This time, it's for good
White officially retires from NFL for second time
Posted: Monday February 15, 1999 10:32 PM
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See you in Canton: Reggie White (with Lawrence Taylor) played his final game in the Pro Bowl. AP |
MILWAUKEE (AP) - This time, Reggie White put it in
writing.
The NFL's career sacks leader turned in his retirement letter to Green Bay Packers general
manager Ron Wolf on Monday -- and gave no indication he intends to return.
"He's officially retired. It's over. I think he's had it," Packers
spokesman Lee Remmel said.
The 37-year-old White had said last season would be his last. But there
were hints the All-Pro player might change his mind after the Packers hired
his longtime friend, Ray Rhodes, as head coach to replace Mike Holmgren.
White wound up making 16 sacks and earning Defensive Player of the Year
honors in what was to be his farewell season, and that also raised
speculation he might not be ready to retire.
Then came reports during the weekend that a return by White would cause
trouble for the Packers in staying within the NFL salary cap.
White, an ordained minister, told Milwaukee station WITI-TV that the only
factor in his decision was "what I think the Lord wants me to do."
Last April, White said he intended to retire. But after repeating to
Holmgren he wouldn't come back, White said he had a revelation while having
back therapy.
"God spoke to me and said you made a promise," White said at the time.
"When I signed the deal last year, I signed a five-year deal with the
promise that I would play for two years."
Last month, after the Packers lost to San Francisco in the playoffs, White
said he expected to retire and focus on his other interests.
But when he was in Hawaii earlier this month for his record 11th Pro Bowl
appearance, he seemed to leave a slight opening when he told an interviewer
he was "intrigued" about the idea of returning to play under Rhodes.
"When Ray got the job, if anyone else had gotten the job I wouldn't have
been intrigued," White said earlier this month. "I've really been praying
about it and thinking about it. Right now I'm retired."
Wolf had acknowledged the Packers were counting on White's $4.4 million
salary to provide room under the salary cap to pay defensive tackle Santana Dotson and
linebacker George
Koonce under the long-term deals they agreed to last Friday.
The team also has yet to sign All-Pro wide receiver Antonio Freeman, who was
designated last week as the Packers' franchise player.
The Packers this week lost their first free agent since the signing period
began, as guard Adam
Timmerman signed a five-year contract with the St. Louis Rams.
Wolf and Holmgren brought White to Green Bay as a free agent in April 1993,
and the longtime Philadelphia Eagles star
helped return the Packers to the Super Bowl for the first time in almost
three decades in January 1997, when they beat New England 35-21.
Wolf told the Green Bay Press-Gazette on Monday that the NFL has asked
teams not to retire more player numbers, but don't expect to see White's
No. 92 on the field any time soon.
Already retired by the Packers are Tony Canadeo's No. 3, Don Hutson's No.
14, Bart Starr's No. 15 and Ray Nitschke's No. 66.
"The league has asked all of us to not retire numbers anymore," Wolf said.
"I'd think we'll retire the jersey, not the number, if you know what I
mean. But I can say this: No one will wear that number as long as I'm
here."
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