CFZ Father Time is Undefeated

[Captain-Crash]

He was basically through when he left GB. Now he can take his money and stay home.

 

[MistyAnn]

It is always sad to see a great go down to father time, few can hang on forever as much as we'd like them to, some quit way before time, and others die in the process - Dale Earnhardt, Apollo Creed and Lynyrd Skynyrd amoungst them.
Truthfully we feel attached to these greats and it's hard to let go.
In the mean time, we can worship the current greats while we can.

 

[Motorola]

I always hate seeing any player get hurt regardless of the team. Especially when it’s a serious injury like Aaron Rodgers apparently tearing his achilles. It’s brutal.

But it has also always fascinated me that some of the all time greats in sports somehow don’t know when it’s time to retire. So many HOFers and all time greats don’t hear the gentle raps on the retirement door by Father Time. Just look at the list of guys who had reached great heights in their respective sports only to continue their athletic competition after they are probably too old.

Look at these all time greats who probably should have retired:

• Muhammad Ali- my favorite boxer. Despite approaching 40 and having taken some terrible shots over the years, he continued to box until it was sad to watch.
• Michael Jordan- IMO the greatest basketball player of all time ended his career looking very human while playing for the Washington Wizards. He was a shell of what he once was.
• Johnny Unitas- the former Colt HOFer insisted on playing at 40 for the Chargers when his body was broken. He looked pitiful.
• Joe Namath- after multiple knee injuries and his SB win in ‘68, Namath kept his career alive playing for the rams. It was embarrassing. He could hardly move.
• Tony Dorsett- after a HOF career in Dallas, TD played one year for the Denver Broncos in 1988 and looked like an old man. He should have retired a Cowboy.
• Brett Farve- how many times did he come out of retirement?

This list is incomplete. And Tom Brady was an exception because although he looked less effective, still won a SB at 42. But he was the extremely rare exception. Aaron Rodgers may have played his last game. IMO, he should have just retired.

Father Time is undefeated.

Jerry Rice - that last season split between the Raiders and Seahawks.
Then signing on with the Broncos the following offseason, before changing his mind and retiring before the 2005 season started.

Except for Gene Tunney, Rocky Marciano, and Floyd Mayweather Jr, most great boxers have dragged their careers on unnecessarily.

John Elway did the right thing - went out on top.

 

[mattjames2010]

I used to not like Rodgers personality, not that I claimed him to be what others on here say he is (POS or scumbag), but the past few years I've noticed he's one of the more real guys in the entire NFL. He doesn't do media speak or try to be a people pleaser - fans say they want real but when they get it they hate it. Rodgers was also one of the first to call out Favre for being a complete tool.

 

[gtb1943]

As I get older, I start to look to these guys for inspiration. If someone can play pro sports until their mid-40’s, I have no excuse not to be active in my 50’s.

• Tons of HOF kickers who played until almost 50. Blanda, Anderson, Vinatieri, etc.
• Yeah, I know they’re kickers. So, a short list of players who still produced at 40.
  • Jerry Rice
  • Darrell Green
  • Tom Brady
  • Warren Moon
  • Doug Flutie
  • Brett Favre
  • Jackie Slater
  • Bruce Matthews
  • Junior Seau
• Almost all Hall of Famers.

Darrel Green was the only DB I ever saw that maintained his speed so long
BUT lets be honest here
ALL of them were not what they were at their peak; all way past their prime. Even Brady who came closest to maintaining his level of play.

Sure they were productive; but still in most cases a shell of what they were at their best.

Jim Brown had it right; called it quits while he was still right near his peak.

Emmitt the last year was sad. BUT he had not been all that for several years before it.

 

[OmerV]

No man stops the hands of time.

You obviously weren't there when I smashed my alarm clock against the wall in 1978

 

[starfan1]

Yes you are right it kills me I had to stop hooping but the last few years were well below what I loved doing some folks hold on too long

 

[Bobhaze]

You obviously weren't there when I smashed my alarm clock against the wall in 1978

Darrel Green was the only DB I ever saw that maintained his speed so long
BUT lets be honest here
ALL of them were not what they were at their peak; all way past their prime. Even Brady who came closest to maintaining his level of play.

Sure they were productive; but still in most cases a shell of what they were at their best.

Jim Brown had it right; called it quits while he was still right near his peak.

Emmitt the last year was sad. BUT he had not been all that for several years before it.

Agree 100%. And Jim Brown did do his retirement perfectly. He could have played maybe 2-3 more years but he decided at 29 he had done his best work. Barry Sanders was very similar. Could have played longer. Both are in the HOF having retired maybe a year early. But I admire them even more for knowing when it was their peak.

