Tra Thomas retires
Tra Thomas, the last Eagles first-round pick before the Andy Reid era began, has announced his retirement.
Tra Thomas retires
Daily News staff
Tra Thomas, the last Eagles first-round pick before the Andy Reid era began, has announced his retirement.
Thomas, 35, had knee surgery Aug. 3 with the San Diego Chargers and had only returned to practice this week. Thomas signed with the Chargers as a potential replacement for Marcus McNeill, who continues his holdout.
"I was just watching film and I don't think I was playing as well in practice as I should be," Thomas told ESPN.com. "If I'm not playing well in practice, I'm not going to play up to my standard in a game ... I feel very good about the decision. I 'm going out on my own terms. At least, I know I gave it everything I could."
Thomas said he could have gotten through the season, but felt that was the wrong thing to do.
"I could have milked it for a year," Thomas said. "But I have too much respect for the game to do that."
Thomas appeared in eight games with three starts last season as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars after the Eagles chose not to re-sign him.
He played 11 seasons with the Eagles, playing in fewer than 15 games in a season only once. He went to three Pro Bowls, five NFC title games and a Super Bowl.
His 166 games played ranks fifth in team history, only Brian Dawkins, Harold Carmichael, David Akers and Chuck Bednarik have played more.
He was a starter in Phila by default..... we have always had mediocre Offensive Linemen..... He was no better than current Eagle book ends .....— Dexter
Good guy, the anti-Shawn Andrews.— Morty Seinfeld
I always liked Tra Thomas, but this last move puts him in the highest esteem. It has become awfully rare for a modern athlete to put personal standards of excellence over the almighty dollar. I am not a proponent of athletes as role models, because most are disappointing as "adults." But I do think Tra is an exceptional a role model for a man. He should take this story on the road in hopes of influencing the multitudes of misguided youth.- Class act!— BigLadd
Thomas: "I could have milked it for a year, but I have too much respect for the game" This is why Philadelphia absolutely LOVES men like Tra Thomas... Not once did he cause distractions as a player, played at a high level for the vast majority of his career in this city and shuts it down after not playing up to his own standards. Enjoy retirement Mr. Thomas, as a season ticket holder I'll continue to cheer for you when you visit the stadium.— CJinPA- Tra Thomas is the first respectable athlete to play in Philly since Mike Schmidt. The rest are a bunch of no good fanny pirate hoodlums who fit right in with the world's biggest trailer park that is Philadelphia.— Eagles=ManOnManLove
- Eagles could have signed him for a day, so he could retire as an Eagle. One of the few players who, over his career, lived up to expectations. Congrats, Tra.— fillyfan
- We love u Tra........birds fans wish we still had bookends......haters will be all over...tru bird fans know the deal— illadelphiasfinest
- Thanks Tra, be well!— JohnnyH
Comment removed.- That's what's up Tra. Stand up guy and and Eagle forever. Good luck and best wishes in life after football.— Corey301
- Good on him for recognizing when it was time to go. Hope he does come back and retire as an Eagle. But I can't help thinking this validates the Eagles' decision not to re-sign him. He only started 3 games last season and then retired before this one? Obviously he had nothing left.— jrw723
- Thanks Tra, job well done.— jimmyj
- Thanks, Tra. Best wishes.— BlairW
- Good guy. I hope he enjoys a healthy retirement.— cesegal
- Thanks & good luck, Tra. Come back, sign a 1-day contract & retire an Eagle. There's always room for you here.— mjfromsj
- Bless your stout heart Mr. Thomas! You and your running mate Jon Runyon will be LONG remembered for your stellar play for our Iggles for those many years. Hope you get to do all the things you've wanted to do in your retirement.— TBear
- thank you William/Tra for your time in philly— Dawk20
- Well played Tra & thanks for all the good years you gave the Eagles... unlike others drafted after you.— UKEagle
