Jason Hatcher Comments on Retirement After Redskins' Loss to Packers

Washington defensive end Jason Hatcher said he is contemplating retirement after his team's Wild Card Round loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, per Rich Tandler of CSNMidAtlantic.com.

“I've been thinking lately about this being my last year, you know, retiring,” Hatcher said. “One thing I've got to pray about. [General manager Scot McCloughan] said he wanted me around.”

The 33-year-old Hatcher spent eight years with the Dallas Cowboys before signing with Washington prior to the 2014 season. His numbers have been down since an 11-sack campaign in 2013—totaling just 7.5 sacks since—but as Tandler noted, he was one of Washington's best players this year when it came to putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Hatcher sounded like someone who is wrestling with a hard life decision.

"I still love the game, I've just got to pray about it and see what my family said about it,” he said, per Tandler. "[McCloughan's] a great guy, I'm glad I met him. He believed in me as a leader and as a player. It's hard to not come back. But at the same time I've got to do what's best for me and the family."

Hatcher continued his praise of McCloughan, per Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post:

The former Grambling State Tigers star has two years left on his contract, which is set to pay him another $13.5 million. In the end, that might be hard to walk away from, especially considering it looks as though Washington has some pieces in place that could help it compete in the NFC East again next season.

McCloughan earned respect from his peers in his first season while helping turn around a franchise known for making poor roster moves. It sounds as though he'll sit down with Hatcher and try to talk him into playing at least one more season.