 

[Clove]

I always hate seeing any player get hurt regardless of the team. Especially when it’s a serious injury like Aaron Rodgers apparently tearing his achilles. It’s brutal.

But it has also always fascinated me that some of the all time greats in sports somehow don’t know when it’s time to retire. So many HOFers and all time greats don’t hear the gentle raps on the retirement door by Father Time. Just look at the list of guys who had reached great heights in their respective sports only to continue their athletic competition after they are probably too old.

Look at these all time greats who probably should have retired:

• Muhammad Ali- my favorite boxer. Despite approaching 40 and having taken some terrible shots over the years, he continued to box until it was sad to watch.
• Michael Jordan- IMO the greatest basketball player of all time ended his career looking very human while playing for the Washington Wizards. He was a shell of what he once was.
• Johnny Unitas- the former Colt HOFer insisted on playing at 40 for the Chargers when his body was broken. He looked pitiful.
• Joe Namath- after multiple knee injuries and his SB win in ‘68, Namath kept his career alive playing for the rams. It was embarrassing. He could hardly move.
• Tony Dorsett- after a HOF career in Dallas, TD played one year for the Denver Broncos in 1988 and looked like an old man. He should have retired a Cowboy.
• Brett Farve- how many times did he come out of retirement?

This list is incomplete. And Tom Brady was an exception because although he looked less effective, still won a SB at 42. But he was the extremely rare exception. Aaron Rodgers may have played his last game. IMO, he should have just retired.

Father Time is undefeated.

As you age, your bones aren't stronger, your joints get weaker, your body takes longer to recover and a host of other things. It's like a car aging, you have to replace things, but in a human's case, you can't really replace things.

 

[OGSixshooter]

I always hate seeing any player get hurt regardless of the team. Especially when it’s a serious injury like Aaron Rodgers apparently tearing his achilles. It’s brutal.

But it has also always fascinated me that some of the all time greats in sports somehow don’t know when it’s time to retire. So many HOFers and all time greats don’t hear the gentle raps on the retirement door by Father Time. Just look at the list of guys who had reached great heights in their respective sports only to continue their athletic competition after they are probably too old.

Look at these all time greats who probably should have retired:

• Muhammad Ali- my favorite boxer. Despite approaching 40 and having taken some terrible shots over the years, he continued to box until it was sad to watch.
• Michael Jordan- IMO the greatest basketball player of all time ended his career looking very human while playing for the Washington Wizards. He was a shell of what he once was.
• Johnny Unitas- the former Colt HOFer insisted on playing at 40 for the Chargers when his body was broken. He looked pitiful.
• Joe Namath- after multiple knee injuries and his SB win in ‘68, Namath kept his career alive playing for the rams. It was embarrassing. He could hardly move.
• Tony Dorsett- after a HOF career in Dallas, TD played one year for the Denver Broncos in 1988 and looked like an old man. He should have retired a Cowboy.
• Brett Farve- how many times did he come out of retirement?

This list is incomplete. And Tom Brady was an exception because although he looked less effective, still won a SB at 42. But he was the extremely rare exception. Aaron Rodgers may have played his last game. IMO, he should have just retired.

Father Time is undefeated.

Father Time and Mother Nature...they are no respecter of persons.

 

[Motorola]

This makes me think of this new commercial. You've probably all seen it? Hilarious.

Emmitt sleeping on the bench.

It is a great commercial - kudos to the Pespi marketing group.

 

[DonaldM]

This makes me think of this new commercial. You've probably all seen it? Hilarious.

Emmitt sleeping on the bench.

Great commercial

 

[Motorola]

Great commercial

So who is the former player with Brady relaxing on the poolside chairs?

 

[VaqueroTD]

So who is the former player with Brady relaxing on the poolside chairs?

Julian Edelman. Took me a while to figure out too. Should have put Gronk in. Make more sense too.

 

[AsthmaField]

Father Time is undefeated, I agree… however, Tom Brady took him into double overtime.

 

[KMY_Amber]

This list is incomplete. And Tom Brady was an exception because although he looked less effective, still won a SB at 42. But he was the extremely rare exception. Aaron Rodgers may have played his last game. IMO, he should have just retired.

Father Time is undefeated.

Tom Brady winning a Superbowl at age 42, and was an integral part of their success (he wasn't simply a bus driver)...to me that means that Father Time is not quite undefeated. Brady defied the odds for sure.

