Loading ...The struggles that plagued New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck in 2011 have been well documented. He suffered from a wide variety of injuries, from his neck to his groin, and also dealt with personal hardships that included the loss of both his Grandfather and Uncle. As a result, he strongly considered asking the team to place him on Injured Reserve (IR), which would have effectively ended his season, but was ultimately talked out of it.
Unbeknownst to many, that wasn't all Tuck was talked out of.
In a candid interview with Steve Serby of the New York Post on Tuesday, the Pro Bowl defensive end and defensive captain revealed that retirement was a very serious consideration a season ago, and he came close to hanging up his cleats at only 28 years of age.
“After the hardships of last year, I did some soul-searching, and really had to ask myself if this is what I want,” Tuck said. “Obviously, I’m back, and I just feel kind of refreshed mentally. I think a lot of things were weighing on me last year where I couldn’t necessarily be my normal self on and off the football field. I’ve kind of put those things in the past now and moved forward.”
The debate on whether or not to retire had gotten so serious that Tuck even approached head coach Tom Coughlin about it, and later discussed it with his wife, family and close personal friends. And although he wouldn't divulge the contents of those conversations, it shows just how close he came to walking away from the game.
Alas, Tuck did not retire, nor was he placed on IR, and ultimately helped lead Big Blue to their second Super Bowl championship in four years. It was rejuvenating, and all but eliminated any desire or consideration to retire.
"[I] just realized this is what I love to do, and I’m not ready to give it up regardless of the hardships,” Tuck said. “I think for a little while, like I said, I felt sorry for myself because of the fact that I’m sitting here saying like, ‘Why is all this happening to me?’ I don’t think I was thinking clearly. After winning the Super Bowl, getting away from football for a while allowed me just to think clearly.”
photo credit: MattBritt00 via photo pin cc
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Justin should temper his comments to the press
a little too much honesty
Listening to Tuck on his weekly spot with Francesa last year, you could hear some of this in his voice. I think going through what he did last year will make him better going forward. When you have money for life, a SB, pro bowls and even an all pro I can see losing focus.
Leaders don’t ever contemplate hanging em up. Team first, team always.
No, leaders DON’T hang them up. Most leaders, at some point or another, do consider giving up. What makes a leader a leader is where they go from that point.
I guess that’s fair. But if you’re contemplating it, it’s gotta be internal. His sallyness last year didn’t do anything for his 7-7 team, and wasn’t until he was called out by Rolle and changed his tune that he, and the team, played at their highest level. I just don’t think a captain should need that – he should be the one doing the calling out.
But I guess all’s well that ends well.
Note that I have all the respect in the world for these football players and the resolve it takes to suit up. I’m just saying I hold you to a higher standard when you’re wearing a C on your shirt.
Eli Manning, even keel, always talking about the next play, no matter how dire the circumstances. Separated AC joint on his throwing arm, out for four weeks? I got this, I’m playing this week. Busted heel? I’m gonna finish the game and play next week.
That’s my captain.
Dirt says:
August 15, 2012 at 9:00 AM
I mentioned Boley could see time at MLB. Rightly, some responded that he’s not really a run stopper. I’d counter with neither is Blackburn, which is why he was sitting on his couch as rookie Greg Jones became the starting MLB last year.
I stand by my comment that if your DTs are garbagio, you can’t further handicap your team by taking even more good players off the field, which would be one of Boley and Williams. Boley’s already been responsible for calling plays on the defense, ostensibly he knows it enough to be where he needs to be.
Of course, if the coaches feel Herzlich is already a stud, then this goes away.
Blackburn actually is pretty decent against the run. He is known as a linebacker who has a terrific nose for the gap into which someone wants to run and will find a way to get there (one memorable example was his great stop against Westbrook that won that game against the Eagles in 2008 down in Philly).
His problem is sideline-to-sideline speed and quickness needed to get in the right passing lanes soon enough. If he had that he’d be our “solution” at MIKE. Herzlich is apparently a bit stronger, faster, and quicker and the questions with him will be about reads and recognition.
