10 Athletes Who Swear They Are Making a Comeback
Baron Davis joined the NBA D-League. Ilya Kovalchuk says he wants back in the NHL.
Will these retirees actually make waves on the comeback trail, though? It's not uncommon for athletes to ponder professional comebacks, but how often does it actually happen?
These guys have said they want to make it happen. Will they turn into success stories, a la Brazilian footballer Rivaldo? Or will they take back their musings, much like the 40-something retired boxer Oscar De La Hoya?
To be clear, pretty much any professional sports comeback attempt is a long shot. Still, some athletes on this list might actually get that shot; that is, some comeback mountains are shorter than others.
Read on for a status update and prediction on 10 possible comebacks. Each of the following athletes is either retired (officially or unofficially), has had trouble making a career stick to begin with or is Ray Rice.
Injury comebacks are excluded.
Honorable Mention: Ray Allen
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All-time NBA three-point leader Ray Allen gets an honorable mention because he hasn't exactly promised to make a professional comeback, but he hasn't ruled it out, either. The 40-year-old guard last played in 2014 for the Miami Heat.
In August, he told the Hartford Courant (via Justin Gloria of the International Business Times), "… I won't officially retire. Because if something came to the table, contractually and situationally, I want to be able to take a strong look at it. I don't want to be that guy that says he's retiring and then is coming back."
As recently as January, Ethan J. Skolnick of the Miami Herald reported the Heat are willing to take him back at any time. Skolnick noted Allen's famous conditioning as a reason a comeback might actually work, but he also cited conversations with other players, the gist of which were that Allen will remain retired.
Verdict: He could handle it but won't.
Honorable Mention: Randy Moss
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Randy Moss also gets an honorable mention because he hasn't sworn to return to the NFL, but he hasn't exactly closed the door on it, either.
The former NFL wide receiver burst onto the scene in 1998, catching a league-leading 17 touchdown passes his rookie season. He went on to become a prolific receiver, racking up 15,292 career yards, good for third on the all-time list.
Moss last played for the San Francisco 49ers in the 2012 season but posted just 434 yards. However, rumors began to surface in 2014 he would consider a comeback, and in August 2015, he teased on a Fox Sports broadcast he had "not lost the itch," per Chris Chase of USA Today's For the Win.
A Moss comeback, at age 38 or later, would be front-page news, but the All-Pro doesn't seem as serious as others on this list. Mike Florio of NBC Sports reported in November no teams had contacted Moss, nor had he reached out.
Verdict: There will be no Moss comeback.
Gilbert Arenas
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Gilbert Arenas played 11 seasons in the NBA, eight of them with the Washington Wizards. The three-time All-Star hasn't played since 2012, but he also hasn't officially retired. It's as though he has purposely left the door open.
Arenas spent some time playing in China and spoke of a comeback attempt in late 2013. In April 2014, he said on 106.7 The Fan, "I said I'm gonna give it one more chance," per Chris Lingebach of CBS DC.
It is almost two years later, however, and still no comeback. Fansided's Ben Mehic wrote, "Gilbert is 34 years old and is unofficially retired. He's played in China and failed to make an NBA comeback. At this point, his career is effectively over."
Verdict: Arenas is done playing in the NBA.
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Michael Sam
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In 2014, the St. Louis Rams drafted defensive end Michael Sam in the seventh round, but he was cut before the season began. He briefly joined the Dallas Cowboys practice squad and, also briefly, the Montreal Alouettes. He played in just one game for the CFL squad in August before taking a step away for personal reasons.
In January, he tweeted he is going to "give it one more shot." He also told Austin Kim of ABC-17 in Missouri, "I'll try to pursue my NFL career. Taking a break this year was very smart. I think it was one of the smartest things I've done in a long time," per John Breech of CBS Sports.
Breech also reported Sam has considered what he would do if football doesn't work out. (He is interested in broadcasting.)
Even if his motivation is strong, Sam had a hard time making an NFL roster in 2014, and there is no solid evidence it will be different in 2016.
Verdict: NFL success seems unlikely.
Chris Cooley
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Chris Cooley spent his entire nine-year NFL career in Washington. The tight end last played in 2012, and since his retirement, Cooley has become a radio host. However, Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post reported in December Cooley would love to play again, especially in Washington.
Per Steinberg, he said on his ESPN 980 radio show, "Do I want to do it? Yes. Do I know I can do it? Yes. I have no doubt. I watch tight end play week in and week out; there's no doubt that I can do what they need me to do."
Despite his public desire to return, no one bit on Cooley in 2015. He is 33 years old, and he hasn't played since 2012. Even if he does want to play in 2016, odds don't seem good.
Verdict: The outlook appears cloudy.
Aubrey Huff
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Aubrey Huff played Major League Baseball for 13 years with five teams. He last played in 2012 but didn't officially retire until January 2014. At that time, he took a job as a broadcaster for the Pac-12 Network.
