10 Veterans Who Might Say Farewell Soon
It's not easy to say goodbye, but the biggest names in sports have to fade into retirement at some point.
The last few years have offered a harsh lesson in this area for fans. Legends such as Peyton Manning, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan have all offered farewells. Those names spanned entire generations of fans and don't even take into account the countless names who retired during their epic runs.
The unexpected retirement continues to become an emerging trend as well, headlined by Calvin Johnson.
More recently, Baltimore Ravens wideout Steve Smith hung up the cleats, though it's surely just an appetizer to what 2017 truly has in store. Within, let's run down a list of names who could call it quits within the next year or so.
Honorable Mentions
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The following veterans look headed toward possible retirements this year for various reasons. They serve as a quality appetizer ahead of the main course.
Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals
At 37 years old, Palmer fell off the map in 2016. He completed only 61 percent of his passes (his lowest mark since 2011), throwing 26 touchdowns against 14 interceptions while leading the Cardinals to only seven wins.
Palmer is under contract through 2018, though whether the Cardinals want him and he wants a rebuild remains to be seen.
Vince Wilfork, NT, Houston Texans
One of the most dominant nose tackles in the NFL, Wilfork hasn't been shy in admitting he'd consider retirement after the playoffs.
Now 35 years old with two Lombardi Trophies on his resume, he could depart with head held high.
Chris Bosh, F, Miami Heat
It sounds like Bosh's career with the Miami Heat has come to an end.
Bosh, 32, faces various medical complexities that have cost him large chunks of playing time in each of the past three seasons.
Terence Newman, CB, Minnesota Vikings
Newman just completed his 14th season in the NFL and is the league's second-oldest defender behind James Harrison.
The above should be enough to convince fans Newman might call it quits after a strong career.
Tony Parker, G, San Antonio Spurs
It would be wise to keep Parker in mind as he heads toward turning 35 in May. He has another year left on his deal after this season, but Parker could make like Duncan and wave it off. He already retired from international play.
DeMarcus Ware, LB, Denver Broncos
Now 35 years old and headed to free agency while recovering from back surgery, Ware could choose to walk away from the game and leave behind a superb legacy.
Ware says he plans on playing next season, though the market may make the decision for him.
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
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Fans have expected a goodbye from Cardinals wideout Fitzgerald for years.
Not to suggest Fitzgerald is ancient (he's only 33), but the former University of Pittsburgh star has seemed to flirt with the idea for years—which makes sense because he has made a career of tough over-the-middle play, a more physical style than most wideouts.
Yet before the turn of the new year, Fitzgerald made it clear he hasn't made a decision. When he does it will come relatively out of nowhere, like Duncan, according to Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official website.
“It’s not about me,” Fitzgerald said. “This is a team game. I am one of 1,600 (players in the NFL). I’ve had a great time doing it, but I will never say, ‘I’m about to do this’ and try and get some adulation. That’s not how I’m wired. (Former NBA star) Tim Duncan is more my speed.”
Numbers say Fitzgerald has plenty left in the tank. He enters 2017 after consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with minimums of six touchdowns in each. That, of course, sets him up for a Duncan or Megatron-esque goodbye.
Josh Hamilton, OF, Texas Rangers
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It's a shame it has come to this, but Hamilton looks like he has one more year to prove he has staying power in the MLB.
Injuries absolutely derailed the former MVP's career to the point the Rangers released him last August after a series of knee operations and treatments.
While Jeff Wilson of the Star-Telegram recently noted Hamilton is cleared and should receive a minor league deal with the Rangers, it is an incredibly long road ahead if the veteran plans on climbing back to the majors.
Hamilton appeared in only 50 games in 2015, going .253/.291/.441 with eight homers and 25 RBI. That sort of production wouldn't keep Hamilton off a roster, but it's a far cry from his past form.
Going on 36 years old in May, this looks like Hamilton's last shot at putting together a healthy year.
Manu Ginobili, G, San Antonio Spurs
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Duncan's teammate, Ginobili, gave everyone a scare last summer when he opted out of his contract with the Spurs.
The 39-year-old guard then turned around and rejoined the Spurs on a one-year deal.
One has to think 2017 is it, though. Ginobili joined the NBA in 1999 and his minutes averages have taken a dip every year since 2010-11.
Now a role player averaging eight points per game off the bench, Ginobili has much to offer the younger guys leading the Spurs and has another shot at a title this year.
After, though, one has to think this is really it this time.
Bartolo Colon, P, Atlanta Braves
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From the sounds of it, Colon sits 10 wins away from retirement.
