I'd love to see John Kasay retire a Panther. I'd love to see him retire. He's had an exceptional career. He was a kicker and a leader. How many kickers are leaders? Leadership has to be earned, and most kickers aren't on the field enough to earn it. Kasay led quietly.
Most of us like to see the athletes we admire retire before their work diminishes. We shudder when we see Willie Mays, Joe Namath,Joe Montana or Emmitt Smith wearing the uniform of another team. The colors are never right. The athletes look like temps.
We'd like to preserve the legacies of our athletes behind thick glass.
Players, however, don't want to be preserved, not when they think they still have something to give. And after the success they've enjoyed, of course they think they can still contribute.
Rather than quietly retire a Panther, Kasay is in New Orleans, an injury replacement for the Saints. He gets to be one of the guys in the locker room again, and he gets to again do the work that has distinguished him since he left college.
Hope he stays as long as he wants. Hope he enjoys himself. Hope that when he leaves, he's ready for whatever comes next.
You are leaving your self open to "why don't you retire" messages, Tom. Not from me though I love you like a brother.
I always remember what Ken Stabler said about why he hung on so long. "It's all I ever did since I was 8 years old. I could. I have never been anything but a QB all my life, it's all I know."
Posted by: Sportsdon | August 31, 2011 at 05:18 PM
joe montana dragged the chiefs one game away from the superbowl and could still play when he quit.
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Posted by: Alostora | September 22, 2012 at 12:13 AM