Former Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens left tackle Eugene Monror announced his retirement on the Players Tribune this morning. Here a little bit of what he had to say. 

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.

I buy that Monroe had concerns about his health but I don’t buy this notion that he retired simply because of his health concerns. 

The primary reason Monroe retired is money. He was scheduled to make $6.5 million this season with the Ravens. He wasn’t going to get that kind of offer on the open market. So, Monroe retired.

Now Monroe can focus his efforts on advocating for the use of medical marijuana in the NFL and getting the league to overturn its ban on the drug. 

Either way you look at it, the top offensive lineman on the open market has officially called it a career.