Chris Samuels about to Retire

[Monkeydad]

It was expected and I'm glad he made the right choice for his health and family.

Thanks for the great career, Chris. One of the greatest Redskins I've seen in my life, he could have been one of the Hogs.

Huge loss, but we need to build up the line urgently, so at least his retirement leaves a hole on the roster that can't be ignored any longer.

[over the mountain]

man i still cant believe just how bad this season is going. the news that samuels will most likely never play another snap of football again is just so mind numbing to me. in thinking about the future of the skins, the one bright spot i could think of is that atleast samuels has 4-5 good years left in him . . . now even that is gone.

man things cant get any worse.

go skins!!

[JLee9718]

When Chris first started hurting, Vinny pulled his plan out of his rear... pocket...and signed Levi Jones. I hope during the bye week the Redskins sign some other offensive linemen and maybe we'll win a couple more games this year. I don't know which ones, but I'd like to beat the Cowboys at least once if not twice, and of course the Giants the next time we play them.

[redsk1]

Probably the best skins since the last SB. Jon Jansen had some good years too but not as good as Samuels.

Feel bad for him not getting the chance to play in a SB though. I guess it wasn't meant to be. A definate future Ring of Honor member.

Samuels lived up to the expectations and more.

[MTK]

Dare we say a Hall of Fame (potential) pick by this front office?

Never thought we'd hear that, right?

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Dare we say a Hall of Fame (potential) pick by this front office?

Never thought we'd hear that, right?

Uh oh...the ego is slippin'

[GhettoDogAllStars]

We will be lucky to find a replacement any time soon -- guys like him are so hard to come by.

A couple years ago, I was at a Redskins/Giants game. The one where we wore our throwback jerseys, and blew our 17-3 (17-0?) halftime lead. You remember it. Well, I was sitting in the first row on the corner of the tunnel, and I was trying my best to have a positive effect on the guys as they came out to start the game, went in for halftime, and walked off the field at the end.

Before the game I was yelling at the top of my lungs, trying to pump up the players and even gave a few of them high fives. At the half I was congratulating them on their success, and just telling them to keep it up. After we lost, I was saying how it's okay, just one game, move on to next week, yadda yadda yadda.

I wasn't looking for any recognition -- I just wanted to do my duty as a fan -- but the only player to acknowledge me as he was walking off was Chris Samuels. He said, "Guys, I'm sorry. I'm sorry guys." I could tell he was sincere.

That meant a lot to me. Here's a guy who's willing to take responsibility, be held accountable, apologize for his mistakes, and even talk to the fans. It is no surprise to me that he was great at his position. People like that are good at everything they do, because they don't hide from their flaws and they don't make excuses. They just work harder. Sorry we couldn't get you a ring Chris.

[warriorzpath]

Originally Posted by GhettoDogAllStars

We will be lucky to find a replacement any time soon -- guys like him are so hard to come by.

A couple years ago, I was at a Redskins/Giants game. The one where we wore our throwback jerseys, and blew our 17-3 (17-0?) halftime lead. You remember it. Well, I was sitting in the first row on the corner of the tunnel, and I was trying my best to have a positive effect on the guys as they came out to start the game, went in for halftime, and walked off the field at the end.

Before the game I was yelling at the top of my lungs, trying to pump up the players and even gave a few of them high fives. At the half I was congratulating them on their success, and just telling them to keep it up. After we lost, I was saying how it's okay, just one game, move on to next week, yadda yadda yadda.

I wasn't looking for any recognition -- I just wanted to do my duty as a fan -- but the only player to acknowledge me as he was walking off was Chris Samuels. He said, "Guys, I'm sorry. I'm sorry guys." I could tell he was sincere.

That meant a lot to me. Here's a guy who's willing to take responsibility, be held accountable, apologize for his mistakes, and even talk to the fans. It is no surprise to me that he was great at his position. People like that are good at everything they do, because they don't hide from their flaws and they don't make excuses. They just work harder. Sorry we couldn't get you a ring Chris.

