Rich Gannon retires. I just heard the special report on NFL network (while making my BBQ rib rub). :D

I don't have a link yet however. I did hear the news guy say that he may go into coaching.

edit:
http://www.nfl.com/teams/story/OAK/8710673

The artcile below isn't a "up to the mintue update" but it still expalins the retimerment. The NFL network is supposed to have a live feed conference soon.

Raiders QB Gannon set to retire

NFL.com wire reports

NAPA, Calif. (Aug. 6, 2005) -- Rich Gannon is leaving the NFL after missing most of last season with a broken vertebra in his neck -- and is ready to move to the TV booth.

The 39-year-old quarterback for the Oakland Raiders was to officially retire Aug. 6 at an afternoon news conference at the team's training facility in the California wine country. The announcement had been expected for months.

Gannon, the 2002 NFL MVP, already has signed with CBS Sports as an NFL game analyst after playing 18 seasons in the league. He guided the Raiders to the 2003 Super Bowl before spending much of the last two seasons injured.

He injured his neck in the third week last season in a helmet-to-helmet collision with Tampa Bay linebacker Derrick Brooks.

Gannon threw for 28,743 yards and 180 touchdowns in his career with Minnesota, Washington, Kansas City and Oakland. He won his MVP award while leading the Raiders to the Super Bowl in the 2002 season, passing for 4,689 yards and 26 touchdowns while completing more than 67 percent of his passes.

Gannon tried to help any way possible last season, attending meetings and games while wearing a bulky, plastic brace. He consulted with four of the country's top neck and spine specialists, and they advised him not to play last season. Gannon held out hope of playing this year though he knew it was unlikely.

Rich Gannon retires. I just heard the special report on NFL network (while making my BBQ rib rub). :D

I don't have a link yet however. I did hear the news guy say that he may go into coaching.

Good, solid "B" qb. It's a shame that his career got started so late, or else he'd have a better spot in the history books.

Well said Phillies. Kind of Kurt Warner-esque.

The fact that Wade Wilson at one time played ahead of him is mindboggling.

The fact that Wade Wilson at one time played ahead of him is mindboggling.


Yeah, no kidding. In fact Wade in now the QB coach for my loved Chicago Bears. :)

Good, then my hatred of the Raiders can be total and deep. Gannon had my one of my favorite QBs and now with him gone plus the Raiders having Moss and Sapp, I can revile that team like no other team in history.

Good, then my hatred of the Raiders can be total and deep. Gannon had my one of my favorite QBs and now with him gone plus the Raiders having Moss and Sapp, I can revile that team like no other team in history.

Yeah, they really do have some of the bad boys of the NFL. Even drunk ass Kerry Collins leading them.

Odd delayed reaction. The revealation he was retiring was in the Kansas City paper more than a week ago along with the announcement that he was alredy signed to a deal to do color for CBS this year.

Gannon was a fan favorite here, which obviously wasn't hard with Elvis Grbac as the starter. He did seem like a geniunely nice guy so I was glad to see him finally achieve such success. It was a great story.

Maximus- I coached with Wade Wilson's nephew for three years, and became really good friends (great guy). It was really interesting to hear him talk about his Uncle, and his "journey through the NFL, and especially last years qb troubles.

Maximus- I coached with Wade Wilson's nephew for three years, and became really good friends (great guy). It was really interesting to hear him talk about his Uncle, and his "journey through the NFL, and especially last years qb troubles.


Wow, thats real cool. Boy, I would have loved to hear what he said about the Bears QB issues from a year ago. :)

Odd delayed reaction. The revealation he was retiring was in the Kansas City paper more than a week ago along with the announcement that he was alredy signed to a deal to do color for CBS this year...

His retirement has been a done deal for a long time, the delay was just to let him do the announcement after the team got to training camp.

Al Davis gave him a good show of respect:

``Let me say that today is an emotional day for the organization because it's a premature ending because of injury,'' Davis said in a rare public appearance. ``Think what you want, his age was not the factor by any means -- it was what he said it was, injury. It's a proud day. ... The proudness is Rich Gannon wore the famed colors silver and black for six years. He gave us something that we needed, and we needed it badly. He gave us a worker.''

Maximus- Yeah, that was a tough year for his Uncle. I remember at one point him saying his Uncle was working around the clock, and getting very little sleep due to all of the stress. I think it was around the time they were talking about bringing in Jeff George that he said Wade was worried about some of the new quarterbacks knowing enough of the offense to even be on the field if called upon. "Hey coach, here's another sub par/journeyman qb off the street. Have him ready by Sunday...errr tomorrow." That would have the potential to make the "ole" qb coach look bad. And from what I understand the O-coordinator's playbook resembled a phone book. That was one inexperienced qb rotation. On the upside for you Bear fans he did think that Rex has the potential to work his way into being a solid qb.

Maximus- Yeah, that was a tough year for his Uncle. I remember at one point him saying his Uncle was working around the clock, and getting very little sleep due to all of the stress. I think it was around the time they were talking about bringing in Jeff George that he said Wade was worried about some of the new quarterbacks knowing enough of the offense to even be on the field if called upon. "Hey coach, here's another sub par/journeyman qb off the street. Have him ready by Sunday...errr tomorrow." That would have the potential to make the "ole" qb coach look bad. And from what I understand the O-coordinator's playbook resembled a phone book. That was one inexperienced qb rotation. On the upside for you Bear fans he did think that Rex has the potential to work his way into being a solid qb.


wow, awesome inside info. Thanks. :) :cool:

Let me say that today is an emotional day for the organization because it's a premature ending because of injury,'' Davis said in a rare public appearance.

The guy is 39 years old. How premature can this be?