As to why Blackburn was sitting on his coach last season, I think it was more about the Giants thinking that every one of these young linebackers had big upsides and wanting to make the transition to using all of them. Greg Jones was thought to be a really good read-and-react guy who has some real strength and was incredibly productive in Lansing. That would mean he could give them Chase Blackburn +. But it turns out you have to see guys play on the field. Some have that intangible that others don’t even if the one who doesn’t looks like he should be the better player. Chase Blackburn is a player. Apparently Greg Jones is not.
I’m amazed at how soft these players really are. Oh sure, they’re physical specimens and hulking brutes. They could crush you with one hand. But they have no idea what real adversity is. And when faced with even a small amount of it their first instinct is to run away.
It was pretty obvious that he wasn’t “there” for most of last season until the week that Rolle challenged the team (“You have to play, and practice, when you’re hurt because that’s what we need from everyone right now”) and Coughlin spoke to him about his situation. You could see it in his play, the way he reacted to failures, his demeanor in interviews, even in the slump of his shoulders.
I made a comment at some point that it was impossible to consider him a team leader when he seemed like his frustration had turned to resignation and he was actually setting a bad example for his teammates. But when he turned it around he became a real factor in those last six weeks.
Let’s just hope that he stays focused this season, and let’s remember that these guys are real people with real problems off the field just like everyone else who cannot help but allow their lives to affect their work. This team needs Justin Tuck to play his best.
And let me end this comment by noting that reading this article makes me even more convinced that Jerry Reese should try very hard to retain Osi. Umeniyora really wants to be here and he wants to play football (and get the big bucks again). Tuck sounds like a highly intelligent guy who just might decide that he has enough money and just doesn’t have the fire any longer when his contract runs out. Most of us have assumed that the defense will have JPP and Tuck as defensive ends for years to come. Maybe not.
Absolutely …
here, here
I don’t know how we do it … I don’t know how big that rabbit that Reese pulls out of his errrrr hat will have to be … but I’d make signing Osi a top priority.
Yeah, we all go back and forth on him. And sure, there were times he acted like a little b-tch. But his value to this team is huge. And when he’s right he’s everything you could ask for in a DE.
Sign him Reese. Here’s a dollar.
These comments by Tuck just gave Osi more future leverage. I was one of the ones who would have traded Osi — for the right price — because of the potential price tag he would have commanded. Now, however, I’m a tad worried about losing Osi because of Tuck’s revelation. I love Tuck, and realize he was dealing with a lot, but leaders don’t contemplate quitting. It sounds like he was at his lowest point and luckily was talked out of it.
thank god for Adrian Tracy!!
another way to look at Tuck’s comments is that he is bored with answering inane media questions over and over so he decided to have a little fun by tossing out the “fleeting retirement” chestnut
of course, now after every game, some reporter will ask: Justin, are you thinking of retiring today? To which Justin will respond: I think of lots of things.
While you’re all crediting Rolle for calling out Tuck and having this D gel again– don’t forget that ‘Trel himself (& he’s one of my faves) was called out & reminded by Dave Merritt & Perry Fewel about culpability and responsibility to the team. Quite a few heads were out of the game & overcame fleeting thoughts of “quit”. They are human ya know.
Agreed.
I’d go even further than that. Tuck went into Coughlin’s office considering retirement and walked out rededicated to victory and the Team First, Team Always mindset. Sure, Rolle and others had influence along the way, but it was Coughlin who brought this guy back into the fold. The credit starts there, in my book.
they were 7-7 and had played more bad football (Wash. 2x, St Louis, Ariz, Seattle, N.O., Miami, Philly 2) than good (Dallas 2x, N.E., G.B., S.F., Buffalo, Philly 1, Jets)
What is remarkable is that their better games were against the better competition
On some level that is a little disconcerting — playing down to the competition, injuries or no
Let’s face it, the Giants were very very lucky last season to still have a shot at the playoffs going into Week 15 — most years we would have been playing out the string
hopefully this year the Giants will respond to their championship accomplishment the way they did in 2008 before Plax lit the fuse that blew up the house