Arizona Cardinals RB Rashard Mendenhall Retiring
By Scott Allen
Dec 15, 2013; Nashville, TN, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Rashard Mendenhall (28) carries the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the first half at LP Field. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports
When Arizona Cardinals running back Rashard Mendenhall wrote a February 25th piece on Huffington Post hinting he was going to retire, some took it as fact, some took what he said as being over rehabbing. As it turns out, he is in fact retiring from the NFL. Personally I thought he wasn’t retiring. Now running back becomes a focus again on the need list.
The Cards hadn’t announced what their intentions were with the running back position and Mendenhall specifically except to say a few weeks ago that they planned on having the Cards backs share the load in 2014. Whether that decision played any part in Mendenhall’s decision to retire, who knows? I do know this, this either gives Ryan Williams new found hope or the Cards will be looking for another back.
I just can’t see anyway they just stay with what they have. They don’t want Andre Ellington or Stepfan Taylor carrying the ball 20 times a game. There are some guys just like Medenhall out on the free agent market. Maybe a guy like Maurice Jones-Drew fits the Mendenhall mold? There’s a guy that can still pound it 15-20 times a game and share the load with other guys.
Although I would love the Cards to give Williams another shot I just don’t see it happening. He somehow got into the doghouse and hasn’t been able to fight his way out. The amazing part is if that is the case, then why is he still an Arizona Cardinal? My best guess is he is insurance. I think now it is time to either cash that policy in or get new insurance.