5 NFL Players and Teams Who Quit on the 2012 Season

There are players and teams across the NFL who flat out quit on the 2012 season. While the league's best were preparing for postseason play, these guys headed in the opposite direction.

Some barely even got the motor started, while others waited until the homestretch before giving up.

Teams like the Detroit Lions and New York Jets are obvious culprits, but who else is guilty?

Let's take a look at five players and teams who quit on the 2012 season. 

5. Detroit Lions

There has been one story surrounding the Detroit Lions in the last few weeks, and that has been the record-breaking play of wide receiver Calvin Johnson.

However, hidden beneath that tale of excellence is the terrible play of the actual team. After beginning the season 4-4, Detroit lost its final eight games. The Lions often found themselves with fourth-quarter leads before falling apart in the final minutes.

One mark of a good team is the ability to finish close contests. Detroit does not possess such a talent. From Matthew Stafford's poor excuse for mechanics to Jim Schwartz's inconsistencies on the sidelines, nothing went right for the Lions in the latter portion of the season.

4. Justin Tuck

Can you quit on a season if you never really started?

That seems to be the case with Justin Tuck of the New York Giants. Tuck managed just four sacks and 45 total tackles on the year.

He had only one sack in his final six games and was not the force that the Giants have become accustomed to having rush off the edge.

These numbers are similar to the 37 tackles and five sacks he posted last year. Where is the double-digit presence that Tuck consistently displayed prior to last season?

In his place is a player who seems to have quit trying.

3. San Diego Chargers

There is a reason fans have clamored for Norv Turner to be fired for years. 2012 was just another reason to think the Turner/Philip Rivers era needs to end.

After starting off a respectable 3-1 and looking like a team that would finally live up to its potential, the Chargers collapsed. It is something that has become expected under Turner, but it is still frustrating to see a team with so much talent fail so badly.

San Diego went through a stretch where it won just one of eight games, and Rivers regressed to the tune of 15 interceptions and under 4,000 yards passing.

The Chargers ranked in the bottom third of the league in both passing and rushing. San Diego quit on the 2012 season, and it is time the organization finally quits on Turner.

2. Ben Roethlisberger

Ben Roethlisberger returning from injury was supposed to boost the Pittsburgh Steelers into the AFC playoff race. Instead, "Big Ben" was a huge factor in keeping the Steelers out of the postseason.

Perhaps it was his clear disdain for offensive coordinator Todd Haley, but nothing seemed to click as Pittsburgh ultimately lost five of its last seven games.

Roethlisberger himself had the following to say about the collapse, per triblive.com:

"

Fourth-quarter drives, last-minute throws, not making it happen. I guess my best answer to you is I didn't play well enough.

"

The Steelers often collapsed late in games, especially against the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys. Would the team have been better off with Charlie Batch under center? Obviously not, but Roethlisberger did little to put the Steelers in a position to win.

1. New York Jets

Yes, the New York Jets are on this list, but instead of focusing on a certain backup quarterback, let's take a look at the guys that were actually on the field.

I would have said "the guys who actually contributed," but no one contributed much this season. QB Mark Sanchez was able to throw just 13 touchdowns compared to 17 interceptions and refused to show any signs of growth or development.

The defense looked completely lost without Darrelle Revis shutting down half the field and was unable to carry the team like in seasons past. Rex Ryan and the coaching staff fell under heavy scrutiny, and Shonn Greene again averaged under four yards per carry.

There are pieces in place in New York, but nothing works when those pieces collectively quit toward the end of the season.