This is the reason why I have all the respect in the world for Samuels and why I'm not a fan of Campbell's anymore.

[firstdown]

How did he hurt his neck. The only play I remember seeing is one where he was just blocking and I did not notice anything real strange.

[skinsfan_nn]

Lets hope Levi can be up and ready to go and be a difference maker. To help this horrible line.

Redskin Insider: Samuels to IR

Also this tweet crap: http://twitter.com/Adam_Schefter/statuses/5322314540

Posted at 4:11 PM ET, 10/31/2009
Samuels placed on IR list

The Redskins placed tackle Chris Samuels on the season-ending injured-reserve list today because of a neck injury he suffered Oct. 11 against Carolina, the team has announced.

Coach Jim Zorn had indicated last week that Samuels was likely to go on IR over the bye week: "He'll probably go on injured reserve so we can get that roster spot," Zorn said.

In addition to the injury, Samuels, 32, also suffers from stenosis, or a narrowing of the spine, and sources have indicated that he may retire after the season. He reportedly has been told by experts that he risks paralysis if he continues to play. However, a source close to Samuels, who was examined by a specialist last week in California, said then that he would not make a final determination on retirement until December or January and indicated that he would not have a public announcement until that time.

"I will continue to seek medical advice. I hope to see where I am physically over the next couple months," Samuels said in a statement released by the Redskins on Oct. 30. "At this time, I have not made a decision, but I love playing for the Redskins and hope to be back."

Samuels was a 2000 draft pick, chosen third overall by the Redskins after winning the Outland Trophy at Alabama. He has six times been named to the Pro Bowl and played in 141 regular-season games. His 2008 season was cut short because of a triceps injury and he underwent triceps and knee surgeries in the offseason. He started the first five games this season before being injured.

The placement of Samuels on IR does, as Zorn indicated, create a vacant roster spot. With the Redskins on their bye week, they'll resume practice Monday at Redskins Park.

[skinsfan_nn]

In semi related news on the injury front. I did not know both Westbrook and Blades needed surgery. More IR to come..?

ESPN.com

IR for Samuels; surgery for 2 others


ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Redskins left tackle Chris Samuels is out for the season, and linebacker H.B. Blades and cornerback Byron Westbrook are recovering from knee surgery.

The Redskins made the expected move of placing six-time Pro Bowl lineman Samuels on injured reserve Saturday. Samuels has a chronic spinal condition and will decide in a few months whether to return next season or retire.

Spokesman Zack Bolno also confirmed that Blades and Westbrook had knee operations this week. Both were injured in the Monday night loss to Philadelphia and will miss next week's game at Atlanta at least. Coach Jim Zorn is expected to update the status of both players Monday.

The Redskins have a bye this weekend.

[skins89moss]

Originally Posted by skinsfan_nn

In semi related news on the injury front. I did not know both Westbrook and Blades needed surgery. More IR to come..?

ESPN.com

IR for Samuels; surgery for 2 others


ASHBURN, Va. -- Washington Redskins left tackle Chris Samuels is out for the season, and linebacker H.B. Blades and cornerback Byron Westbrook are recovering from knee surgery.

The Redskins made the expected move of placing six-time Pro Bowl lineman Samuels on injured reserve Saturday. Samuels has a chronic spinal condition and will decide in a few months whether to return next season or retire.

Spokesman Zack Bolno also confirmed that Blades and Westbrook had knee operations this week. Both were injured in the Monday night loss to Philadelphia and will miss next week's game at Atlanta at least. Coach Jim Zorn is expected to update the status of both players Monday.

The Redskins have a bye this weekend.

Well maybe we will activate our 3rd pick CB Kevin Barnes this week against the Falcons. Boy what a wasted 3rd pick a CB.

[tryfuhl]

Yeah.. 2 weeks out both of those guys were already doubtful.

Samuels just needs to hang it up; I know that he still has the spirit but it's just not worth it, especially considering that the NFL still doesn't have in place a solid system for handling post-playing health issues, though I believe that they are making those steps, as evidenced by the recent actions by Goodell. He could help us, but really it's our fault for expecting him to last 15 years or whatever.

