Brian Dawkins and 25 NFL Players Who Just Need to Retire
In the National Football League, there is absolutely nothing better than a player who has put together a solid decade-plus career.
But there is nothing worse than the player who hangs around just a little bit too long past his prime. It's almost, well, awkward.
The following list highlights 25 NFL players, in no particular order, who gave it their all during their careers but at this point just need to retire.
Brian Finneran, Wide Receiver, Atlanta Falcons
1 of 26
The interesting thing about Finneran is that he has never been a great wide receiver in the NFL. In fact, he might be one of the worst receivers in the last 50 years to last 12 years in the league. He's topped 25 catches just twice, 500 yards twice and five touchdowns just once.
Over the last three seasons, Finneran has totaled 51 catches for 446 yards and four touchdowns. Those are decent numbers for a third wide receiver in one season.
When the Falcons drafted Julio Jones with the sixth overall pick, it hopefully signaled the end of Finneran's time in the league.
Kevin Curtis, Wide Receiver, Miami Dolphins
2 of 26
The Kevin Curtis story is amazing. A walk-on at Utah State, Curtis ran a 4.21 40 and scored a 48 on the Wonderlic test. He spent four seasons with the Rams before signing a six-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.
He recorded 1,110 yards and six touchdowns on 77 catches in 2007, including an incredible nine-catch, 205-yard, three-touchdown performance in the first half of a game against the Detroit Lions in Week 3. Later that season, he became the first player in league history to recover his own team's fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in consecutive weeks.
He missed 12 games in 2009 and was released after the season. He spent the 2010 season recovering from testicular cancer and was on the roster for the Miami Dolphins in December and the Kansas City Chiefs for their postseason game against the Baltimore Ravens.
He is technically a free agent but should retire. He's 32, he survived cancer and even came back to play the same year and now he needs to retire.
Trevor Pryce, Defensive End, New York Jets
3 of 26
Pryce was a four-time Pro Bowl selection. That was a long time ago, back when he was a key starter for the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens released him in September of 2010. He was picked up by the New York Jets but failed to contribute in 2010. The Jets drafted defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson with their first-round pick, and he should take Pryce's spot on the roster.
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Todd Collins, Quarterback, Chicago Bears
4 of 26
Collins is 39 years old and has been a lifetime backup quarterback. How? I have no idea.
He holds the NFL record for the longest time between starts (more than 10 years). He has thrown 22 career touchdown passes. His lifetime passer rating? 71.8.
Last year, he threw 27 passes. He completed 15—10 to his team and five to the other team.
It's time for Todd to retire. I'm not sure why he was able to stick around for 16 seasons in the first place.
Jake Delhomme, Quarterback, Cleveland Browns
5 of 26
There are a lot of people who would consider Jake Delhomme to be the worst player in the NFL, or at least one of the worst.
Eight years ago, Delhomme led the Panthers to the Super Bowl. Two years after that, he was a Pro Bowl selection.
But he self-destructed in the 2008 postseason against the Arizona Cardinals and has been ineffective for the past two seasons. Delhomme, 35, needs to hang up his cleats.
Terrell Owens, Wide Receiver, Cincinnati Bengals
6 of 26
In his 15-season NFL career, Owens has guaranteed himself a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He ranks second in league history in yards and touchdowns and fifth in receptions.
He's been selected to six Pro Bowls and briefly held the NFL record for catches in a game (20). He also caught nine passes for 122 yards with the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX despite a surgically repaired right ankle that was not at 100 percent.
Owens even played well last season, catching 72 passes for 983 yards and nine touchdowns. But he will likely not return to Cincinnati in 2011. The smart move would be to retire and start planning his trip to Canton in a few years.
Mark Brunell, Quarterback, New York Jets
7 of 26
Brunell was Brett Favre's backup in Green Bay. That was 17 years ago.
He turned in a solid stint with the Jaguars and played okay with the Redskins but has thrown just two touchdown passes since 2006, both coming with the Jets last year.
