Richie James, 29, bids an austere goodbye to the gridiron amidst recurring health scares
There's no certain age to hang up the boots for an
NFL
player, but doesn't 29 look like a waste of potential? Too early an age to drop the bundle in the locker room, indeed! But Richie James, Kansas Chiefs Wide Receiver, made the call, unshaken.
Remember that crazy' 184-yard mark at Green Bay? The Chad plays, that iconic kick return touchdown that set the 49ers veteran apart from any other regular left round guy, still haunts the football freaks. But Richie, the crown jewel of a relatively younger roster of the 49ers, heading towards 2025, decided to leave no ordinary footsteps behind. His magic boy era is done for good, and he lets it be remembered like this forever.
No scratches, no dents.
Richie James signs off at the age of 29
James, 29, was suffering from a stubborn knee injury from 2022, a common side effect of being under the on-field grind. But the problem in his case is that he never really healed, even after long treatment. The former Tennessee middle star still doesn't feel at his best using his knees for the plays. And that made him eventually consider a wrap. Yes, that's all about it. It's all or nothing for the Super Bowl champ.
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He doesn't want to compromise his performance.
A single Twitter post revealed his deepest commitment as a quality player:
''It took time, but I have come to realize I am retired from the NFL. 7th round out of MTSU. I feel like I was just a ballplayer to last that long. Unfortunately, my knee never healed properly. I have been playing hurt since ''22.''
The confession, carrying a lot of silent pain and sacrifice, didn't allow him to go for a traditional retirement celebration. It's quiet, hollow, uninvited, yet inevitable, just like his meteoric rise to the lore from a mere 7th-round pick.
Richie James' NFL curve is no less than a fairytale
Dating back to the NFL draft season of 2018, a small 5 ft 10 guy from Florida made it to the San Francisco locker room as a late seventh-round pick.
He has gone from rags to riches once he started to hit the field. His grit, indomitable talents didn't go unnoticed. As a rookie, he mounted for 655 yards on 35 kick returns (18.7 average) and even took one back 97 yards to the house. Add in nine catches for 130 yards and a classy touchdown.
Enough to certify his class. Early.
That was only the prelude to a full-blown song. Richie called it a career worth lauding. 2020 came as a crucial turning point that solidified his status as a star.
That nine catches for 184 yards and a touchdown against the Packers was a remarkable feather in his cap.
But things started to change afterward as injury got the better of him. After missing the season opener in 2021, Richie couldn't really get back to his form under Shanahan. He moved on with the Giants and Chiefs and won the Super Bowl LVIII. Again, a watershed moment to make people stop and stare! But who could see that was going to be the final pose of Richie with a trophy, ever! A tragic short story that could have turned into a novel but didn't.
Richie James, 29, stands out, regardless, loud and proud.
Also read:
Von Miller's Commanders contract details revealed: $6.1M deal with big incentives | NFL News - Times of India
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