Sidney Rice announces retirement

Seahawks wide receiver Sidney Rice has announced that he's retiring from the game of football, citing concussions for his reason to hang up the cleats.

"I was just thinking about things I've been through in the last few years," Rice told the Seahawks official website. "I've hit the ground a number of times. I have quite a few injuries. It's something I've always battled through and came back from. But I just figure at this point I have the rest of my life ahead of me and I want to be able to function and do things later down the road."

What a sobering statement. Rice's most serious concussion that I can remember was one he sustained after catching a game-winning touchdown against the Bears in 2012.

"I'm going to be around," he said, noting that he's planning on opening up several more Wingstop locations in the area, among other ventures. "I love it. The state has grown on me, the people. The best fans you could ever hope for. So I'll be around as much as possible in the locker room with those guys."

It would be interesting if the Hawks try to get him back into the organization as an intern or assistant, as he's well known to be highly respected in the receivers room. It was pretty unclear whether or not he'd have made the roster outright -- I had thought he may start the season on the PUP list rehabbing his torn ACL, but this ends speculation for that.

Regardless, best of luck to Rice, who finished his career with 3,592 receiving yards, 30 touchdowns, and a Super Bowl and Pro Bowl on his resume.