‘What if a professional sports team held a retirement press conference and the spotlighted player didn’t retire?’
Archives for January 30, 2018
Eric Wood says he can’t play again, but does not announce retirement
‘The biggest unanswered question would be why the two sides went through with a press conference given that there are obvious issues to work out. As is often the case in these situations, money is at the root of the discrepancy.’
Bills DL coach Mike Waufle retires; assistant Bill Teerlinck promoted
‘The 63-year-old former U.S. Marine who was known for his no-nonsense style decided it was time to retire because of chronic pain that he attributes to his playing days.’
Bucky Gleason: Eric Wood takes wrong turn after career ends with Bills
‘Wood took another wrong turn in another embarrassing moment Monday, when his family, friends, former teammates and the media assembled for a news conference that was designed to double as a retirement ceremony. It turned into an apparent dispute over money that made Wood look like another petty professional athlete.’
Sean Kirst: The reasons to ‘extra like’ Eric Wood had nothing to do with football
‘”You have to extra-like someone like Eric,” Flora said. “I think I’ll need to add him to my prayer list.”‘
Eric Wood’s friends, teammates reflect on his stellar career
‘”I told him there’s a number of different ways you can leave the league,” Wolford said. “And almost all of them are really negative, really bitter and not what you want. I said this one, it’s not what you want. But considering the woulda, coulda, shoulda involved with your neck, you’re blessed.”‘
What They Said: Read Eric Wood’s statement regarding his career-ending neck injury
‘After the season, as part of the exit physical, we got an MRI that revealed a disc that was dangerously close to my spinal cord at C2-C3, and that was alarming. As you can imagine, this news floored me as I was merely days away from the first playoff game of my career.’
What They Said: Sean McDermott, Brandon Beane, Ryan Fitzpatrick & Lorenzo Alexander on Eric Wood
‘It makes me feel job for Eric, his family, and the rest of his teammates. It really does. I’ll never forget the look on Eric’s face. You have still memories that stay with you for a long time and that’s one of them that I remember distinctly, when Eric came off the field from the coin-toss and the look in his eyes that he was in a situation he hadn’t been in before and he was excited for the opportunity.’
Rex Ryan back to being a Leafs fan
‘“As soon as I got fired by the Pegulas, I was like, no chance. I got rid of all my Sabres stuff. I had the (Roger) Crozier jersey, the French Connection jerseys … I got rid of every damn one of them.”’
Wood not ‘officially’ retired but illustrious career is finished with disc injury
‘Wood was on the phone with his agent as the news conference was set to kick off and when he did appear, he spoke for just 1 minute and 42 seconds, didn’t field questions and didn’t actually announce his retirement officially.’
Roth: Eric Wood’s retirement is no snap for Bills
‘He was a team leader in the truest sense, one of those “go-to’’ guys with character in the Kent Hull and Steve Tasker mold, the guy who faced the media not just in good times but in bad. And boy was there a lot of bad after he joined the club in 2009, a big, burly, friendly, always smiling guy with curly blond locks.’
Buffalo Bills DL coach Mike Waufle retires, replacement named
‘The veteran coach only spent one season with the Bills, but was able to be a part of the coaching staff that ended Buffalo’s 17-year playoff drought. Waufle began coaching in the NFL during the 1998 season. He served as the defensive line coach of the Oakland Raiders (1998-2003, 2010-2011), New York Giants (2004-2009) and Rams (2012-2016) before joining Sean McDermott’s staff.’
Everything Buffalo Bills’ Eric Wood said at his ‘retirement’ press conference
‘”Sorry for the delay,” Wood said. “Thank you to everyone who came out today. This press conference was set up a couple of weeks ago, in light of me finding out about the injury an hour before my son Garrett was born. As many of you already know given the leak on Friday, Dr. Cappuccino has informed me I will no longer be able to play football given the neck injury. Even with further treatment, rehab or surgery, a return is not possible. In Week 5 I got the first stinger of my life, and I got one the following week. After that game, we did an X-ray on my neck that showed no significant damage. After the season, as part of the exit physical, we got an MRI that revealed a disc that was dangerously close to my spinal cord at C2, C3. That was alarming.’
What Bills’ Brandon Beane, Sean McDermott said about Eric Wood situation
‘”There’s all sorts of things when you’re doing roster management,” Beane said. “He’ll stay on the roster for now. We’ll figure out what’s the best tactic for the Buffalo Bills as we move forward. Really, we’re a long way away from figuring out where we’re going.’
8 options for the Buffalo Bills to replace center Eric Wood
‘Ryan Jensen may be the most expensive option to replace Wood. The soon-to-be free agent had a breakout season with the Baltimore Ravens and finished the year as Pro Football Focus’ No. 9 center (74.9 overall grade). Jensen, a physical center, is 26 years old and just entering the prime of his career.’