After seven injury-filled seasons, Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice has had enough of the NFL. The 27-year-old has decided to retire, the Seahawks announced on Wednesday.
Rice missed the final eight games of the Seahawks 2013 season after tearing his ACL in a Week 8 win over the Rams. Rice was then cut by Seattle in February in a cost-cutting move that cleared up $7.3 million in 2014 cap space for Seahawks. However, Rice returned to the team in April when he signed a one-year deal.
The receiver's injury history played a large part in his decision to retire, "I was just thinking about things I've been through in the last few years," Rice told the team's official website. "I've hit the ground a number of times. I have quite a few injuries. It's something I've always battled through and came back from, But I just figure at this point I have the rest of my life ahead of me and I want to be able to function and do things later down the road."
We wish Rice the best of luck in his future endeavors. It's a pragmatic move by a player who sees the risks involved with continuing his career given his history of concussions. His departure should shore up Jermaine Kearse's snaps and opens the door for rookie Paul Richardson to see a role as a deep threat.
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