There was a time when all I cared about was the next game, the next party, the next tee time.
In this case, I realize that, unlike when I was 22 years old, I realize now that football will not go on forever, it is a small part of your life.
Because after my first year I had a lot of success, took everybody by storm, came back the next year thought it was easy and didn’t have near the season I had the previous year. It was kind of a wake-up call. And so, life goes on.
The town, the team, it’s a family. That has helped. For some people who have had to deal with some of the problems I have had to deal with don’t have football as an out.
Well family is obviously the most important. There was a time when I thought football was the most important.
With each game I play, each season I play, everyone would agree with me, I’m running out of chances.
I grew up a Saints fan, an hour from the Superdome.
God, he deals you blows that at sometimes you think you can’t handle and in the last year there have been things that we thought we couldn’t handle but we’ve dealt with it up until this point.
I don’t need to have a retirement, retire your jersey, all that stuff to solidify my career.
I accomplished so many things, so early in my career.
Sure, sometimes guys pass you up in salary, and maybe it’s a lesser player, but it’s all based on what a team has as far as value in that person.
It’s been six years since I have had a drink and I have two girls, and my priorities are a lot different now and I just can’t believe I was that guy. And I would not go back, I would not trade the way I am now for anything.
The party now is having my kids laugh and my wife laugh and my teammates. I want them to see me have fun and put it in a different way.
In my situation, unlike some players who retire because they have no choice – either teams don’t want them or injuries have caused them to retire, and they just can’t do it – for me, I really had never thought I would give out mentally before I gave out physically, but I think that was the case.
Obviously talent gets you to a certain point, but it’s what you do with it, how you handle.
It’s fun leading this offense. I don’t think we’ve hit our peak.
Maybe I’m old-school, but I always thought you honor a contract.
I’m proud of everything I’ve done.
You know I used to listen to music a lot more.
In spite of reports about playing with various teams, I’m enjoying retirement with my family and have no plans to play football.
I’d like to think, eight years ago, I was pretty humble and modest. But I think, with each year, you get more modest, more humble, more appreciative. The off the field tragedies put things in better perspective, but life happens to everybody, and I think we all just try to do the best we can.