10 Stars Not Even Close to Throwing in the Towel
Stars such as Calvin Johnson and Marshawn Lynch have thrown the retirement game for a loop.
Back in the day, fans could look at ages and career accomplishments to come up with a pretty good idea as to when their favorite players would call it a career.
Now? Not so much.
Maybe fans were spoiled back then. A handful of players look like retirement candidates within the next calendar year. Some who make the cut on this list have even had retirement rumors and speculation pop up recently.
Not so fast. The following players, reasons for suspected retirements or not, are still relevant, productive and love what they do. Translation—they aren't even close to throwing in the towel and hosting a goodbye press conference.
Steve Smith, WR, Baltimore Ravens
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A season-ending injury didn't stop Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith from making a comeback.
Admittedly, Smith might be the most likely guy on the list to end his career soon. But knowing him and his personality, he's just getting started at the age of 37.
Smith suffered the injury last year and had planned to retire before announcing his comeback. He later told ESPN.com's Jamison Hensley he had a milestone on his mind.
"I may catch that [1,000th pass] in my uniform, get in my car and go home," Smith said with a smile. "Straight from there, drive all the way from M&T Bank [Stadium] straight to Charlotte, one shot."
Smith shouldn't have any problems hitting his preferred milestone this year after catching 46 passes over only seven games last season. While he has had a slow start to this campaign, the guy who caught 64 or more passes four years in a row before 2015 doesn't figure to remain slow for long.
Knowing Smith, it would be nothing short of a surprise to see him give up doing what he loves for a few more years.
Dirk Nowitzki, F, Dallas Mavericks
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Don't doubt Dirk Nowitzki's ability to stay in the NBA for a long time still.
Nowitzki might be 38 years old, but he signed a two-year extension with the Dallas Mavericks over the offseason. He then spoke with ESPN.com's Tim MacMahon, suggesting a green light for as long as his body agrees with the idea.
"I think we'll see how next year goes, how the body responds, and then we'll make that decision again next year. But obviously, I would love to play the next two years and then just see how it goes," Nowitzki said.
Considering he played an average of 31.5 minutes over 75 appearances last year, odds seem strong Nowitzki's body will remain able to play the game, especially if he starts to take on a more rotational role.
And it's not like the guy continues to fall off—he posted averages of 18.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game on 44.8 percent shooting from the floor, the points and rebounds better numbers than the year before.
Nowitzki fading into a Tim Duncan-esque role makes too much sense.
Bartolo Colon, P, New York Mets
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The man, myth and legend isn't allowed to retire.
Rotund, a Cy Young winner and chasing history, Bartolo Colon isn't going anywhere at the age of 43.
Colon entered the league in 1997 and hasn't looked back. He sits on 232 career wins and recently told Kristie Ackert of the New York Daily News he has a specific goal in mind.
“If God lets me continue, I want to win 19 more games,” Colon said. “If he lets me get 19 more wins, then I would walk away.”
Colon also poked fun at other guys who have retired as of late, such as Alex Rodriguez: “I don’t know what to say about them. I just think if God lets me, I am going to keep playing. God-willing, I will play for 19 more.”
Age doesn't seem to mean much with Colon, who boasts 14 wins and a 3.12 ERA, his first sub-4.0 ERA since 2013. In fact, he might get better with age, so he's not leaving the game just yet.
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Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was one of the more interesting retirement candidates this summer as he headed into his final year of his deal with the team.
Brees has been rather open about retiring with the team, so his shiny new extension that has him under contract through his age-38 season seems to paint a clear picture about his plans.
Except not really. Brees seemed to want a five-year deal and got it, though the extension expires in two.
Seemingly one of those quarterbacks who plays well into his 40s, there hasn't been a sniff of statistical evidence to suggest Brees will see a sharp decline in place. He's thrown for 32 or more touchdowns eight years running while never seeing his completion percentage dip below 63 percent.
Brees is already off to a hot start this year, through two games having tossed five scores to no picks. Peyton Manning made it to the age of 40. Brees looks like he can as well, and then some.
Koji Uehara, P, Boston Red Sox
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At 41 years old, Boston Red Sox pitcher Koji Uehara is one of the MLB's oldest players.
Just don't tell him.
Back in February, he told Pete Abraham of the Boston Globe he has no plans to retire and "I will keep pitching unless I am terrible and no team wants me."
Fair enough. Since? Uehara has become a key cog for the Red Sox, over 43 innings of work boasting a 3.77 ERA with 59 fanned batters and seven saves.
Uehara does become a free agent after the season, but anyone with an eye for baseball can see he's still a smart tactical deployment out of the bullpen. Old or not, it is clear Uehara wants to keep playing, and the numbers say plenty of teams will have an interest.
