“Megatron” Retires At Age 30

You can't blame the guy.  He's made a crap-load of money.  Why not get out now?  And no, not just because you play for the perennial losers, Detroit Lions.  I'd get out while you're brain is still functioning properly.  Calvin Johnson, one of the best to ever play wider receiver, is retiring after 9 NFL seasons at the age of 30.

Michael Jordan's first retirement from basketball came at age 30, but that was after MJ had won 3 championships in a row.  He had nothing left to prove.  Jordan would of course return (and retire again... and return a second time... and retire a third time).  However, I haven't heard of many former basketball players that suffer from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive degenerative disease found in people who have suffered severe blows to the head.

Calvin Johnson, on the other hand, has never come close to Super Bowl glory.  Unlike Jordan, you could argue that he had plenty left to accomplish on the gridiron.  But is it worth it?  Football is increasingly in the spotlight for the dangers that concussions and brain injury bring.  Former players are suffering, some even committing suicide.  I'll never blame a player for getting out.

I have no idea how much the dangers of football played into Johnson's decision.  In his retirement announcement, he gave props to the game for all it has provided him.  Yes, it's an great, entertaining game.  But you could argue that the Colosseum in Rome provided great entertainment.  It doesn't mean it was good for the gladiators or the animals that were ripped to shreds.

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