2012 NFL Free Agents: 8 Over-the-Hill Veterans Who Need to Call It Quits

Now that Brett Favre seemingly has actually retired forever, there is little drama centered around veteran NFL players toying with the thought of calling it quits.

Some guys have been in the league since the Clinton era, and they need to consider ending their playing days in the NFL.

Here are eight vets who should call it quits. 

Kerry Collins

Age: 39

Last season: 481 passing yards, 2 TD, 1 INT

Amazingly, Collins has started at least one game in each of his 17 NFL seasons. In 2011, he was the QB of record three times, but likely would have stayed retired if Peyton Manning had been healthy.

The only job he'll find next season is in a third string role, and while he's been a solid quarterback in the NFL, there won't be any possibilities for him to be a starter. 

Mark Brunell

Age: 41

Last Season: 1/3, 27 yards

Mark Sanchez may not be the Jets' franchise QB, but it's definitely not Mark Brunell. The 17-year vet hasn't made an impact since 2006, as he's thrown just 46 passes over the last five seasons.

Another solid starter way back when, but Brunell won't be a factor for any team and should call it quits. 

Jeff Garcia

Age: 41

Last season: no stats

Garcia hasn't thrown a pass since 2008 and has come to the end of the road in the NFL. The Texans picked him up last season due to QB injuries, but Garcia won't be contributing for any NFL team the rest of the way.

He had some exciting years in San Francisco, and he was good for a few teams in the league, but his playing days are surely over. 

Michael Bennett

Age: 33

Last season: no stats

Michael Bennett can pretty much call it a career in the NFL. The free-agent running back has just 32 carries since 2008 and didn't have a team to call home in 2011.

It remains to be seen whether Bennett will be picked up during the offseason, but it would be in his best interest to call it quits.

Kevin Faulk

Age: 35

Last season: 17 carries, 57 yards

Kevin Faulk has toyed with the notion of retiring, and he seems to be on the right track.

Faulk's role has severely diminished with the Patriots over the last two seasons, and the veteran wasn't even active for Super Bowl XLVI.

After 13 seasons in New England, the versatile back should call it a career.

Charlie Batch

Age: 37

Last season: 208 yards, 1 INT

Charlie Batch has been a dependable backup in Pittsburgh for years. And that's exactly the problem. He hasn't been a full-time starter since he left Detroit following the 2001 season, and at this point, a backup is all he'll be if he has a team to play for.

Billy Volek

Age: 35

Last season: no stats

Quarterback Billy Volek hasn't started an NFL game since 2005 and has thrown just one pass in the last two seasons. 

He's started 10 career games and won't be on any team's radar in need of a starter. He's thrown only 44 passes since arriving in San Diego in 2006 and likely won't see the field ever again.

Larry Johnson

Age: 32

Last season: 1 carry, 2 yards

Former Chiefs running back Larry Johnson has experienced a severe drop-off since his 2006 season, in which he ran for nearly 1,800 yards.

Injuries have played a factor in Johnson's decline, and he's bounced around the league in the last few years, racking up a whopping six totes in the last two seasons.

He's an over-the-hill running back and is unlikely to see any more success in the NFL.