Borland to retire over long-term head trauma concerns

[NinerSickness]

NO, I AM NOT COMPARING QUITTING FOOTBALL WITH MURDER.

He sure murdered the Niners' ILB depth though.

Murdering b@stard.

[TNBT]

MHSL82, you mentioned two terms there that really sum up the difference with me - brave and applaudable. While yes I think the decision to make yourself a hated man by a lot of people is brave, I don't think it is applaudable that he let a team use a draft pick on him knowing full well he was likely done after one season. I think that is the difference you were getting at, and I agree with you there.

[NinerSickness]

Borland is giving back 3/4 of his signing bonus. Good. Punk:

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12537 ... -3-4-bonus

Now give back 3/4 of that 3rd-round draft pick you screwed the team out of.

[Jikkle]

Like everyone else I don't have a problem if you want to retire for whatever reason BUT if you know you're going to or have a good feeling you are not going to play anymore it's complete and utter garbage to not just call it right after college instead of letting a team invest a draft pick, money, and time on you.

And what's not being talked about is that he just didn't screw the team but he screwed someone else out of a roster spot that wanted to take the risk and dreamed of playing football. He took valuable reps that could've gone to another man that could've improved his game and chances of making a team.

And Borland knows better and knows that a 3rd round pick isn't a cheap investment and he knows how valuable spots are on a football roster when it comes to the college and pro levels of football.

He would've been a braver man if he would've retired out of college but now I just think he's a selfish prick.

[Ray_Dogg]

Sorry Chris. I still hate you.

[ChrisPozz]

Dr. John York respects Chris Borland’s decision but says game getting safer

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/san-fr ... 42603.html

[DoobieKeebler]

How is Willis a hero and Borland a mark?

[MHSL82]

How is Willis a hero and Borland a mark?

Time spent with dedication and the fact Willis retired because he was too injured to play not to prevent injury. Also, Willis didn't know he was just going to be in it for a year (or belief it was a good chance). Plus, Willis gave us more time to react with free agency and draft prep, though much of that could have been greatly affected with us thinking Borland would full in. Great play is irrelevant, but it is a factor.

[CrimsonCrew]

I think the frustration with Borland is that he came out in the draft thinking there was a very good chance he only wanted to play one year. It would appear he did not give teams any idea of this. We used a 3rd round pick on him, which is a valuable pick in what was a deep class (guys like Gabe Jackson, Philip Gaines, Louis Nix, Donte Moncrief, and John Brown all went within 15 or so picks after Borland). People respect what Willis has done for the organization.

I totally respect Borland's decision on a personal level, and am surprised we don't see more NFL players do it (and we may). But his decision really hurts the Niners, and I'd be lying if I said that didn't upset me to some extent. Not only do we lose a good player, but we missed out on the opportunity to add another good player in his stead.

[Jikkle]

How is Willis a hero and Borland a mark?

Willis really only stopped playing because his feet wouldn't allow him to play anymore.

Borland didn't quit because he was injured but out of the fear of injury.

That in itself isn't bad and that isn't the issue but the issue is he allowed a team to invest in him already knowing he likely was going to play for a year. So he screwed the team that invested time, money, and a draft pick on him but he also screwed someone out of a roster spot and other guys reps.

I wouldn't take issue with it if he told teams he wasn't sure if a long term career in football was for him which would have likely made him undrafted but a team probably would have signed him as an undrafted free agent taking a chance he might change his mind.

I mean have been very public and very well know for years so it's not like he has some excuse that he didn't know the dangers of playing football and concussions.

[MHSL82]

I hate illogical captions or headlines. ESPN says, to paraphrase part, "The farther Chris Borland steps away from the NFL, the more dangerous (damaging) the sport is." He's either playing or not, he stepped away already. That's as far as you can go. He can't step further away, even if he stops watching. Then, him retiring doesn't impact the NFL as much as they make it seem. It's the media from this, why would ESPN want to kill their highest making resource by articles like this? A big one would be Aaron Rodgers retiring due to concerns of health. Now, that would bring the NFL pressure. Borland has been replaced easily and others who follow will, too.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13463272/how-former-san-francisco-49ers-chris-borland-retirement-change-nfl-forever

[Jikkle]

I hate illogical captions or headlines. ESPN says, to paraphrase part, "The farther Chris Borland steps away from the NFL, the more dangerous (damaging) the sport is." He's either playing or not, he stepped away already. That's as far as you can go. He can't step further away, even if he stops watching. Then, him retiring doesn't impact the NFL as much as they make it seem. It's the media from this, why would ESPN want to kill their highest making resource by articles like this? A big one would be Aaron Rodgers retiring due to concerns of health. Now, that would bring the NFL pressure. Borland has been replaced easily and others who follow will, too.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13463272/how-former-san-francisco-49ers-chris-borland-retirement-change-nfl-forever

The sports media just is not in tune with what the sports fan cares about and they keep trying to make people care about issues that the majority just aren't interested in.

Despite how much the sports media has tried to jam the Redskin's name and concussions down everyone's throat most NFL fans are more angry at the quality of officiating and the quality of the product on the field.

Nobody expect the 9er fandom cared about Borland before and now nobody cares about how he feels and what he thinks about football.

I would've been fine with Borland's decision if he hadn't already planned in his head to walk away from the game before he allowed a team to invest a draft pick in him and took a roster spot from someone that wanted to play.

[Tomikcon1971]

Interesting read......49ers fan or otherwise.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13463272/how-former-san-francisco-49ers-chris-borland-retirement-change-nfl-forever

[DoobieKeebler]

Niner fans talking about Borland:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGGfnLBTLdY[/youtube]