Eagles' Long says he's retiring after 11 seasons

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PHILADELPHIA – Defending NFL team-mate Chris Payton qualifies as a defenseman after 11 seasons.

Long made the announcement Saturday night on social media, with a photo of a red cup in hand and mountains in the distance.

Eagles published a statement Congratulating Long and saying, "He will always be part of the Eagles family."

"Few players can claim that they have won two consecutive Super Bowls and the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award," said the Eagles' club. "There is no doubt that his work ethic, coupled with his unique talent, made him one of the greatest professional athletes of that era." We are very grateful to Chris for choosing to play for the Philadelphia Eagles. "

Long, 34, spent most of the off season deciding whether to retire or play another season. He clarified that his role should be just right he had to come back for a 12th season in the NFL.

For a long time, he wanted to have ample opportunity to get after the quarterback. With Brandon Graham and Derek Barnett supposed to be the starters of the Eagles and defensive tackle Malik Jackson likely to remain on the pitch in third place, Long's playing time in a hasty pass situation would have been more limited than it was. I would have liked.

"It's a bit like at the amusement park, when they fasten their seatbelt, the roller coaster goes away – you can not go out. You can not stop smoking" Long told ESPN earlier this season. "Some guys may think differently, but when we're in, we're in, so I want to make sure I'm in. I think most players have to do it, and I'm just honest at that Maybe some of the guys just do not tell the truth, but this is the situation for me, I know I can still play, I think I played well, especially in the second half of this year. year, once I'm in good health and I have more hooks, then we'll see. "

Long was part of two Super Bowl championship teams two consecutive seasons – with the New England Patriots in 2016, and the Eagles in 2017, contributing to the presentation of the first Lombardi Trophy in Philadelphia.

Named second overall by the St. Louis Rams at the NFL draft in 2008, he spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Rams before being released in 2016, as injuries limited his production. His 6.5 sacks last season are his highest since 2013.

Son of Howie Long, legend of the NFL, he scored 70 career bags and 85 tackles against defeat during his career. Despite all his success on the ground, Long's legacy will be largely defined by the way he used his platform to maximize his humanitarian efforts. Through his organization, Waterboys, he helped provide drinking water to more than 200,000 people in Africa, by building nearly 60 wells in Tanzania.

Long donated his entire salary in 2017 to education efforts in Virginia and a quarter of his salary in 2018 to help make books available to inner-city children.

This dead season, he was named the man of the year by Walter Payton in the NFL, an award that rewards an NFL player for his excellence on and off the field.

"I think everyone knows that they are not as good as men [portrayed]; I think that if you are honest with yourself, everyone has a lot of work to do, "he said. It's still fashionable to say, "Dude, I'm humiliated," but I honestly think so. There are things I work on constantly.

"Listen, are we the most productive base on the field in an NFL locker room?" I believe that our productivity as a foundation and my productivity on the ground are really strong. price must be awarded to a specific type who never does anything silly or who does not have much to do – I am a work in progress and everyone who knows me would tell me that .I try to do this who is good and sometimes you are I was happy to accept the award on behalf of all who have been part of it.I just think it is a hell of an honor, c & # 39; Is a hell of a price for a person to accept and I do not think it's realistic, but I'm happy to accept it. "

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