Jaromir Jagr, RW, Florida Panthers
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In a way, Jaromir Jagr of the Florida Panthers makes most names on this look silly.
Some perspective: Jagr entered the league via the No. 5 pick in the 1990 NHL draft. He won back-to-back Stanley Cup Championships in 1991 and 1992. After re-signing with the team earlier this year, the 44-year-old winger will play in his 23rd season.
This probably sounds like a guy who rides the bench at this age, right? Not a chance—Jagr scored 66 points and 27 goals over 79 games last year, his highest goal output since 2006-07 with the New York Rangers.
Jagr has even joked about playing until the age of 60, something he explained to GQ's Elizabeth Quinn Brown:
"Why I said that is because, for whatever reason, they always have to put my age and ask if I’m going to retire next year, so I was kind of mad about it. I was kind of joking and told them I was going to play until 60, but it’s not reasonable. I was just sarcastic to answer their questions that they gave me.
"
For a guy who has gone from the youngest NHL player to the oldest, though, would it really come as a shock?
Vince Carter, F, Memphis Grizzlies
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Vinsanity hasn't left the building, folks.
Vince Carter has his eyes set on 20 years in the Association, and who is anyone to tell him otherwise?
Carter spoke with ESPN this month, which Victoria Nguyen of theScore transcribed.
"I just love to play. It's not out of me yet. When I don't want to play and don't want to put the work in, that's when I step away from the game, but right now I still love it," Carter said.
Now 39 years old, Carter spent his second season in Memphis averaging 16.8 minutes over 60 games, managing averages of 6.6 points and 2.4 rebounds while shooting 38.8 percent from the field and 34.9 percent from deep.
There will always be room for that sort of rotational production off the bench from Carter in large part because of the veteran presence he provides.
If Carter still loves what he does, carry on.
Adam Vinatieri, K, Indianapolis Colts
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Some might roll their eyes at the idea of a kicker making a list like this.
But most kickers aren't 43-year-old Adam Vinatieri, who to this day keeps on swinging the leg for the Indianapolis Colts.
Vinatieri, more than most, seems to have a strong grasp on the understanding that age is just a number if an athlete keeps putting up good numbers. He said as much when talking to ESPN.com's Mike Wells in March:
"Proof is the product that you put on the field. I still enjoy the game as much as I ever have. Obviously it’s a statistics game. We get judged on how we do on the field and hopefully, I think, the last couple of years I’ve proven to myself and to everybody else that I can still get it done and I’m not too old yet.
"
Vinatieri has been as solid as ever, last year only missing two of his 27 attempts and hitting four kicks from more than 50 yards. Funnily enough, he has been perfect on four attempts through two games this year—two of which he converted from more than 50 yards out.
The leg, apparently, hasn't got the memo about age.
Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
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Like Brees, it is almost as if New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady continues to get better with age.
Brady has spent the first four games of this season on the shelf. But going by the numbers, a year ago, Brady posted his best rating (102.2), touchdowns (36), completion percentage (64.4) and his fewest interceptions (7) since 2011.
So while it is great Jimmy Garoppolo performed well for two games while Brady served his suspension, the starter's status in New England won't change so long as he wants to keep slinging the rock.
Brady's contract carries him through his age-42 season. At 39 years old, that's a rather long ways away still, but one could imagine a scenario, health provided, that Brady doesn't hang up the cleats even then.
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
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Everyone wants Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald to retire.
Or at least, that is what it has seemed like since about 2013.
This speculation kicked up this month when Ian Rapoport of NFL Network suggested Fitzgerald would call it quits after the 2016 season.
Fitzgerald spoke on the topic with ESPN's Josh Weinfuss:
"You know, I don't talk about the future. I don't even know what I'm having for dinner tonight, let alone what I'm doing next year. I signed another year for a reason. I believe in what we're doing here. I believe in the guys that I have in this room, the head coach [Bruce Arians], his staff. Obviously, [Cardinals president] Michael Bidwill is doing everything he can to put us in a position to win.
That's where my mindset is at. What I'm doing next year is of no importance.
"
A smart answer, no doubt—if the Cardinals win the Super Bowl, it is easy to see Fitzgerald riding off into the sunset like Peyton Manning did last year. He'd do so at the age of 33.
But it's hard to see. Fitzgerald experienced a career renaissance one season ago, going for his first 1,000-yard season since 2011. He already has three scores through two games in 2016, a third of his total from a year ago. His quarterback, Carson Palmer, is under contract through 2018.
Rest assured the Cardinals will keep throwing cash at one of the most recognizable and respected players in the league who has never switched teams. Fitzgerald looks like a guy revving back up, not winding down.
That itself should make any NFL fan rejoice.
Follow Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) on Twitter.
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