Not Shocking That Eugene Monroe Announced Retirement
By Joe Serpico
Former Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Eugene Monroe has announced his retirement from the NFL, but it should not surprise anyone.
The more Eugene Monroe spoke about medical marijuana and the long-term effects of painkillers, the more you wondered that the thought of reoccurring injuries might lead him to retirement. Today, he did just that.
The 29-year-old announced his retirement in an article for The Players Tribune after seven seasons in the NFL. The announcement comes nearly one month after the Baltimore Ravens released Monroe for salary cap purposes.
The No. 9 pick in the 2009 NFL Draft was traded to Baltimore in 2013 for a fourth and fifth-round pick, but has started in only 17 games the last two seasons after signing a five-year, $37.5 million deal in 2014. He has missed time with various injuries, which prompted Monroe to become an outspoken advocate for medical marijuana.
There are two paragraphs in his post that stick out most:
“I’m only 29 and I still have the physical ability to play at a very high level, so I know that my decision to retire may be puzzling to some. But I am thinking of my family first right now — and my health and my future.”
“The last 18 years have been full of traumatic injuries to both my head and my body. I’m not complaining, just stating a fact. Has the damage to my brain already been done? Do I have CTE? I hope I don’t, but over 90% of the brains of former NFL players that have been examined showed signs of the disease. I am terrified.”
Clearly, Monroe’s future health has been something that he has focused on in recent years. In his post, he writes about his wife joking about the “little things I forget” and his four-year daughter saying “Daddy you don’t remember anything!” While these might seem like minor problems – I cannot remember where I put my keys and wallet almost every morning and I have never played a down of organized football – former football players are facing the reality that CTE is real.
Monroe vows to continue his fight to bring medical marijuana to the NFL and push painkillers out of the league. While some might think the breakup between the Ravens and Monroe was an ugly one, Monroe showed nothing but class to his former employer.
“I also want to thank the Ravens for the opportunity to play for a contender, and also for bringing me closer to my family.”
Next: Which Raven Gets Next Big Contract?
Count me in as one of those who believes the NFL needs to rid themselves of painkillers and find other alternatives. Is marijuana the answer? Maybe. Maybe not. But the NFL does have a drug problem, and Eugene Monroe is one of the few players trying to bring about change.