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49'ers LB Chris Borland Retires

I'm fine with their decisions, but guys retiring right at the start of free agency or after the first wave? I hope they let their teams know so they could plan for these moves, even if they weren't officially announced.
 
Damn first they lose Willis now an up and coming stud like Borland. You got to respect his decision.
 
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Rough off season for the 49ers..yikes
 
This is going into hysteria mode now. Goodell is partly to blame. Instead of doing his job, defending and promoting the NFL, he instead wants pats on the back from the media.

The science is not proven that concussion = dementia. The media runs with the narrative that it is, that if you get X number of concussions then you will die young. Goodell goes right along with that worst case scenario because he wants to be seen as a great guy who really cares.

Borland said he had 1 concussion when he was 8 and one when he was in high school. I get retiring because you have multiple concussions or multiple injuries, but retiring as a precaution just seems reactionary to me. Does he quit driving on the highway next?
 
tapeANaspirin2it said:
This is going into hysteria mode now. Goodell is partly to blame. Instead of doing his job, defending and promoting the NFL, he instead wants pats on the back from the media.

The science is not proven that concussion = dementia. The media runs with the narrative that it is, that if you get X number of concussions then you will die young. Goodell goes right along with that worst case scenario because he wants to be seen as a great guy who really cares.

Borland said he had 1 concussion when he was 8 and one when he was in high school. I get retiring because you have multiple concussions or multiple injuries, but retiring as a precaution just seems reactionary to me. Does he quit driving on the highway next?
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I'd have to agree, these guys get paid millions of dollars and of course their are risks but they are paid handsomely. In the military there is the chance you may loose limbs, body function, mind, or your life and while they get many benefits they do not get paid nearly enough for the risks they take. Their are risks but they are far overblown as you said, and I can't fault the guy when he's had multiple concussions but yeah this certainly comes across as reactionary. I can't help but think this will only fuel the fire to a future move towards tag/flag type football, not that I don't want guys to be healthy in their lives or sacrifice their livelihood for my entertainment but this is what football is, and it used to be far more gruesome than the product we see today and you rarely hear any of the older players complaining (notice I said rarely, there are exceptions).
 
My thoughts are that if the "idea" of "possible" concussions and concussion related injuries was weighing on him so heavily, he did the right thing. There's an old saying that goes something like "if you're worried about getting hurt (injured), that's when you're gonna get hurt". For a guy like Borland, suppose he's on the field worried about getting a concussion if he hits someone too hard. He eases up just a little and gets trucked .... getting a concussion or some other injury. There's another saying that goes hand in hand with the first. "If you're thinking about whether it's time to retire .... it's time to retire."

I'd imagine the decision was hard, long thought out and personal. I'm not going to fault the young man for turning down millions. If that's where his convictions lay, then I salute him for having the strength to follow through.
 
SteelBuckeye said:
My thoughts are that if the "idea" of "possible" concussions and concussion related injuries was weighing on him so heavily, he did the right thing. There's an old saying that goes something like "if you're worried about getting hurt (injured), that's when you're gonna get hurt". For a guy like Borland, suppose he's on the field worried about getting a concussion if he hits someone too hard. He eases up just a little and gets trucked .... getting a concussion or some other injury. There's another saying that goes hand in hand with the first. "If you're thinking about whether it's time to retire .... it's time to retire."

I'd imagine the decision was hard, long thought out and personal. I'm not going to fault the young man for turning down millions. If that's where his convictions lay, then I salute him for having the strength to follow through.
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Excellent point
 
Chris Long @JOEL9ONE · 3h 3 hours ago
WOW. I loved Chris Borland's game but I can't fault him for calling it quits. His concerns are real. Still it takes a man to do the logical.
 
These guys can feel free to retire if they wish. But I'm also guessing that Borland expressed none of these concerns less than one full year ago during the draft process. He was happy to take the 9ers money when it was offered.

I also wonder if they'll go after his signing bonus. I get retiring if you've received several concussions or if you have seriously gotten injured. Preemptive retirement is a bit more suspect, especially when you're in the league 10 months. Nobody drafts him in the 3rd round if he feels this way and some other guy can have the chance he doesn't want.
 
People get out of the military everyday. They get out of high risk jobs every day. Does it really matter that in football they make millions of dollars? Its a choice. He made it. I respect it.
 
I respect his decision too. I also think that Roger and NFL have created a monster that they are gonna regret very soon. I'm guessing they are already panicking.
 
if the NFL is looking for old slow guys to fill up rosters with these guys hanging them up...give me a ring
 
swal75 said:
These guys can feel free to retire if they wish. But I'm also guessing that Borland expressed none of these concerns less than one full year ago during the draft process. He was happy to take the 9ers money when it was offered.

