WT: Thrash thinking about retiring

[Sebowski]

Thanks to Bubba for posting this in the "breaking news"(one of the greatest pages in all the internets)
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009...her-to-retire/
link to whole page

Thrash pondering whether to retire

By David Elfin (Contact) | Thursday, June 4, 2009


Washington Redskins receiver James Thrash is considering whether to undergo surgery on his injured neck and attempt to play again this season or decline the surgery and retire from football.

Multiple sources told The Washington Times that Thrash, who has missed all the club's offseason workouts because of the injury, might choose to quit football rather than have the operation to play a 13th season, in which he would be used largely as a backup.

Thrash, 34, has played 118 games for Washington, more than any other active Redskins player except Pro Bowl offensive tackle Chris Samuels (136) and snapper Ethan Albright (128).

However, the one-time rookie free agent from Division II Missouri Southern has served as a backup receiver and special teams player since he returned to the Redskins in 2004 after three seasons as a starter with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Washington planned to play Thrash as the fifth and final receiver last season, but poor performances by rookies Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly moved him to No. 3 for much of the season behind starters Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El.

Thrash started five games but for a second straight season caught just nine passes. He has caught 290 passes for 3,646 yards and 22 touchdowns in his career. Thrash was expected to battle a slew of young players for the fifth receiver spot this season behind Moss, Randle El, Thomas and Kelly.

Thrash, who is the Redskins' player representative and also served on commissioner Roger Goodell's Player Advisory Council, could not be reached for comment.

Receivers coach Stan Hixon talked to Thrash on Wednesday morning and said that Thrash still is struggling with the decision after seeing seven specialists about his neck.

"James doesn't know what he's going to do," Hixon said. "He's concerned. He got hurt during the season, but he played through it. After the season, they gave him some medicine that calmed it down, and he thought it was fine. But when he came back in March and started working out again, and then it kind of bulged back up. They all want to play as long as they can. But James is pretty smart. I think he'll do the right thing."

Hixon said he told Thrash that quality of life must be paramount among his considerations.

"I miss James every day, his value to the team, his leadership as a receiver and on special teams and also in the locker room," Hixon said. "You can't have good people and hard players who you trust. James might not be the most talented guy, but he's going to be where he's supposed to be."

Thrash hasn't been even a spectator during the ongoing organized team activities because he instead has been in therapy sessions with trainers.

"It's tough for James to watch because he's been in [the training room] and because he's still in pain," Randle El said. "James hasn't quite made that decision [to retire] yet. He wants the pain gone first. He don't want to have no surgery. He believes that God is gonna heal him. If not, then he'll get the surgery, and God will tell him to go ahead and move forward."

The Redskins won't pressure Thrash to make a decision until they need to get down to their 80-man roster limit as they start signing their rookies in the next six weeks.

This guy is where he is because of his hard work and football IQ. I really hope he retires and we immediately add him to the coaching staff somewhere. Would love to see him as our WRs coach eventually, and for a long time.


Edit: thread title typo

[bubba9497]

you can't mess with a neck injury

Thrash has been a great Redskin , and a selfless team player and leader, but he may not make the roster, and it might be time to retire, and bow out gracfully.

No matter what Thrash has been one of my favorites and I thank him for all he's done as a player and in the community.

[scruffylookin]

Not to be an ass (okay may just a little one) but the writer got his facts wrong.

Mike Sellers is the third most tenured Redskin in terms of games played.

He's appeared in 121 games to James Thrash's 118.

Not a big deal, but it does bother me when someone writing an article can't get simple facts right.

As for Thrash, what's the old saying "If you're thinking about retiring, that means you've retired."

I wish him well. Nobody could have seen him play for as long as he has with his modest beginnings in the NFL and it's a credit to him that he's still in the NFL after all this time.

Good Luck James.

[TXREDSKINS44]

You don't mess with neck injuries. He needs to do whats best for him and his family.

Whatever he decides to do I wish him all the best.

[panel]

I hope he gets better and is on the roster

[DeadExField]

I'll always have the recent memory of him roasting newman in the endzone

[FedUpField]

One of the best, most intuitive Skins teams players we've seen over the years. Definitely think it's the right time, though it must be frustrating for him to go out like that. I'll be happy for him either way -- a lot can be said for his contributions to the team. We heart JT (except when he was an uggle...).

- FUF

[LizKauai]

Mr. Thrash is a football legend no matter how you cut it. I hope he will have many years of continued success on whatever path he chooses.
HAIL!

[Burgold]

I wish him well either as a Redskin or as a retired Redskin. The guy was a great example of what a professional athlete should be about.

The bolded quote irritates me coming from the wide receivers' coach. Stan, it's your job to get those players in the right place and drum it into their head. If you can't get them to do this you are not doing your job!

[Rex Tomb]

It's interesting...I could actually see him doing something in the media. He's got a high football IQ and I saw him on NFL Network once. Lots of personality. I think Fox would be smart to add him alongside Troy Aikman and Joe Buck. That would be a pretty killer trio on the analysis side of things.

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Originally Posted by Burgold

The bolded quote irritates me coming from the wide receivers' coach. Stan, it's your job to get those players in the right place and drum it into their head. If you can't get them to do this you are not doing your job!

One of the biggest mystery's of all is how Hixon is still in employment.

With only two 1,000 yrd+ receiver season's during his 5 year tenure, (Moss in '05, and barely last year), and a TE, Cooley, in the main, dominating the passing game the past 4 years (and that's not just down to the scheme); along with continued problems of various wide outs running the wrong route, dropping balls they should never drop; and not one real standout developed into a #1 receiver, nor a 2 come to that, (Santana is the only thing we've had remotely resembling either, and he's been patchy in DC.). Just WHAT does this man bring to the staff and team as a whole? I'd love someone to tell me, with a straight face.

But back to the topic at hand, #83.

The neck could be a blessing in disguise.

A consummate pro, who's made the best of limited talent with down right hard work right through his career, not least on teams where he's regularly put his body on the line for the cause. With no little football "smarts" thrown in to boot. It's been a privilege having him on board for almost 10 years. I can't think of a better example to others to look up to, young or old, as to how to conduct yourself on and off the field as James Thrash. In the words of the great man, he has been "a core Redskin", in most every sense of that word. But there comes a time with every player to say goodbye.

As others have said, you don't mess with your health when it comes to a neck problem. You've had a good run man, when many thought you wouldn't last in this league. Bow out gracefully, being remembered as someone who never gave less than 100% for the cause, and hand the mantel over to one of the younger guys.

It's time.

Hail.

[Thinking Skins]

I wish him well, but I have been wanting to move on from him for a while. If he retires, this makes it a lot easier. I just hope somebody's ready to step into his shoes.

[MWCREDSKINS]

Originally Posted by Sebowski

Thanks to Bubba for posting this in the "breaking news"(one of the greatest pages in all the internets)
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009...her-to-retire/
link to whole page


This guy is where he is because of his hard work and football IQ. I really hope he retires and we immediately add him to the coaching staff somewhere. Would love to see him as our WRs coach eventually, and for a long time.


Edit: thread title typo

I'm with you. Thrash would make an excellent coach.

[Spear]

Thrash was the original internet man-crush, supposedly able to run a 4.3 40 and bench 650 pounds AT THE SAME TIME. Then he left for the Eagles and became the worst player on Earth in the minds of many. It'll be sad to see him retire.

[The Rook]

Like so many people, I wish him the best in whichever path he selects.

I am amazed that so many people on ES have been calling for his release for years without realizing that, in the opinion of the different coaching staffs, Thrash was the better option.

Its good to see hard work pay off.







The Rook