[Ruhskins]

I hate to say this, but Samuels needs to retire. He's in danger of being paralyzed, and it seems that even if that doesn't happen, he'd probably get injured again regardless. I'm sure competitors like Samuels would hate to leave the league not in their own terms, but I think it'd be stupid for him to jeopardize his health.

[SmootSmack]

Good read by Peter King on Samuels in his MMQB

Brett Favre elated he came back and that Vikings are winning - Peter King - SI.com

Two very good tackles -- Chris Samuels and Walter Jones -- are nearing the end, and that shouldn't be something just in small type this weekend.

Jones has been a better player, Samuels a better leader. I'm writing about them because I think we -- fans, media, people in the game -- are so inured to players near or at the end of their careers that we turn the page with no regard to the person who has to walk away. That's life. But each has been such an honorable player and person in the game that I think a few paragraphs need to be written about them.

Jones, who turns 36 in January, couldn't come back from microfracture surgery on his knee. He's going to try again in 2010, but the history of microfracture is such that anyone with that much wear on his tires, and at that age, is doubtful to return. "It's too early for a career eulogy,'' said Seattle coach Jim Mora, "but Walter's level of consistency, his level of excellence, is unmatched. In a world in which there's so much boastfulness now, and self-promotion, Walter's gone about his business in a very respectful and dignified way.''

Jones was dominant at the point of attack in the run game, and he had the feet to swing outside and latch onto the top pass-rushers. From this era, he and Jonathan Ogden will go down as top-10 tackles of all-time.

Samuels was drafted by the Redskins third overall in 2000 to be their left tackle for a decade. He almost made it. He's started 141 of 150 games, playing through painful shoulder, knee, ankle, back and neck injuries. But now, having been advised he risks his long-term health if he continues to play with a neck injury, he'll sit the rest of the season. Many of his teammates think he's played his last game.

I followed Samuels in 2000 during the run-up to the draft and through training camp -- in part because SI wanted to do a you-are-there story on a top prospect as he prepared to leave the cocoon of college and enter the pressure of playing right away in the NFL, and in part because of the rise in importance of left tackles. Michael Lewis tells the tale of the value of a left tackle superbly in The Blind Side, and I credit him for seeing what the game has become. Tackle has joined quarterback and pass-rusher as the three most important cornerstone positions for NFL teams.

But as I followed Samuels, I saw not only a good player but also a compelling and conscientious person. The day before the draft, at the Marriott Marquis Hotel on Broadway, he twice turned away the housekeeper who wanted to make up the room. "It's OK,'' he said. "I got it.'' He'd already made his bed, tidied the room and straightened up the bathroom, hanging the towels neatly on the rack.

In training camp, Bruce Smith and Dana Stubblefield took it upon themselves to school the rook and make his life miserable on and off the field. He took the taunts and the hazing through mini-camps, but determined he wouldn't take it once the real practices started. It took just one practice for Samuels to fight back, taking Stubblefield on a wide rush and, when Stubblefield popped him in the forehead, Samuels cold-cocked him with a roundhouse right to the neck, just below the helmet. He knew as the cornerstone of the offensive line, he had to be a fighter and defend not only his turf but his peers'. He became one of the go-to guys on the team.

When Sean Taylor died senselessly, Samuels vacillated between outrage, fury and leadership -- knowing he had to be there for the grieving, mostly younger guys in his locker room, which he was.

"I've been here six seasons,'' Chris Cooley told me, "and three of those six seasons we've had some significant turmoil. But I never saw guys quit or try less, and part of that is because of Chris. He set such a great example with his work and his play. Part of being a leader is just showing up every day and working hard, and that's all he's ever done.

"It's just so unfortunate that we lose him. He's been the solid rock of the Redskins for 10 years. Cherished by the community. So respected by everyone in the locker room. He's the kind of guy who would have made a great Hog. That's about the greatest thing I could say about him -- he would have fit in with those great Redskins of the past.''

If Samuels and Jones are forced to retire, the league will be diminished without them, and without players like them.