In November, reports surfaced that the utility man had the itch to come back. Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle reported Huff said, "As I started working out, hitting more and more, I started realizing I've still got it. Now it's just a matter of people thinking how serious I am."
Per Schulman, Huff battled anxiety issues late in his career and was not satisfied with how it all ended. He hit .192/.326/.282 in just 52 games in 2012 and .246/.306/.370 in 150 games in 2011.
If he can indeed still hit, American League teams might give the 39-year-old a shot as a designated hitter. The motivation is there on Huff's part, but is the interest from a team?
Verdict: It seems unlikely but also wouldn't be the most shocking thing in the world.
Andruw Jones
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Andruw Jones had a 17-year MLB career and last played in 2012 for the New York Yankees. He also spent time in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball in 2013 and 2014.
In August, Jones said on Fox Sports, "I'm going to give it one more try next year, and if I don't get it, I will retire," per Lou DiPietro of the YES Network.
In November, the story was still the same. Chris Cotillo of SB Nation's MLB Daily Dish reported Jones was hoping to receive offers before spring training got underway.
Jones is 38 years old and hit .221/.394/.426 with 24 home runs in 138 games for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles in 2014. Still, there is no word of an MLB offer yet.
Verdict: Unofficial; fabricated odds are at 50-50.
Ilya Kovalchuk
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Ilya Kovalchuk famously signed a 15-year, $100 million deal with the New Jersey Devils in 2010. Three years into it, the winger retired from the NHL and promptly signed a four-year deal with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL in Russia.
Now at 32 years of age, Kovalchuk is reportedly contemplating a return to the NHL in the 2016-17 season, after his Russian contract is up.
According to a Finnish report, via Jared Clinton of the Hockey News, Kovalchuk's comeback itch likely has something to do with the decline of the Russian ruble. In order to return, he will have to get the approval of all 30 NHL teams or take a year off for less stringent requirements.
Kovalchuk, a first-round draft pick, notched 417 goals and 816 points in 11 NHL seasons. Assuming they aren't too salty about his 2013 departure, the Devils might give him another shot, even in his mid-30s.
Verdict: An NHL comeback is likely.
Baron Davis
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Baron Davis played 13 seasons in the NBA for six teams and retired in 2012. Three years later, he began to make noise about a possible comeback, telling SiriusXM NBA Radio in July, "This is the first time I'm going to put myself out there, I'm going to try out for some teams."
As of mid-January, the comeback was still up in the air. On one hand, Marc Stein of ESPN.com reported 36-year-old Davis had signed on to be a D-League pool player, meaning any of the league's 19 teams could claim him.
On the other hand, at least two teams passed on him, per Stein. Included in his cons column are past injury issues and his three-year absence.
Still, TMZ Sports caught up with Davis in late January, and he appeared optimistic.
Verdict: Someone will give him a shot.
Ray Rice
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Running back Ray Rice hasn't played in the NFL since 2013. A highly publicized domestic violence incident in February 2014 prompted his release by the Baltimore Ravens and suspension by the NFL.
Though he was reinstated in November 2014, Rice has been unable to find a team, despite a public interest in playing again.
In July 2015, Aaron Wilson, then with the Baltimore Sun, reported several teams had expressed an interest in Rice but were apprehensive. In October, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported the NFL would vouch for Rice to any interested teams, and Rice is merely hoping for a minimum contract.
In January, Rice told TMZ Sports, "Honestly, I'm never going to give up. You don't want to give up something you started. You want to finish the right way."
Rice is 29 years old, and his actions point to a real dedication to atoning for his past behavior.
Verdict: He will play in the NFL again.
Kellen Winslow Jr.
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Tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. last played in the NFL for the New York Jets in 2013. In January, he tweeted his intention to attempt a comeback.
According to TMZ Sports, a representative for Winslow confirmed his comeback try, and his Twitter is littered with workout videos and inspirational quotes.
Still, Winslow is 32 years old. Injuries and off-field issues are what led to his departure from the game in the first place, so it could be a tough mountain to climb.
His motivation appears strong, though.
Verdict: He will turn 33 over the summer, not 40. Someone will give him a chance.
BJ Penn
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Longtime MMA fighter BJ Penn won UFC championships as a lightweight and welterweight. He retired in 2014 and was later inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame.
In 2015, Penn announced a desire to return, and in 2016, the 37-year-old officially announced he would come back. He told The MMA Hour, via Shaun Al-Shatti of SB Nation, "I've been kind of thinking about it for a while. But, this is my last resort, and I'm going to give it everything I got."
Per MMAjunkie, UFC President Dana White confirmed the comeback but could not elaborate on any details.
In late January, Elias Cepeda of Fox Sports reported Penn is shooting for UFC 197, and an unnamed opponent has supposedly been chosen. Details are not official, and not everyone is excited about the comeback talk, but at this point, Penn's return to the cage seems imminent.
Verdict: This comeback will happen.
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