I also wonder if they'll go after his signing bonus. I get retiring if you've received several concussions or if you have seriously gotten injured. Preemptive retirement is a bit more suspect, especially when you're in the league 10 months. Nobody drafts him in the 3rd round if he feels this way and some other guy can have the chance he doesn't want.
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I hope they do go after that signing bonus, theyre well within their rights to do so. See ya Borland, hope you dont regret your mistake a decade from now!
 
tapeANaspirin2it said:
This is going into hysteria mode now. Goodell is partly to blame. Instead of doing his job, defending and promoting the NFL, he instead wants pats on the back from the media.

The science is not proven that concussion = dementia. The media runs with the narrative that it is, that if you get X number of concussions then you will die young. Goodell goes right along with that worst case scenario because he wants to be seen as a great guy who really cares.

Borland said he had 1 concussion when he was 8 and one when he was in high school. I get retiring because you have multiple concussions or multiple injuries, but retiring as a precaution just seems reactionary to me. Does he quit driving on the highway next?
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Yeah, I find it ridiculous too. Shame that he had to let some agenda-driven fear consume him to the point where he felt the need to turn his back on a HIGHLY lucrative career
 
stillwright said:
People get out of the military everyday. They get out of high risk jobs every day. Does it really matter that in football they make millions of dollars? Its a choice. He made it. I respect it.
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The military (or any other job) is not that of a pro athlete.
 
tapeANaspirin2it said:
This is going into hysteria mode now. Goodell is partly to blame. Instead of doing his job, defending and promoting the NFL, he instead wants pats on the back from the media.

The science is not proven that concussion = dementia. The media runs with the narrative that it is, that if you get X number of concussions then you will die young. Goodell goes right along with that worst case scenario because he wants to be seen as a great guy who really cares.

Borland said he had 1 concussion when he was 8 and one when he was in high school. I get retiring because you have multiple concussions or multiple injuries, but retiring as a precaution just seems reactionary to me. Does he quit driving on the highway next?
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It's his personal decision. None of our opinions matter.

I wish him the best with the rest of his life - it takes a brave man to walk away from the money, glory and fame. He should be a hero for his decision - Worilds too.
 
Wow. A 24 year old who was not highly paid as a rookie, and also had star potential to make a lot of money just quit the game. This is a HUGE PUBLIC RELATIONS hit for the NFL. Borland can do what he wishes, but I for one hope he does not become anti football.

When three players at the top of their game retire before 30, you have to worry about a trend.
 
Omar10213245 said:
I hope they do go after that signing bonus, theyre well within their rights to do so. See ya Borland, hope you dont regret your mistake a decade from now!
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Omar10213245 said:
Yeah, I find it ridiculous too. Shame that he had to let some agenda-driven fear consume him to the point where he felt the need to turn his back on a HIGHLY lucrative career
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After reading both comments, Omar, I'm a bit mystified. You are only a fan of the game of football - what difference does it make if one of the gladiators no longer wants to be in the ring??? He'll simply be replaced by another "up and coming" gladiator, who, may be seeking fame, glory and money. Not even one needs those "kick backs" to feel fulfilled in life
Omar10213245 said:
The military (or any other job) is not that of a pro athlete.
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I disagree.

As a vet, I know that there are quite a few of us (in our primes) that could have played a professional sport. Not everyone sees a job "just as a paycheck", some (me), love the job that they sign up for and give no less than 100% every day. We were taught how to keep our bodies in tip top shape, how to eat right to maintain it and we put ourselves in harm's way until we choose to walk away from the military. I've shared stories of seeing some of my buddies maimed or killed in action - I work w/ the Wounded Warrior program, here in JAX, and I thank God for each and every soldier I meet and I also thank him that He gave me the insight to "walk away" when I did so that I could be whole and of right mind...
 
I respect it as his own personal decision and one he feels is best for himself and his family

However, it is also my own personal opinion that it wasn't a smart one.
 
Its not for us to pass judgment on Boreland's decision to retire but rather to respect his decision just like the World's decision and move on. Whether or not he regrets it down the road is another story entirely and I hope he doesn't second guess himself because that's never a good thing in any decision we make. Of course he most likely will never have the opportunity to make the amount of money he could have in the NFL but as he's weighed this and come to the conclusion that his health is more important, then I say good for you Chris Boreland. These players know what's at risk when they sign on to play in the NFL and if they choose not to take that risk and bypass the riches of the NFL then so be it.
 
I hope for his sake he considered the income potential he's walking away from.

Anyone know if he graduated with any kind of degree that he can become employed?
 
ZonaBurgh said:
I hope for his sake he considered the income potential he's walking away from.

Anyone know if he graduated with any kind of degree that he can become employed?
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Article says he graduated with a degree in History and plans to go back to Wisconsin to pursue a graduate degree.
 
Omar10213245 said:
I hope they do go after that signing bonus, theyre well within their rights to do so. See ya Borland, hope you dont regret your mistake a decade from now!
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I was thinking the EXACT same thing. Get that bonus back (retire it).
 
I'm guessing that teams will now make forfeiture of a signing bonus for early retirement part of any new contracts.
 
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