It's been coming for quite some time but Jonathan Ogden will finally make it official tomorrow: He's calling it a career after a stellar 12-year run at left tackle for the Ravens. He spoke with the Baltimore Sun today and let them know that after battling a toe injury for most of the past two seasons, the end of the road was nigh. "It took a little while to decide. You just can't make a decision like this overnight. I tried to work out, I tried to practice on the toe. But it never came back to 100 percent."There's no shortage of highlights to Ogden's career. He made the Pro Bowl in 11 of his 12 seasons, was proabably the best offensive tackle of the last decade and even caught two touchdown passes. He did it all in front of 13 different quarterbacks and helped the Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV. Not too shabby for a guy that Art Modell wanted to pass up so he could draft Lawrence Phillips as the first ever Ravens draft pick in 1996.
It will be quite a class entering Canton in 2013. With Ogden, Michael Strahan and Brett Favre, you've got three of the all-time greats at their positions and they could be joined by Warren Sapp, Bryant Young and/or Junior Seau to make quite the set of busts.
Sports Retirements in 2008
June 11: Jonathan Ogden announces he's ending a stellar career with the Ravens in which the offensive tackle garnered 11 Pro Bowl invitations. The Super Bowl winner is not the first big name to retire from sports in 2008.
Jamie Squire, Getty Images
June 9: Michael Strahan decides to call it a career after helping the Giants win Super Bowl XLII. Strahan tallied an NFL-leading 141.5 sacks in his time with the Giants.
Elsa, Getty Images
June 9: Detroit Red Wings goalie Dominik Hasek announced his retirement during a news conference in Detroit.
Gene J. Puskar, AP
May 21: Longtime Lowe's Motor Speedway president and one of NASCAR's top promoters H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler announced this year's Coca-Cola 600 would be his last.
Terry Renna, AP
May 20: After not being signed to any MLB team for the 2008 season, Mike Piazza announced his retirement.
Lisa Blumenfeld, Getty Images
May 14: Belgium's Justine Henin announced her retirement from professional tennis.
Geert Vanden Wijngaert, AP
May 13: Annika Sorenstam announced that the 2008 season would be her last of competitive golf.
Steve Helber, AP
March 26: Chris Webber announces his retirement from the NBA at a press conference at ORACLE Arena.
Rocky Widner, NBAE/Getty Images
March 6: Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre held an emotional press conference at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin to announce his retirement from football.
Mike Roemer, AP
Feb. 14: Despite limited play since 1993, tennis player Monica Seles officially announced her retirement earlier this year.
Stephen Lovekin, Getty Images for WSF
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-11-2008 @ 8:38PM
Mark A said...
God Bless you Jonathan Ogden, thank you and best wishes.
Reply
6-20-2008 @ 8:57PM
rob johnson said...
Good luck jonathan ogden you were one of the best ever
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