Ranking Randy Moss and the 14 Biggest Retirees of 2011

When big-name sports stars retire, many often question if they will return to the game that was their life up until calling it quits.

Some have an easier time hanging it up than others, but every player must face the reality of retirement one day.

Several prominent figures in the sporting world have claimed they are done for good in this year alone, so here is a tribute to those talented men, many of whom made major impacts on their specific sports.

14. Marc Bulger

Marc Bulger was a member of the Saints, Falcons and Ravens for a short time during his 11-year NFL career, but his best years came as a St. Louis Ram.

Sadly, his best accomplishment was becoming the fastest quarterback to reach 1,000 completions.

Awards: Two-time Pro Bowler

HOF Chances: Two percent

Odds of a Return: 10 percent

13. Patrick Lalime

Patrick Lalime served five different teams in his 12-year NHL career, but he will be remembered best for his time in Ottawa.

Lalime holds the Senators' record for wins in a season, and he's one of 14 goaltenders to put up four shutouts in one postseason.

Nickname: Lime

New Occupation: Hockey analyst

HOF Chances: 40 percent

Odds of a Return: Three percent

12. Kerry Collins

Kerry Collins bounced around the league in his 16-year NFL career, but he had his best years with the New York Giants, whom he led to the Super Bowl in 2000. He also set the franchise's single-season record with 4,073 passing yards.

Collins retired 11th on the all-time list with 40,441 passing yards.

Awards: Two-time Pro Bowler

HOF Chances: Five percent

Odds of a Return: One percent

11. Kris Jenkins

Kris Jenkins was a dominant defensive tackle during his 10 seasons in the NFL.

He was in the conversation for Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, but his next two campaigns were cut short by ACL tears, and he decided to hang it up.

Awards: Four-time Pro Bowler, Three-time All-Pro

HOF Chances: 10 percent

Odds of a Return: Five percent

10. Kris Draper

Kris Draper played more than 1,000 games for the Detroit Red Wings in his 23-year career and was a major part of the team's string of championships, as a leader as well as on the ice.

He also played internationally with Canada.

Awards: 4-time Stanley Cup champion, Frank J. Selke Trophy winner

New Occupation: Business (hockey)

HOF Chances: 20 percent

Odds of a Return: 15 percent

9. Chris Osgood

Chris Osgood played 20 seasons primarily with the Detroit Red Wings, but also served a few seasons with the Islanders and Blues. He retired 10th all time in wins by an NHL goalie with 401 and boasted a 53.9 win percentage.

Osgood is also one of nine goaltenders in NHL history who have scored a goal, and his 2.49 goals against average is the seventh-best of all time.

Nicknames: Ozzie, The Wizard of Oz

Awards: Three-time Stanley Cup winner, two-time William Jennings Trophy winner, four-time All-Star

HOF Chances: 90 percent

New Occupation: Developing Detroit's young goalies

Odds of a Return: Five percent

8. Edgerrin James

Edgerrin James not only holds the Colts' record for career rushing yards, but he's also the NFL's 11th all-time leading rusher.

He was honored as one of the best backs of his era with his selection to the 2000s All-Decade team.

Nicknames: The Edge, EJ

Awards: 1999 Offensive Rookie of the Year, four-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro

HOF Chances: 80 percent

Odds of a Return: One percent

7. Ronaldo Nazario de Lima

The 34-year-old striker is best known in the U.S. for his contributions to the Brazil National Team, but he also served several European clubs on his way to notoriety as one of the world's greatest soccer players of all time.

Among countless other accomplishments and honors, Ronald is the highest scorer in the history of the World Cup.

Nickname: Ronaldo

Awards: Three-time FIFA Player of the Year, two-time European Footballer of the Year, two-time World Cup champion

Odds of a Return: 10 percent

6. Yao Ming

Yao Ming was born in Shanghai and later became a first overall pick in the NBA draft. There is no doubt as to why he's China's best-known athlete and credited with popularizing basketball in his home country.

After nine impressive seasons in the league, Yao came to the conclusion that he had no choice but to retire. Sadly, being one of the biggest men on the floor isn't always a good thing. In his final years, he struggled to stay on the court due to ankle injuries, and a great career was cut short.

Nicknames: Chairman Yao, Shaquie Chan, The Great Wall of Yao

Awards: Eight-time All-Star

HOF Chances: 45 percent

Odds of a Return: 15 percent

5. Manny Ramirez

Manny may have managed to crush more than 500 balls out of the park in his career, but after multiple positive tests for PEDs, his numbers are tarnished, and so is his legacy.

Facing an 100-game suspension for his most recent violation, Manny suddenly retired and hasn't been heard from since.

Nicknames: Manny, ManRam

Awards: 12-time All-Star, two-time World Series champion, nine-time Silver Slugger Award winner, 2004 World Series MVP

HOF Chances: One percent

Odds of a Return: Zero percent

4. Trevor Hoffman

After 18 years in the major leagues, Hoffman became the all-time leader in regular season saves with 601 and looks to be the sixth reliever enshrined in Cooperstown.

The incredible closer was best known for his changeup, and twice he was the runner-up for the Cy Young Award.

Awards: Seven-time All-Star

New Occupation: Front office job with the San Diego Padres

HOF Chances: 93 percent

Odds of a Return: Five percent

3. Randy Moss

Randy Moss had a career filled with crazy catches, controversy and even a bit of charity.

After 13 seasons with several different teams, the highly-polarized player broke a multitude of NFL records, including most touchdowns in a season (23), highest yards per catch average (15.6) and fastest player to reach 5,000 yards.

Moss is eighth all time in receptions, fifth in yards and is currently tied for second in touchdowns with Terrell Owens.

Nickname: The Freak

Awards: 1998 Rookie of the Year, seven-time Pro-Bowler, five-time All-Pro, NFL 2000s All-Decade team

HOF Chances: 95 percent

Odds of a Return: 45 percent

2. Brett Favre

Maybe this one would be bigger if it hadn't happened before...

Brett Favre holds just about every NFL passing record in the book, and he may not be finished yet. After several false retirements, it will take more than one season away from the game to convince me the old man is done for good.

The "Iron Man" brought passion and excitement to the league over the course of 297 consecutive starts as he fought a slew of injuries and an addiction to pain killers.

Favre put the once-proud Packers back on the map after he arrived in 1992 and right up until the sloppy situation that ultimately led him to ending his 20-year career with the Minnesota Vikings. 

Nicknames: The Gunslinger

Awards: Three-time NFL MVP, 11-time Pro Bowler, Super Bowl champion, six-time All-Pro

HOF Chances: 100 percent

Odds of a Return: ????

1. Shaquille O'Neal

Shaq played with six different teams throughout the course of his NBA career, taking the L.A. Lakers to a three-peat and also winning a championship with the Miami Heat.

He retired fifth on the all-time scoring list, 12th in rebounds and seventh in blocks.

Shaquille O'Neal is the biggest retiree of the year, in size and in sports.

Nicknames: Big Aristotle, Big Shaqtus, The Diesel, Superman, Big Shamrock, etc.

Awards: Four-time NBA champion, three-time Finals MVP, 15-time All-Star, two-time NBA scoring champion, 1992 Rookie of the Year

HOF Chances: 100 percent

New Occupation: Basketball analyst

Odds of a Return: One percent