Mike Rucker Could Be Retiring

A late report from the Rock Hill Herald suggests that Mike Rucker could be leaning toward retirement.  Less than a month ago, Rucker told the Carolina Panthers that he would be coming back for another season.

"Rucker became an unrestricted free agent at midnight. Panthers coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney had met with him two weeks ago and told him they intended to look another direction for a starter at defensive end. At that point, Rucker said he wanted to come back, but hedged when talk turned to actually going to another city."

"His best friend and former teammate, Mike Minter, said Thursday that his partner was now having second thoughts."

"“He’s leaning toward not playing at all now,” Minter said. “I think he might have spoke too fast last time, and the more he thinks about it, the less he wants to go somewhere else.”"