ESPND: Ex-Cowboys OL Marc Colombo keeps himself busy with new stages in retirement

[WoodysGirl]

By Todd Archer | ESPNDallas.com

IRVING, Texas -- Marc Colombo stood on the sideline early Monday evening at Cowboys Stadium and felt that familiar adrenaline that ran through his body for 10 years.

So badly the former offensive tackle wanted to grab a helmet and put on some shoulder pads and do what he did for three seasons with the Chicago Bears, six seasons with the Dallas Cowboys and one with the Miami Dolphins. Instead, the closest he could get was to talk to his former teammates and coaches as he wore a T-shirt and a pair of jeans.

"I was like a social butterfly, and I'm not like that," Colombo said. "You could tell I was in a happy place."

Monday's game between the Cowboys and Bears was the first he attended since announcing his retirement in the offseason. At 33 and only a few months into this transition, Colombo is content knowing his playing days have ended, but Monday's visit helped him realize that he would want to be a coach one day.

When players retire the statistics are overwhelmingly against them, or so it seems. Stories of financial distress, chemical dependency and poor health seem to dominate the headlines. Colombo watched ESPN's 30 for 30 documentary "Broke" the other night and saw all of the cautionary tales.

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