has been average at best since 2008. 

Austin Collie

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Over the course of Austin Collie's young NFL career, he's suffered two major concussions—both of them occurring in 2010. 

Collie is a young and promising wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts, as he's reeled in 118 balls and 15 touchdowns in his first two years in the league but needs to consider taking a step away from football.

Collie needs to realize how serious head injuries are and that he should not put himself out there for further harm. 

LaDainian Tomlinson

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Is it safe to say that LaDainian Tomlinson is old and washed up? If it isn't, it's getting awfully close.

LT's first year with the New York Jets may appear to be a successful one on paper, but if you take a look at his game-by-game stats, he ran out of gas fast. 

Tomlinson started off fast with the Jets but failed to gain more than 60 yards from Week 6 on. 

LT is by far the greatest running back of the past five years, but it's time for him to hang it up before he embarrasses himself. 

Ty Warren

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Can Ty Warren ever stay healthy?

Just about a week after the New England Patriots cut ties with Warren, he suffered a tear in his triceps which could sideline him for the entire season with the Denver Broncos and could possibly end his career in the NFL.

Warren hasn't played since 2009 and will likely not be able to play again until 2012—don't you think that he should just try golfing as a retired football player? 

Donovan McNabb

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2011 is make it or break it time for Donovan McNabb. 

After McNabb's terrible and embarrassing one-year stint with the Washington Redskins, he was quickly shipped off to Minnesota to be the starter until rookie Christian Ponder is ready to take control of the franchise. 

Is this the way that McNabb really wants to go out, simply a bridge to another quarterback? I highly doubt that. 

Tiki Barber

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Tiki Barber's recent stint in the NFL needs to end immediately, before any team even thinks about offering him a contract.

Barber hasn't played since 2006—that's a five-year layoff, fans. 

Barber ended on a stellar note, as he ran for 1,662 yards, but does he really want to come back just to embarrass himself? 

Terrell Owens

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This one is definitely up for debate. 

Should Terrell Owens retire or try to comeback after his ACL surgery this past offseason? 

T.O. is 37 years old and will be turning 38 by the end of this year; I'm not too sure that he has anything left in his tank.

Owens' 2010 with the Cincinnati Bengals managed to see him have a rather productive season: 72 receptions, 983 yards and nine touchdowns. 

Who knows iIf T.O. will be able to return with a fully-healed ACL, but I'd definitely recommend taking a break from the NFL, before he potentially embarrasses himself after such a spectacular career. 

JaMarcus Russell

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Did you know that JaMarcus Russell has't officially retired and is still a free agent? 

Wouldn't you say that he should just run away from the sport as far as possible and never come back? I think so. 

Russell will go down as one of the biggest busts in NFL history, hands down. Whether it was his drug abuse or his inability to mature as an NFL quarterback, he simply never applied his endless talents to the game. 

Please do not attempt a comeback, JaMarcus. 

Matt Leinart

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Matt Leinart may never be a starter in the NFL ever again. 

Leinart had his chance in Arizona but never matured and dedicated himself to the sport. 

Now as a backup quarterback in Houston, Leinart has played in only 29 games and has a passer rating of 70.8—nothing but awful. 

Leinart should retire and try joining the UFL or even the CFL, where he could be a starting quarterback. 

Vince Young

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I can honesty look at Vince Young and just label him an absolute joke. He's laughable. 

I realize that suicide is not a laughing matter, as it's reported that Young was at one point, and that is not the reason why he's laughable. 

Young is a joke of a quarterback—he doesn't really have that great of an arm, he has a quirky throwing motion and cannot read defenses accordingly. All in all, he's awful.

Now, as a backup to Michael Vick in Philadelphia, V.Y. take the money this season and run. 

Ryan Diem

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Ryan Diem is nothing but an ineffective offensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts. 

In 2010, Diem found a way to allow six sacks on his way to his worst season in the NFL.

However, according to recent reports, Diem may have found new life as he's been practicing at right guard. 

Mark Brunell

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Is it just me, or does Mark Brunell looks to be just tagging along for the ride as Mark Sanchez' back-up in New York? 

The 40-year-old quarterback has had a solid career in the NFL but definitely needs to retire ASAP. At such an old age in the NFL, he's almost laughable. 

Brunell is doing nothing but taking away practice reps from younger guys that could actually use them. 

Dallas Clark

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Believe it or not, things for Dallas Clark could start to get ugly in the near future. 

Clark suffered a season-ending wrist injury in 2010, after playing just six games.

There's no doubt that Clark is one of the great tight ends in NFL history, but who knows if his injury will effective his ability to perform at a high level. 

T.J. Houshmandzadeh

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Let's take a good, hard look at T.J. Houshmandzadeh: He's turning 34 years old next month and is coming off a non-productive season with the Baltimore Ravens.

In fact, Houshmandzadeh has been getting progressively worse ever since 2007. 

Houshmandzadeh still remains a free agent, and I highly doubt any team wants him. 

Just retire already. 

Carson Palmer

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Enough playing games, Carson, just retire already—it's clear that the Cincinnati Bengals are not going to trade you. 

In fact, Palmer should consider retirement, as he's gotten worse and worse over the past five years. In 2005, Palmer posted a 101.1 quarterback rating, in 2010, Palmer manged to put up an 82.4. 

It's time to hang up the cleats. 

Derek Anderson

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After a rather impressive stint with the Cleveland Browns, Derek Anderson has been nothing but a terrible quarterback ever since.

Anderson was simply awful in 2010 for the Arizona Cardinals, as he completed 51.7 percent of his passes while being intercepted 10 times.

Perhaps, it's already gotten ugly for Derek Anderson. 

Hank Baskett

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Believe it or not, the 28-year-old Hank Baskett is still hanging around—but he's now a member of the Virginia Destroyers in the UFL, but still hasn't filed any retirement papers in the NFL. 

Let's take a look at Baskett's stats: Over the course of two seasons, Baskett has played in only 20 games and only recorded six receptions. 

It's almost like he's invisible. 

Hines Ward

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I can't believe that I'm saying this, but Hines Ward needs to consider retirement. 

2010 was one of the worst seasons in Ward's illustrious 13-year career as he snagged 59 passes for five touchdowns. 

Don't get me wrong, at 35 years old, Ward is an amazing talent, but he's showing signs of slowing down.

I just hope that he doesn't try to play forever and just end up embarrassing himself. 

Shawne Merriman

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Get out of the league, Shawne Merriman. You are a joke and a proven performance enhancing drug user. 

Merriman was suspended for testing positive for steroids back in 2006, and ever since then, the three-time All-Pro sack machine has only tallied up 18.5 sacks in a five-year span. Yikes! 

Now as a member of the lowly Buffalo Bills, Merriman is going to be almost ineffective but should at least sell a few jerseys in the city of Buffalo. 

There's no reason why a proven steroid user should be in the NFL.