There's no need for a quarterback who will be 41 when the season starts.
Al Harris, Cornerback, Miami Dolphins
8 of 26
Harris was the best nickel cornerback in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles for a number of years before he joined the Green Bay Packers and became a starting cornerback.
He earned two Pro Bowl selections but suffered season-ending injuries in 2009 and 2010. He is currently with the Miami Dolphins, but the 36-year-old has nothing left.
Brian Dawkins, Safety, Denver Broncos
9 of 26
During his 13 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, Dawkins established himself as one of the best safeties in the NFL. He earned seven Pro Bowl selections and was the heart and soul of a defense that was one of the fiercest in the game.
But the 37-year-old safety has spent two mediocre seasons with the Denver Broncos, and although he can still level a big hit now and then, he is well past his prime.
Dawkins will likely be enshrined in Canton, but he needs to retire so fans remember him for the dominant player he was in his prime, not the fading image they see now.
Chad Pennington, Quarterback, Miami Dolphins
10 of 26
You had a good career, Chad.
NFL Comeback Player of the Year in 2006 and 2008 and the league's all-time leader in completion percentage.
You're also injured every time you step onto the field, like in 2010, when you suffered a season-ending shoulder injury on your first play after being named the team's starter over Chad Henne.
When you tore your ACL playing pickup basketball two months ago, you (hopefully) ended your career.
Jason Hanson, Kicker, Detroit Lions
11 of 26
Hanson is a former two-time Pro Bowler. He also holds the NFL record for most 50-yard field goals (45).
However, he suffered a season-ending knee injury last year. When a 40-year-old kicker injures his knee and misses eight games, it's probably time for him to retire.
Correll Buckhalter, Running Back, Denver Broncos
12 of 26
Buckhalter, 32, is probably the only NFL running back to overcome a season-ending knee injury three times, and I'm talking about a knee injury that stopped him from playing in any games at all that season (2002, 2004, 2005).
Buckhalter served as the backup to Brian Westbrook until 2009, when he joined the Denver Broncos. He averaged 5.4 yards per carry in 2009 but dropped to 2.5 in 2010.
Todd Bouman, Quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars
13 of 26
Bouman was 29 before he even took an NFL snap. He's thrown just 264 career passes and 13 touchdowns.
He's played in 44 games but has made just seven career starts, winning one of them.
Bouman will be 39 in a month. It's time for him to retire from the NFL.
Bob Sanders, Safety, Indianapolis Colts
14 of 26
I will never understand the Bob Sanders hype. To me, he is the most overrated player in the game, maybe ever.
Yeah, he won the Defensive Player of the Year award in 2007. Two years earlier, he helped the Colts defense become one of the best in the game.
But he played in six games in 2008, two in 2009 and one in 2010. He's so injury-prone that it's almost comical.
Oh, and he's not even as good as people think when he does play. Six interceptions and two forced fumbles in 48 career games? For a safety?!
Not impressive at all.
Chris Chambers, Wide Receiver, Kansas City Chiefs
15 of 26
Chambers burst onto the scene as a rookie with the Miami Dolphins in 2001, leading the league in yards per reception (18.4). He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2005.
But he faded with the San Diego Chargers in 2007, 2008 and 2009 and hasn't produced much with the Chiefs.
Last season, he caught just 22 passes for 213 yards and a touchdown. The Chiefs drafted a receiver in the first round a few weeks ago. Chambers' days are numbered.
Kevin Faulk, Running Back, New England Patriots
16 of 26
Faulk was a tremendous help to the Patriots in the beginning of the decade. He's never been the full-time starter, but he has helped the Patriots win three Super Bowls by averaging six carries and three catches per game.
But he missed virtually all of 2010 with an injury and is on his way out, especially with the emergence of BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead last season.
Mark Tauscher, Offensive Tackle, Green Bay Packers
17 of 26
Tauscher made a solid career out of a player drafted late in the seventh round.
