ICYMI: Ed Reed discusses Roethlisberger retirement comment and life after football

A little over a week ago, Ed Reed was on NFL Network, joining Brandon Marshall, Michael Irvin and James Brown, discussing retirement and life after football. He does so with possibly the slickest suit on the show, by the way.

“You got to be careful,” Reed said, talking about Ben Roethlisberger’s ‘hints’ of retirement. “You got to be careful as a player, mentioning that. Once you put it in your head, it’s out there in the atmosphere. You’re probably on your last days.”

It makes sense. When Steve Smith Sr. said he was going to retire, then came back after injury for a final season, Michael Irvin commented on the difficulty after saying it.

“I asked him, ‘Can you really come back after making up your mind that you’re going to retire?’ Irving said. “Usually, when you say you’re going to retire, your body shuts down. I guarantee you that he’s the only guy that I will say never allows his body to shut down.”

Reed gave some advice when finishing.

“Don’t say it,” Reed said. “Don’t say it. Just play out, and like Brady and Peyton said, make them kick you out.”