Quarterback Jake Locker was a first-round disappointment with the Tennessee Titans, but as he hit free agency there was at least a sliver of hope that a chance of scenery could change how he was viewed as an NFL player.
Locker had no interest.
In a surprise, Locker retired rather than try to resurrect his career. He's just 26 years old. He played just 30 NFL games. He made about $12.5 million, the windfall from being the eighth overall pick of the 2012 draft. Fox Sports 1's Mike Garafolo and NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Locker's retirement.
"I am retiring from football after much reflection and discussion with my family," Locker said in a statement, via Garafolo. "I will always be grateful for having had the opportunity to realize my childhood dream of playing in the NFL and for the lifelong relationships I developed because of that experience. Football has always played a pivotal role in my life and I love the game, but I no longer have the burning desire necessary to play the game for a living; to continue to do so would be unfair to the next organization with whom I would eventually sign. I realize this decision is surprising to many, but I know in my heart that it is the right decision and I look forward to spending more time with my family and pursuing other interests.”
The NFL isn't an easy life, especially for someone who had as many injuries as Locker. That's a main reason Locker never came close to living up to his draft status. He never played more than 11 games in a season. He was also inaccurate and the Titans didn't seem to make any effort to bring him back when his contract was up. If he is in fact done with the NFL, he'll finish with just 4,967 yards, 27 touchdowns and 22 interceptions.
The class of quarterbacks in free agency was already pretty weak, and it's certainly not any stronger with Locker walking away from the NFL.
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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab
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