Terrell Davis to officially retire after Monday’s game

Terrell Davis to officially retire after Monday’s game|

By Kamon Simpson
The Gazette
(KRT)
DENVER — Turning the page and closing the chapter on one of the most successful careers in team history, the Denver Broncos have decided to place beleaguered running back Terrell Davis on injured reserve, ending his season and his career.
The move will be delayed for a couple of days to allow Davis to suit up for one final game, Monday’s preseason home opener against the San Francisco 49ers. He won’t play because of his latest injury, a sore and swollen left knee.
Davis - who helped lead the Broncos to Super Bowl victories in 1997 and 1998, is one of eight players to be named both Super Bowl and NFL most valuable player, and is the franchise’s all-time rushing leader with 7,607 yards- will eventually announce his retirement.
‘‘We wouldn’t have two Super Bowl rings without him,’’ tight end Shannon Sharpe said Saturday. ‘‘I think you can make a strong case for him being in the Hall of Fame, based on what he did while he was healthy.
‘‘It’s his decision (to retire). For eight years, he did what was right for the Broncos. Now it’s time for him to do what’s right for himself.’’
Davis, 30, came to his decision Saturday after receiving an update from doctors. He met with Broncos coach Mike Shanahan twice, before and after the team’s Orange & Blue Family Fest practice at Invesco Field at Mile High.
‘‘He’s at peace with himself,’’ Neil Schwartz, Davis’ agent, said by phone from Atlanta on Saturday evening. ‘‘Terrell feels that he always has done everything he possibly could to play football. Unfortunately, his body at this point in time is not cooperating. He wanted to leave on his own terms.’’
An MRI performed last Sunday revealed further degeneration to Davis’ left knee, which was too sore to allow him to play in the preseason opener against the Chicago Bears in Champaign, Ill. Schwartz said that the turning point came Monday night, when Davis’ knee was drained.
Although the knee had been drained of fluid twice before the Chicago game, ‘‘both times the fluid was clear, which is normal,’’ Schwartz said. ‘‘But this time, there was blood and other bad signs.
‘‘He knew then that barring a medical miracle, the deterioration in his knee was so bad that he wouldn’t be able to come back. Up until that time, he had taken a wait-and-see attitude. You know, Terrell is an eternal optimist. That night when I talked to him, it was the first time he was ever distraught.’’
Davis has been unable to practice all week, and has admitted since the Chicago game that he was contemplating retirement, having endured one setback after another over the past four years.
‘‘It’s not like this came out of the clear blue sky,’’ Davis said. ‘‘These are factors that I’ve had to think about, you know, year in and year out. So it wasn’t like one event happened and here we are faced with this situation.
‘‘I was hoping by this time it would get better, but as you get older, obviously, it can get worse.’’
Davis has not played in a full season since 1998, when he was the league’s MVP after rushing for 2,008 yards - becoming only the fourth running back in NFL history to crack the 2,000-yard barrier.
He suffered a massive right knee injury in the fourth game of the 1999 season, tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament, partially tearing his medial collateral ligament and sustaining cartilage damage. In the four previous seasons he rushed for 6,413 yards and 56 touchdowns, but he hasn’t been the same since.
Stress fractures and ankle problems limited Davis to five games in 2000 and more knee problems held him to eight games last season, when he led the Broncos with 701 yards.
Davis, famous for his ‘‘Mile High Salute’’ after scoring touchdowns, never had to come up with a new name for the gesture at Invesco Field; he didn’t score a touchdown last season.
Davis is suffering from bone-on-bone soreness in both his knees and has been diagnosed with a degenerative, arthritic condition.
‘‘In football, I am pretty old,’’ he said. ‘‘Especially for a running back.’’
Now he’s at the end of a brilliant career, and the years have finally caught up with him.
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(c) 2002, The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.).
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Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.

 

SO Portis and Gary will fight it out. I heard Gary has fallen out of the coaches graces lately

 

hope some new technology comes along for TD

• 18AUG02 Denver Post on Terrell Davis :

A seven-year run awash in accomplishment yet mired in disappointment was halted Saturday when the Broncos agreed to place (RB) Davis on the injured-reserve list, officially ending his season and unofficially ending his career. Davis said he intends to walk in uniform through the players' tunnel at Invesco Field at Mile High for the final time Monday night, when the Broncos play the 49ers. Barring a medical miracle to help his degenerative knees, he won't play again. Though Monday's contest is nothing more than a preseason game, it will carry emotional significance as Davis' walk into the sunset. "It's tough, man, don't get me wrong," Davis said Saturday. "It's tough because I know I still have a lot of football in me. But I know that my body is not going to allow me to perform at the level I want to play. Unless some new technology comes along real soon, there's a good chance I'll never see the field again."

 

So is TD worthy of the Hall of Fame?

 

Yes, TD is bound for the HOF. Some will argue that his O-line was one of the greatest run blocking lines of all time and if the 6th round RB gets in so should his line. Based on that argument guys like Emmitt shouldn’t get into Canton without their linemen either. Canton is getting crowded already and unfortunately only linemen who stay around forever like Slater and Matthews are getting in.
Davis will eventually get in but not before Emmitt and many others. The guy won two Super Bowls and that will be the deal sealer. He deserves the honor IMO.

 

the TD, although are his initials, do not stand for terrell davis! hehehe

am not a denver doncos fan, but, i have to admit, those TD's were pretty amazing! his stats speak for himself. his work ethics and dedication to the sport is rare. yeah, i'd say he is worthy to be considered for that HOF honor. he is very much revered in these parts!

tomorrow broncos/niners at invesco field (aka mile high stadium). it's gonna be sad for TD.

 

yeah, he deserves the Hall, but not in his first year of eligibility. We've been doing a lot fo that recently, sending people too soon. I truely believe that you must be in hte upper realm of Hall of Famers to get in on the first year. Payton, & Montana definatly deserved it. Rice does, Marino does.... Jim Kelly I think was borderline. I think Troy Aikman should wait a few years.

Here's to hoping TD gets in, but make him wait a year or two.

 

i agree, mark. in due time for TD!

went and saw the hoopla at invesco field last night! was sad for TD.

obtw, portis, the rookie? i thought he was great. niners won, but portis stuck out, i thought. orlandis gary didnt play too well.

niners were mediocre, but still won. know why? their scrubs were better than the doncos! the referrees calls were ridiculous. home field advantage, i'd say, but...blatant!

12-7, niners!