Injuries obviously change the way you approach the game.

You have to believe you're great. You have to have an air about you. My success wasn't because I was a great talent, but because I wanted it more than anybody else. Every minute I step on that field, I want to prove I'm the best player in the league.

Maybe I'm old-school, but I always thought you honor a contract.

In spite of reports about playing with various teams, I'm enjoying retirement with my family and have no plans to play football.

Sometimes you get caught up in what's going on around you. The reality is that you are just a regular person. At some point, the career will be over, the bright lights turn off. That can come back to haunt you if you're not just a regular guy.

I may be a successful football player, but I feel like such a failure.

In my situation, unlike some players who retire because they have no choice - either teams don't want them or injuries have caused them to retire, and they just can't do it - for me, I really had never thought I would give out mentally before I gave out physically, but I think that was the case.