Sportsfrog.com

Finishing up on an announcement from late last week and oh-by-the-way 12 years of NFL football that has left him 4th on the all-time career yards from scrimmage list (19,154), Marshall Faulk made his retirement official late Monday afternoon at the annual NFL owners meeting in Phoenix, Arizona.

During his prime, from 1998 to 2001, Faulk finished each season with no less than 1300 yards rushing and 750 yards receiving. More than just a performer with the ball in his hands, Faulk has been a team leader and mentor throughout his career. Former Rams head coach Mike Martz has called Faulk the most intelligent football player he has ever coached.

Faulk led the league in yards from scrimmage twice over his career, and finished among the top five in that category 5 times over his 12 years in the NFL.



In his speech on Monday, Faulk displayed the same charming personality he has used to succeed as an analyst on the NFL Network over the past year. His speech was unlike many of the recent retirement soliloquies given. There were no tears, no pause-filled reflections, no hesitations. Just improvisation, speed, grace, and smiles. Pure Marshall Faulk.

“I’m a fan of the game. I love football. I’ve been around football all my life. I sold popcorn at the Superdome just to watch games, because I couldn’t afford to get in.
I’m not just the guy that played and made money. I love and appreciate the game and respect the game and how it was before me and hopefully, in playing it, I showed that respect for the game [then] and now that I don’t get to play it.”

Judging by his comments on Monday, even though we are no longer fortunate enough to see Faulk play football, the impact he’s had on the sport is not yet complete. I’ll miss watching him on the field but, as always, will look forward to seeing what #28 will do next.