The 43-year-old pitcher, now on a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves, has stated in the past he wants to surpass 243 wins, which would give him the most ever by a Dominican-born pitcher in the major leagues.
“If God lets me continue, I want to win 19 more games,” Colon said in August of last year, according to the New York Daily News' Kristie Ackert. “If he lets me get 19 more wins, then I would walk away.”
Colon, one of the best stories in sports, has secured 10 or more wins in each of his last five seasons. If he does so again, he'll wave farewell to baseball in a way only he can.
Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs
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Megatron and a growing list of names reinforce the idea football players are more and more likely to fade into retirement earlier than anticipated due to the violent nature of the sport.
Chiefs running back Charles might join the list in 2017.
Charles suffered another knee issue in 2016 and wound up appearing in only three games before the team chose to keep him on injured reserve.
For those counting, Charles is now 30 years old and has appeared in only eight games over the course of the past two seasons. He hasn't played in a full 16-game season since 2012 and has four campaigns with north of 200 carries.
With the Chiefs rolling to the playoffs and boasting a deep committee approach, not to mention the devalued nature of his position around the league, Charles might choose to call it quits rather than risk another injury if he's not a starter.
Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Miami Marlins
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Disclaimer—Suzuki hasn't shown any signs of slowing down.
Suzuki was his usual self in 2016, hitting .291/.354/.376 with 22 RBI over 143 games and the Marlins sure didn't mind having him around.
As for the man himself, well, Suzuki has lofty goals about when to call it quits.
"I want to keep playing until I am at least 50," Suzuki said, according to ESPN.com's Marly Rivera.
In other words, Suzuki wants to play for seven more years.
If there is one thing the past few years have taught us, though, it's that unexpected retirements keep popping up out of nowhere. So Suzuki's goals might lull many into a false sense of security when it comes to Suzuki's playing days remaining, but it wouldn't come as a shock at all if 2017 was his last campaign.
Vince Carter, F, Memphis Grizzlies
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Vinsanity lives.
The above might shock some, but Carter continues to hold it down for the Grizzlies at the...grizzled age of 39.
This isn't a veteran milking a paycheck either. That's just not Carter's style and explains why, even though he turns 40 in late January, he averages 23.7 minutes per game and posts 8.3 points and 3.5 rebounds.
Carter isn't slamming home thunderous dunks on a nightly basis anymore by any means, but his career that began in 1998 has run quite the respectable course. This is his last season under contract, so fans can expect Vinsanity to hang up the sneakers at season's end.
Frank Gore, RB, Indianapolis Colts
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Colts running back Gore is perhaps the most underrated iron man in the NFL.
Gore is 33 years old, soon to be 34 in May, yet just posted another 1,000-yard season—the ninth of his career.
How else to put this into perspective? Gore has missed only 12 games since 2005. He has carried the ball north of 200 times in 11 of his 12 seasons. Given the brutal nature of the position, Gore's resume is downright silly.
That said, the former Miami Hurricanes star has one year left on his current deal. Likely a committee back moving forward, Gore will likely play out the final year of his deal and fade into retirement as one of the most impressive running backs in modern history.
Dirk Nowitzki, F, Dallas Mavericks
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A club option looms in the 2017-18 NBA campaign for Mavericks legend Nowitzki.
At this point, the 38-year-old Nowitzki might just hang up the sneakers after this season, though.
Nowitzki hasn't been able to stay healthy this year, playing in 10 of a possible 35 games. The Mavericks? They've won 11.
The Mavericks continue to stare a gigantic rebuild in the face over the coming years and Nowitzki hasn't experienced a playoff series victory since 2011. Rather than suffer through a rebuild or join another team, Nowitzki is bound to just call it a career—and a Hall of Fame one at that.
Nowitzki isn't the type of guy to don another jersey and Mavericks owner Mark Cuban isn't the kind of guy to allow it.
Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
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Saints quarterback Brees might have one year left in him.
Brees turns 38 this month and has one year left on his contract with the Saints. He's had a historic career, though it doesn't look like he'll get to ride off into the sunset like Manning did.
In fact, he doesn't sound committed to anything past the next year.
“I’m just taking it one year at a time, honestly, because I don’t want to miss out on any opportunity, any moment,” Brees said, according to ESPN.com's Mike Triplett.
It's been a legendary career for Brees, who washed out with the San Diego Chargers before winning a Super Bowl with the Saints while acting as one of the key faces in New Orleans while the city recovered from Hurricane Katrina.
If the Saints don't contend next year, Brees doesn't seem like the type of guy to join another team and chase another ring. His legacy certainly doesn't need any padding.
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