Frank Ragnow said Friday that he didn’t want to retire. His body just didn’t give him a choice.
He announced his retirement last June and attempted a comeback Nov. 29 but failed a physical with a torn hamstring.
Ragnow, 30, spoke for the first time since calling it quits after seven seasons.
“To shoot it to you straight, I was trying to will myself to play. I was,” Ragnow said, via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. “And my body was telling me otherwise and I was just like in like paralysis, if you will. I did not plan on retiring in the middle of the summer, believe it or not. It was like I was trying to get like, ‘You can do it for the guys, for the fans; it’s who you are.’ But it’s just like I was uncomfortable, and it’s one of those things where you have a couple kids, and I don’t want a sob story. I’m OK. I’m going to be completely fine and everything. But it’s one of those things like, I don’t know, is the juice worth the squeeze thing and to me ultimately it came down to that decision.”
The four-time Pro Bowler felt guilty at leaving his teammates, but said he made a “horrid” decision to try to come back last season.
He has officially closed the door on ever playing again.
“Yeah, I’d say so,” Ragnow said.
