Randy Moss, Roger Clemens and the 15 Least Graceful Endings To a Career
These guys all really know how to leave a mark.
Whether it's bouncing around from team to team late in a career or just proving to be a giant headache down the road, all 15 men on this list are placed here for worthy reason.
There are quite a few personalities across professional sports, and they're all put on display here.
15. Deion Sanders
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When "Prime Time" came back for a stint with the Ravens at age 37, he wasn't so prime anymore.
With stops in Atlanta and Dallas and a year in San Francisco in between the two, Sanders was thought to be done after his one and only season with the Washington Redskins in 2000-01.
However, friend and then Ravens corner Corey Fuller persuaded him for another go around, and Deion changed his number to 37 to proudly represent his age.
After compiling just 34 tackles and five interceptions across his two seasons with Baltimore, Prime Time once again retired after the 2005-06 season.
We need him on NFL Network, anyway.
14. Karl Malone
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The Mailman just didn't know when to quit.
After spending the length of his career (1985-2003) with the Utah Jazz, Malone signed with the Lakers for one season to try and finally win a ring.
Unfortunately for Malone, not only did the team come up short, but he was never quite viewed in the same light by the Jazz faithful.
He averaged just 13.3 points during his final season in La-La Land, his lowest total since his '85 rookie campaign.
13. Chris Chelios
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Chelios has been in the NHL since 1983.
To put that into perspective, that was 17 years before the infamous Y2K scare that seems like so long ago.
To his credit, the 48 year old (49 next month) remained fairly valuable through the 2005-06 season, but rather than going out at the top of his game, Chelios tried to prolong his career.
After playing just seven games for the Thrashers in what would be his final season, Chelios has since retired and is employed in the Detroit front office.
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12. Randy Moss
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Moss seemed to revive his career in 2007 when he went to New England, but it hasn't been the same since that historic season.
Seemingly unable to escape the stigma that surrounds him, Randy has proved to be more of a headache than a contributor, despite what his teammates might say.
Much like WR Terrell Owens, it's hard to think that Moss is done just yet, but this period of nothingness has to subside eventually for anyone to believe that.
11. Manny Ramirez
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For the first time in a while, Manny hasn't been in the headlines recently.
It's not because he's keeping out of drama and being productive, but rather because he just hasn't proven to be worth anyone's time these days.
Ramirez fell out of favor in Los Angeles this season after spending far too long on the shelf, and was ultimately rewarded to the White Sox on a straight waiver claim. It didn't get any better in the AL for the former prolific slugger, hitting just a single homer in the final month of the year.
Now looking to prove his worth as a full-time DH on what will most likely be a one-year deal, if he continues to swing and miss, he may as well walk away.
10. Johnny Unitas
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Just one look at a San Diego Unitas jersey makes me sick.
After spending all of his career as one of the most storied quarterbacks of all time for the Baltimore Colts, Unitas prolonged his career a few seasons too long.
After turning into a part-time player in 1971, the team let go of him after the following season. Rather than retiring with the team, he went on to play five terrible games with the Chargers before finally hanging it up.
While many don't remember his tenure there (and rightfully so), he never should have signed on.
9. Muhammad Ali
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56-3.
That was Ali's impressive record from the span of 1960-78. Having won the heavyweight title three times, he called it quits in 1978 after boxing the title away from Leon Spinx.
Seeking to prove his utter and complete dominance in the sport in 1980, the greatest boxer of all time was lured back into the ring for a title fight. However, the aging Ali took a loss, and never quite ascended back to the pinnacle that he enjoyed in the sport.
After losing just three times over 18 years, Ali lost his final two fights, a sad ending to an otherwise extraordinary career.
8. Ken Griffey, Jr.
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Griffey was on his way to perhaps the most storied career the MLB has ever seen before he was derailed by injury.
