Randall Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 After signing withe the Saints earlier this offseason, LB Dan Morgan has decided to retire. What could have been. On a per-game basis, few linebackers were more productive this decade; Morgan just couldn't stay on the field. He had the instincts and explosion not unlike Ray Lewis, his linebacker mentor at Miami. Morgan's recovery from Achilles surgery is causing his retirement, but it's for the best. He's endured chronic concussion problems since 2003. Scott Shanle should start for the Saints on the weak side. Source: New Orleans Times-Picayune Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Swerski Posted May 19, 2008 Share Posted May 19, 2008 I'm glad that he's retiring, given all of the concussions that he's suffered. Winning a ring doesn't mean much if you can't remember winning it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 That makes twice the Saints sign a LB slotted to start & they retire. Honestly I wasn't expecting much from Morgan, but it was a nice thought while it lasted. I would expect them to bring in another LB before camp to compete with Shanle. Regardless of who it is though I wouldn't expect them to start. I think they hoped Morgan would be their man & anyone they sign at this point would have to really impress in camp to earn a starting slot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LooGie Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 this just in: Dan Morgan suffered another concussion while brushing his teeth slightly too vigorously this morning. When asked if this prompted his retirement decision, Dan Morgan blinked twice and gave himself another concussion. We would've stayed to follow up, but he was about to chew some gum, and we didn't want to stick around through the next 7 or 8 concussions he might suffer if he chewed too rough. Thanks for the memories...err..um..thanks for the potential memories we WOULDA experienced if you could've stayed on the field. He spent so much time on the couch, I bet he forgot how to even GET to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darin3 Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 this just in: Dan Morgan suffered another concussion while brushing his teeth slightly too vigorously this morning. When asked if this prompted his retirement decision, Dan Morgan blinked twice and gave himself another concussion. We would've stayed to follow up, but he was about to chew some gum, and we didn't want to stick around through the next 7 or 8 concussions he might suffer if he chewed too rough. Thanks for the memories...err..um..thanks for the potential memories we WOULDA experienced if you could've stayed on the field. He spent so much time on the couch, I bet he forgot how to even GET to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KSUChiefsTarheelFan Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 Odell Thurman is looking for a job isn't he? Maybe Morgan and Romanowski can have a beer and reminisce about the good ol days....I mean yesterday...I mean, what day is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted May 20, 2008 Author Share Posted May 20, 2008 He could have saved his achilles had he done this 2 years ago. It is tough to leave. It's a great game. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wolf Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 He could have saved his achilles had he done this 2 years ago. It is tough to leave. It's a great game. +1 Athletes at this level are very competitive, driven people. As easy as it is for non-athletes to say he should have retired years ago, those that know the drive of a professioinal athlete would understand Morgan's actions. I once played half of a softball season...softball, not pro football in the NFL...with a torn ligament in my ankle. Hurt like a b*tch but I was not leaving the field. I couldn't imagine not playing. Imagine how a professional football player approaches the game? Probably with 1,000 times more intensity and drive than I did. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrTed46 Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 Thanks for the memories...err..um..thanks for the potential memories we WOULDA experienced if you could've stayed on the field. He spent so much time on the couch, I bet he forgot how to even GET to work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 Wow... People are actually mocking a guy that did everything he could to play... He may face some serious health issues down the road and some clowns are making jokes... Nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 (edited) Wow... People are actually mocking a guy that did everything he could to play... He may face some serious health issues down the road and some clowns are making jokes... Nice. +1 It's a shame actually, Morgan was a supremely talented LB & had the right attitude to go with the talent. It's really too bad his body couldn't take it. Maybe if the guy was a thug I could understand the pop shots at him, but that certainly wasn't the case here. Edited May 20, 2008 by rajncajn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 +1 It's a shame actually, Morgan was a supremely talented LB & had the right attitude to go with the talent. It's really too bad his body couldn't take it. Morgan was an absolute beast when he was on the field... I was really looking forward to seeing him lineup in New Orleans this year... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 Morgan was an absolute beast when he was on the field... I was really looking forward to seeing him lineup in New Orleans this year... Me too, I was really hoping the new scenery would turn things around for him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rajncajn Posted May 20, 2008 Share Posted May 20, 2008 http://www.nola.com/saints/t-p/index.ssf?/....xml&coll=1 Saints' Morgan calls it quitsInjury-plagued linebacker retires after seven seasons Tuesday, May 20, 2008 By Mike Triplett Linebacker Dan Morgan announced his retirement Monday at 29, ending his comeback attempt with the Saints. Morgan signed a one-year deal in March after he was released by the Carolina Panthers. But he decided that he would not be able to come back from an Achilles tendon injury and a series of concussions that derailed his promising career the past two years. "It definitely was not an overnight decision," said Morgan, who said he consulted with his wife and family before making the decision a few days ago. "It was just waking up in the morning, the retirement thing was in my head, and it wasn't going away. I've never felt like that before. "I think the Achilles will eventually heal. But that, with (the other injuries in) my past all wrapped up, is kind of what drove me to this decision. I just really kind of had enough and was ready to move on with my life." Morgan had been training and rehabbing primarily with a personal trainer in Arizona. His decision came just before the start of the Saints' offseason training activities, a four-week stretch of voluntary full-team practice sessions. Morgan's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, commended the Saints for their support of Morgan's decision. The Saints staff is disappointed, but they knew Morgan's return was a long-shot proposition. He signed an incentive-laden deal that is not believed to have included any signing bonus. If so, it was minimal. Morgan was expected to compete with veteran Scott Shanle for the starting weakside linebacker job. Now, Shanle likely will face competition from veterans Mark Simoneau and Troy Evans and second-year pro Marvin Mitchell. "When we signed Dan he was committed to making a fresh start, and he was making every effort to rehabilitate the leg injury that he suffered last year," Saints Coach Sean Payton said. "But it wasn't responding as well as he had hoped it would. We wish him well in his continued recovery, and he will be remembered for the excellent player he was during his career." At his peak, Morgan was a menace, one of the best young playmakers in the league. The highlight of his career came in Super Bowl XXXVIII, when he had an astounding 25 tackles during a 32-29 loss to the New England Patriots. He finished with 452 tackles in his seven-year career, including a career-high 109 in 2004, when he was selected a Pro Bowl starter. He had four forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, five interceptions and seven sacks. He also had a terrific college career at Miami, where in 2000 he was the first player to win the Butkus Award, Bednarik Award and Nagurski Award in the same season. Morgan's NFL career always was plagued by nagging injuries (a broken leg in 2001, a series of concussions and groin, shoulder, hamstring and ankle injuries the next few years). However, they took a more serious turn in 2006 when he missed 15 games with two major concussions. He missed 13 games last season because of the partially torn Achilles tendon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaterMan Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 The pop shots are just the overweight who are jealous of NFL players. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dirtdickens Posted May 21, 2008 Share Posted May 21, 2008 Too bad he never stuck in the pros. He was one of my all time favorite college players. ESPN the Mag did a story a few years ago on his relationship with his father(awesome read), what an all around bad ass. Cracker Backer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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