Patrick Willis may retire

[RuthlessBurgher]

I'm all for encouraging people to follow their own path, but to retire after 1 season because of a fear of long term injury...well done Players Association for successfully putting the fear of God into players.

I'd like a percentage of players that have NFL CAREERS (not single season) that come away with long term side effects from head injuries.

I'm not downplaying the risk of injury. But you know what- you sign on with the risk in mind.

I feel sorry for the 49ers for wasting their time investing in a guy like this.

At least Worilds gave it a go, you know?

It is kinda odd for the kid to accept the risks of playing football for so many years from pee wee to high school to college when he wasn't getting paid for it, and then determine that the risk is too much after the first year he can finally get paid for it. He certainly didn't break the bank with a 3rd round pick signing bonus, either. At least Worilds and Willis should be able to walk away from the game financially set for life (assuming that they didn't spend irresponsibly during his short NFL career).

[RuthlessBurgher]

They were playing for a Lombardi a couple years back...who could have imagined that the 49ers would fall into such disarray so quickly?

Jim Harbaugh, Frank Gore, Patrick Willis, Mike Iupati, Justin Smith, Chris Culliver, Perrish Cox, Chris Borland, Michael Crabtree, Stevie Johnson, Brandon Lloyd, Dan Skuta...all gone.

Of course, they did sign Reggie Bush, so hausparty is likely predicting a Super Bowl victory.

[K Train]

Jim Harbaugh, Frank Gore, Patrick Willis, Mike Iupati, Justin Smith, Chris Culliver, Perrish Cox, Chris Borland, Michael Crabtree, Stevie Johnson, Brandon Lloyd, Dan Skuta...all gone.

Of course, they did sign Reggie Bush, so hausparty is likely predicting a Super Bowl victory.

Dont forget Toerry Smith getting more money than Antonio Brown

[RuthlessBurgher]

With this recent rash of early retirements, it makes the personal interviews at the Combine, Pro Days, official visits to your facility, etc. all the more important. You have to really do your best to hash out who truly LOVES THE GAME. Because if they don't truly love the game, they could easily walk away from the game with little or no warning at any time.

[feltdizz]

Borland sounds like he had the fear of God put in him...

Someone needs to start a professional flag football team

[RuthlessBurgher]

Borland sounds like he had the fear of God put in him...

Someone needs to start a professional flag football team

Niners color commentator Tim Ryan: "Patrick Willis retired. Chris Borland quit."

[papillon]

Borland sounds like he had the fear of God put in him...

Someone needs to start a professional flag football team

They do its called the NFL.

On another note, I think we're going to see more of this, especially after players get their fist big contract and signing bonus, play a few more years, earn millions and retire. I don't blame them one bit, its a dangerous sort more so than an other save for boxing and possibly wrestling "entertainment".

Pappy

[feltdizz]

Niners color commentator Tim Ryan: "Patrick Willis retired. Chris Borland quit."

he's right...

He played all these years and says he is sharp as a tack but after 1 year in the pro's he calls it quits?

I would prefer if he just said he doesn't have a love for the game. This comes across like he is trying to pimp his way into a spokesperson against the NFL.

[Slapstick]

He probably does love the game...he just likes not having dementia even more...

[Chadman]

I completely understand wanting to protect himself from long term illness. I get it, I accept it, I understand it.

But players come into the NFL fully knowing the risks involved- they've played the game long enough.

1 year after a franchise not only invested money, but also a valuable draft pick, which is a commodity in the sport of NFL, and this guy worries about the possibility that one day he might suffer an injury.

Here's hoping he never leaves his house in case he happens to have the possibility of a car accident.

That said, I sure hope he gets the gas checked for his stove regularly, you know, in case it's not 100% safe.

If the possibility of injury is too much of a burden to carry for his chosen career path, he should never have entered the draft. He does, after all, cite 2 concussions received during his college playing days. So it's not like he didn't know the risk of concussions prior to entering the NFL.

Good that he uses 4 fairly well known cases of injury related illness to justify his fear, instead of the thousands of unreported cases of no long term side effects to playing the sport...

[Slapstick]

Yeah, I don't feel bad for the team at all. The only reason people care about Borland is because he was good and he walked away. If he had sucked, nobody would care about the team's draft pick nor their money. When an NFL team cuts a player, nobody is worried about that player's long-term earning potential. Nor is anyone concerned about the player's long-term health except, in this isolated case, the player.

Borland said in an interview that he did not want to negotiate his health for money. It sounds to me like Borland knew the risks and decided that he would rather not play, given the risks. It isn't a decision for everybody.

But, if you can't see the difference between that and being afraid to drive a car, we probably won't get anywhere in this discussion.

[SteelBucks]

I completely understand wanting to protect himself from long term illness. I get it, I accept it, I understand it.

But players come into the NFL fully knowing the risks involved- they've played the game long enough.

1 year after a franchise not only invested money, but also a valuable draft pick, which is a commodity in the sport of NFL, and this guy worries about the possibility that one day he might suffer an injury.

Here's hoping he never leaves his house in case he happens to have the possibility of a car accident.

That said, I sure hope he gets the gas checked for his stove regularly, you know, in case it's not 100% safe.

If the possibility of injury is too much of a burden to carry for his chosen career path, he should never have entered the draft. He does, after all, cite 2 concussions received during his college playing days. So it's not like he didn't know the risk of concussions prior to entering the NFL.

Good that he uses 4 fairly well known cases of injury related illness to justify his fear, instead of the thousands of unreported cases of no long term side effects to playing the sport...

For the first time ever, I completely disagree (and personally disgusted) with your comments. Having a family member play in the pro's, I witnessed first hand at what a long NFL career does to the body and mind. Trivializing everyday life versus getting cracked in the head play after play isn't even comparable.

Time for me breath and walk away before I say something I regret.....

[Chadman]

It does sound like Borland knew the risks.

Prior to entering the draft.

The 49ers used a draft pick that they cannot get back on a player who clearly had misgivings about his career choice. It's probably something that he should have revealed prior to a team investing in him.

The point you overlooked wasn't the car driving scenario, but using 4 noted cases of unfortunate illness due to injury to justify the decision, while ignoring the thousands of unreported non-illness cases in comparison.

I believe the argument that he might, one day, possibly suffer an injury, because those 4 guys did, is a pretty weak argument when put against the heavy majority of former NFL players who go on & lead pretty normal lives after their career.

I'm not against him retiring. That's fine. But his reason is pretty poor. If he just said "I don't feel any passion for the game", at least he wouldn't be casting some kind of bad light on the NFL to the general public. As it stands now, the average non-NFL follower will see "Borland quits because of long term injury fears" and will have every justification to believe that the NFL is an unsafe, unfair work environment.

These guys know what they sign up for.

[Chadman]

For the first time ever, I completely disagree (and personally disgusted) with your comments. Having a family member play in the pro's, I witnessed first hand at what a long NFL career does to the body and mind. Trivializing everyday life versus getting cracked in the head play after play isn't even comparable.

Time for me breath and walk away before I say something I regret.....

Say whatever you like. I won't be offended.

I'm ok with being wrong in your view, I stand by what I think would have been the right thing by players who feel the game is too risky should do- don't even enter the draft.

[SteelBucks]

Say whatever you like. I won't be offended.

I'm ok with being wrong in your view, I stand by what I think would have been the right thing by players who feel the game is too risky should do- don't even enter the draft.

Sorry for the rant. It just struck a nerve. That's what I like about this board; we can agree to disagree without the fear of being banned.....well, with some exceptions.