Colts LT Tarik Glenn to retire, according to sources

[Nick]

Going out on top
Colts offensive tackle Glenn plans to retire, sources say
By Mike Chappell and Phillip B. Wilson
mike.chappell@indystar.com
July 21, 2007

Offensive tackle Tarik Glenn will not be back to help the Indianapolis Colts defend their Super Bowl title, according to several people close to the 10-year veteran, choosing instead to retire.

None of Glenn's teammates would confirm the decision publicly, and repeated attempts to reach Glenn were unsuccessful.

When asked to comment on his client's decision, agent Ralph Cindrich said any response would have to come from Glenn.

Colts coach Tony Dungy said earlier this week he recently talked with Glenn but would not divulge the nature of the discussions. "Probably the best person to speak to on that is him,' ' Dungy said.

Barring a change of heart by Glenn, 31, the Colts will report to training camp July 29 without their second-longest tenured player, and one who has appeared in the past three Pro Bowls. The Colts selected Glenn with the 19th overall pick in the 1997 draft. Only Marvin Harrison, the team's 1996 first-round draft pick, has been around longer.

Glenn, who will become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, has started 154 regular-season games during his career. The past 138 have come at left tackle as quarterback Peyton Manning's backside protector. With Glenn setting the pace, the Colts' offensive line continually has ranked among the NFL's best at limiting sacks.

The Colts' options at replacing him include Charlie Johnson, a sixth-round pick in 2006 who primarily saw action at right tackle as a rookie, and Tony Ugoh, their second-round pick in the April draft. They traded their 2008 first-round pick to get into position to select Ugoh, then indicated he might be Glenn's eventual successor.

[general counsel]

i bet he is looking for leverage to extend his contract.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[RamsNation]

All I can say is, if I were on the colts roster and he retired suddenly a week before camp leaving me out to dry, I would hold a very low opinion of him for ever and probably set his house on fire.

[rams_fan81]

Ya espn is reporting that he is retiring

[jkramsfan]

All I can say is, if I were on the colts roster and he retired suddenly a week before camp leaving me out to dry, I would hold a very low opinion of him for ever and probably set his house on fire.

setting his house on fire might be a bit harsh, but I agree the timing is very poor and this decision if it is true could have been made months ago.

[ramsbruce]

setting his house on fire might be a bit harsh, but I agree the timing is very poor and this decision if it is true could have been made months ago.

Although the timing isn't very good, I disagree with saying the decision could have been made months ago. Sure it could have, but you really don't know what is going through Glenn's mind when it comes to actually retiring from a sport that he loves. It's not that easy to walk away from something you love, so just maybe he couldn't make up his mind and it took him some time to really feel like he can give it all up. It's not easy I'm sure.

[laram0]

This is big....if he retires. Left tackle, Peyton's blind side...UH OH!

[Nick]

Colts president Bill Polian was on Sirius NFL Radio moments ago and said Glenn still has until Sunday to make his official decision. He said he talked to Glenn personally and this wasn't an issue about money. If Glenn does in fact retire, Polian believes Charlie Johnson would get the first shot at the left tackle job.

[general counsel]

The good news for the rams is that without glenn, we will get a rematch with the patriots in the super bowl this year and the big boy is going to run the ball down their throats as we avenge the superbowl 36 debacle.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[r8rh8rmike]

This is big....if he retires. Left tackle, Peyton's blind side...UH OH!

I wonder if Peyton is going to try and do some lobbying this week?

[tomahawk247]

This is big....if he retires. Left tackle, Peyton's blind side...UH OH!

actually i think you may mean UGOH

as in Tony Ugoh, Colts rookie OT that could step into Glenn's LT position

[Goldenfleece]

This might be a situation like Willie Roaf's retirement last summer. He told the team months before camp that he wasn't coming back, but it didn't hit the news until late July. Even then the team was saying they were optimistic he still might return.

[TheBritishRam]

I think this is the colts biggest loss of the offseason, if ugoh doesn't get it done the colts will struggle mightly to repeat last year's performance