The Arizona Cardinals are going to have a new starting running back this season. Rashard Mendenhall announced over the weekend that he would be retiring from the National Football League. Mendenhall has said that he has been debating this decision for the past month or so but finally came to a decision on Saturday.
Mendenhall revealed that he was tired of having to live his private life through the views of the entire public. He mentions how professional athletes are sometimes made to be entertainers, which is something he was not focused on. NFL.com mentions how Mendenhall stated that he was more than just the stereotypes that were placed on professional athletes and how he did not want to hold any press conference when he announced his retirement.
Mendenhall is still very passionate about the game, but he said that he is tired of having his entire life viewed and dissected by the public. He also doesn’t want the physical tole of years playing in the NFL to affect the rest of his life.
ESPN reports that as a free agent, it was not certain how much Mendenhall would be offered and if any team would sign him during this offseason. Mendenhall was going to be facing a tough battle for his starting job in Arizona against his teammate and fellow running back Andre Ellington.
In his six years in the NFL, Mendenhall spent five with the Pittsburgh Steelers and just one with the Arizona Cardinals. He attended college at the University of Illinois and throughout his professional career, scored 37 touchdowns and rushed for over 4,000 yards. Injuries had been plaguing him for the past few years, which could be a strong factor in his early retirement.
Image: Wikimedia Commons
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