And since your list includes some non-football examples, I think Julio Franco was 48 when he retired, and he had a lot of success in his 40's. That's old. Ancient in a major professional sport. "In some 637 games played after 40, Franco scored 181 runs while adding 409 hits. Of those, 72 were doubles, seven triples and 32 were home runs. Franco added 213 RBI and 21 stolen bases to his .245/.310/.354/.664 post-40 batting line." Impressive.

And Gordie Howe is not only the oldest player ever in NHL history, retiring at the age of 52, he was also one of the sport’s most prolific and greatest hockey players of all time. 52!

And there have been a few 43+-year-old basketball players that had success late in their careers.

So, I'd say Father Time is almost undefeated.

 

[Robbieac]

Why is this thread allowed to remain in the fan zone?

There are good threads with a strong Cowboys connection that are moved to die in other forums all the time.

But this one is generic and mainly Aaron Rodgers related, and it’s allowed to stay….

 

[plasticman]

Roger Staubach retired after a season in which he led all QB's in passer rating. At the time of his retirement, he was the leading passer in NFL history.

I was disappointed at the time because I was selfish. I wanted more SB trophies for my team.

Today, I praise him because I know he loved the game but he didn't want to experience that phase of the career where they decline and can't be what they used to.

I'll never forget Troy Aikman being booed at the end of his career. I felt so bad for him. That would have been really tough to see if it happened to my hero, Roger Staubach.

 

[Verdict]

I always hate seeing any player get hurt regardless of the team. Especially when it’s a serious injury like Aaron Rodgers apparently tearing his achilles. It’s brutal.

But it has also always fascinated me that some of the all time greats in sports somehow don’t know when it’s time to retire. So many HOFers and all time greats don’t hear the gentle raps on the retirement door by Father Time. Just look at the list of guys who had reached great heights in their respective sports only to continue their athletic competition after they are probably too old.

Look at these all time greats who probably should have retired:

• Muhammad Ali- my favorite boxer. Despite approaching 40 and having taken some terrible shots over the years, he continued to box until it was sad to watch.
• Michael Jordan- IMO the greatest basketball player of all time ended his career looking very human while playing for the Washington Wizards. He was a shell of what he once was.
• Johnny Unitas- the former Colt HOFer insisted on playing at 40 for the Chargers when his body was broken. He looked pitiful.
• Joe Namath- after multiple knee injuries and his SB win in ‘68, Namath kept his career alive playing for the rams. It was embarrassing. He could hardly move.
• Tony Dorsett- after a HOF career in Dallas, TD played one year for the Denver Broncos in 1988 and looked like an old man. He should have retired a Cowboy.
• Brett Farve- how many times did he come out of retirement?

This list is incomplete. And Tom Brady was an exception because although he looked less effective, still won a SB at 42. But he was the extremely rare exception. Aaron Rodgers may have played his last game. IMO, he should have just retired.

Father Time is undefeated.

I think Rodgers will attempt to play next season, but his best years appear to be in the rear view mirror. Rodgers has millions of reasons ($) to continue to play.

 

[Reverend Conehead]

I always hate seeing any player get hurt regardless of the team. Especially when it’s a serious injury like Aaron Rodgers apparently tearing his achilles. It’s brutal.

But it has also always fascinated me that some of the all time greats in sports somehow don’t know when it’s time to retire. So many HOFers and all time greats don’t hear the gentle raps on the retirement door by Father Time. Just look at the list of guys who had reached great heights in their respective sports only to continue their athletic competition after they are probably too old.

Look at these all time greats who probably should have retired:

• Muhammad Ali- my favorite boxer. Despite approaching 40 and having taken some terrible shots over the years, he continued to box until it was sad to watch.
• Michael Jordan- IMO the greatest basketball player of all time ended his career looking very human while playing for the Washington Wizards. He was a shell of what he once was.
• Johnny Unitas- the former Colt HOFer insisted on playing at 40 for the Chargers when his body was broken. He looked pitiful.
• Joe Namath- after multiple knee injuries and his SB win in ‘68, Namath kept his career alive playing for the rams. It was embarrassing. He could hardly move.
• Tony Dorsett- after a HOF career in Dallas, TD played one year for the Denver Broncos in 1988 and looked like an old man. He should have retired a Cowboy.
• Brett Farve- how many times did he come out of retirement?

This list is incomplete. And Tom Brady was an exception because although he looked less effective, still won a SB at 42. But he was the extremely rare exception. Aaron Rodgers may have played his last game. IMO, he should have just retired.

Father Time is undefeated.

Jim Plunkett also hung on for a while after his skills had noticeably declined.