He was a key starter for the Packers for the last decade, but he played in just eight games in 2009 and four in 2010.
When the Packers drafted offensive tackles Bryan Bulaga with their first-round pick in 2010 and Derek Sherrod with their first-round pick in 2011, they announced the end of Tauscher's career as a starter.
Darren Sharper, Safety, New Orleans Saints
18 of 26
Sharper ranks sixth in career interceptions, third in interception yards and second in interception touchdowns. The five-time Pro Bowler will be a lock for the Hall of Fame one day.
Let's hope that he lets fans remember the days when he was one of the best safeties in history instead of sticking around for a few more years.
Ricky Williams, Running Back, Miami Dolphins
19 of 26
Williams has had a remarkable career. He was drafted with the fifth pick in the 1999 draft after New Orleans Saints head coach Mike Ditka traded all of his team's draft picks to acquire Williams.
After three disappointing seasons with the Saints (although he rushed for 1,000 yards twice), he was traded to the Miami Dolphins, where he promptly rushed for an NFL-leading 1,853 yards in 2002.
He retired before the 2004 season after failing a number of drug tests. He returned, played football in 2005 and failed a fourth drug test, costing him the entire 2006 season. He played in the CFL in 2006 but rejoined the NFL in 2007, despite reportedly failing a fifth drug test.
In 2007, he carried just six times before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury. He continued playing and set a record in 2009 when he rushed for over 1,000 yards six years after his previous 1,000-yard season.
He had a mediocre season last year, but he's 33 years old. He showed significant decline last year and should quietly just retire—before he fails another drug test.
Randy Moss, Wide Receiver, Tennessee Titans*
20 of 26
Notice the asterisk next to Moss' name. Many of you may expect the 34-year-old to be on this list, but I sincerely believe that Randy Moss has three more years left.
After all, everybody thought his career was over when he was with the Raiders. Then he caught 23 touchdowns with the 2007 Patriots.
He led the NFL in receiving touchdowns as recently as 2009. He's not finished yet. He just has to decide if he wants to play.
Fred Taylor, Running Back, New England Patriots
21 of 26
Fred Taylor rushed for 1,000 yards in seven of his 11 seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
But he has played in just 13 total games during his two seasons with the Patriots. He's 34, and the Patriots have two great young running backs in BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead.
David Binn, Long Snapper, San Diego Chargers
22 of 26
Binn has been a fixture at long snapper for the San Diego Chargers since 1994, playing in 256 of 257 games.
But he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury after the first game of the 2010 season.
At age 38, Binn is starting to become a liability for the Chargers.
Alge Crumpler, Tight End, New England Patriots
23 of 26
Formerly Michael Vick's favorite receiving target in Atlanta, the 33-year-old tight end caught just six passes for 52 yards last season.
The Patriots had two incredible young tight ends last year, a pair of 21-year-olds who combined for 87 catches for 1,109 yards and 16 touchdowns.
Keeping Crumpler on the team would be foolish.
John Carney, Kicker, New Orleans Saints
24 of 26
Carney is technically a free agent, but he played three games with the Saints in 2010.
At 46, Carney has no future. He had a great career, earned two Pro Bowl selections and has the third-most points in league history. That's enough.
Michael Bennett, Running Back, Oakland Raiders
25 of 26
Bennett ran a 4.13 in the 40-yard dash but has been an enormous disappointment in the NFL after the Minnesota Vikings selected him with the 27th pick in the 2001 draft.
He's carried just 842 times in his career and hasn't topped 100 since 2005.
He carried twice for 11 yards with the Raiders last season. There's no future for this 32-year-old back.
Joey Galloway, Wide Receiver, Washington Redskins
26 of 26
Galloway is not officially on a team, but he spent last season with the Washington Redskins.
He was with the New England Patriots in 2009 and has just 19 catches for 240 yards in the last two seasons.
It's time for the 39-year-old to retire.
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