If an NFL player holdsout with several years on contract, can the team force a retirement?

Question

It's shame how greedy some players are getting these days.

So say a player signs a four-year contract, plays one year and wants a new contract. The club refuses and the player holds out. Assuming the club doesn't want to trade or cut the player, is the player obligated to player 3 years for the club before a new contract or after 3 years has passed and he hasn't played is he allowed out? This is reference to greedy Jason Peters (Buffalo Bills).

Answer 1

That player is bound by the contract he is currently playing under.  If his team won't renew or re-up his present contract he can quit, retire, whatever.  

Answer 2

He can retire and return to football AFTER th expiration of the contract.  Barry Sanders one of the greatest running backs in history retired in 1999 at his peak because he no longer wanted to play for the Lions.  He had four years left in his contract and since the Lions would never let him go and he didnt want to play for a team he felt never had a chance to win the superbowl, he elected to retire instead.  And since the age of 34 would have been too old for a running back to pick up his career, he decided to stay retired.  

USUALLY players who no longer want to play will try to work things out with the team, request a trade, or another team will work out a deal in his behalf.  The Barry Sanders situation was quite unique and led some people to believe including one of his former coaches Bobby Ross that he had just lost the desire to play.

Answer 3

he will ahve to wait until is contract is up to get with a new team if the bills dont want to trade him.