Emerging onto the scene at just 19 years old, the younger Griffey enjoyed a stretch from 1996-2000 that many could only dream of. Averaging well over 40 bombs and 125+ RBIs over that span, it's clear to see why so many had him labeled as one of the most dynamic to ever grace the game.
Unfortunately, just after that is when kid wonder began to see a decline due to battling constant injury, and he never quite re-gained his footing.
After really bottoming out last season with the Mariners, Griffey walked away from the game that he loved so dearly, but it was necessary to solidify his legacy.
7. Emmitt Smith
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One of the most famous players in Dallas Cowboys history, Smith just couldn't let go after the team decided to move on from the Hall of Fame runner.
Able to outrun just about everything except his age, Smith wanted to prove that he was able to defy the odds and remain a productive option. Sadly, that simply wasn't the case.
Averaging just 2.8 yards per carry in his first year in the desert, Smith was absolutely miserable. Although he enjoyed a better season the following year with a 3.5 YPC average, Smith proved that he was just a shadow of his former self and conceded it was time to hang it up.
6. Jerry Rice
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Rice might be firmly placed in the record books, but that doesn't mean it was pretty by the end.
After playing his way to a career that nobody else could possibly conceive in San Francisco, Rice moved onto Oakland where he remained fairly productive throughout his tenure.
Seeing him in a Raiders jersey was weird, but then for him to play with the Seahawks was just downright messed up. A team that was in the same division as his beloved 49ers?! Say it ain't so, Jerry!
But it didn't stop there.
Rice tried to play once again the following preseason with the Broncos, and just one look at the picture really says it all.
Thankfully, Rice retired before he ever played a snap for Denver.
5. Rickey Henderson
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The man played baseball in four different decades. That's just simply incredible.
Appearing in a remarkable 10 All-Star games, Henderson did not make a single trip to the midsummer classic after 1991 despite playing 12 additional seasons.
The Hall of Famer made seven stops between 1997-2003, as he couldn't stick with a single team, but everyone seemed willing to give him one last shot.
As good as fast Rickey was, there comes a point in every athlete's career when it's time to hang it up. Although he never officially announced his retirement from baseball, Henderson last laced them up from 2003-05 in the Independent Leagues.
He'll still have the itch to play long after his 75th birthday.
4. Michael Jordan
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Jordan is the greatest player ever to grace an NBA hardwood.
After briefly retiring in the early 90s to pursue a career in baseball, Jordan officially hung them up after the 1997-98 season. Or so we thought.
Once again getting the itch to play, Jordan couldn't help but lace em' up for the Wizards to help bring glory to a struggling franchise.
While he certainly proved capable of still playing in the league, MJ just looked weird with Washington embroidered across his chest, and the split Wizards/Bulls jersey was an absolute eyesore.
3. Roger Clemens
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Clemens enjoyed historic numbers with the Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Yankees through 2003.
Racking up incredible statistics on a yearly basis, the steroid-using, arrogant right-hander was one of the most highly paid athletes toward the end of his tenure.
The Yanks brought him back in 2007 for one final run, but the Rocket was a complete flame out in just 99 innings pitched.
Most embarrassing of all, Clemens still finds himself at the heart of inescapable allegations and all signs are pointing to him being guilty.
Roger that.
2. Allen Iverson
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We're talking about practice.
Because that's exactly what AI needs if he hopes to ever see his name in NBA headlines again.
After whining his way out of the league, Iverson is reportedly already feuding with teammates and coaches on his Turkish squad which doesn't exactly bode well for his already sinking stock.
While there are certainly some Ioyal fans of Iverson still out there from his infamous days in Philly, he's lost most of his fans with his recent tirades and constant narcissism.
1. Brett Favre
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What would this list be without Grandfather Favre?
He's been absolutely dreadful in 2010 despite the hype that surrounded him, and the Vikes may be wishing they didn't shell out $20 mil to have him back.
Frankly, I've lost track of how many times he's retired and un-retired, and it's doubtful anyone else cares at this point, either.
Give it up, Brett. You're just not that important.
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