Mawae to retire from football
Longtime Tennessee Titans’ centre Kevin Mawae is deciding to call it quits after 16 NFL seasons. Mawae went to the Pro Bowl eight times in his career and he is has been a leader both on and off the field. Mawae is now the President of the NFLPA
"It's a time of reflection for me just to think that I [had] the privilege of playing in the NFL," Mawae said. "It's an honor – not a right – and it's something that I don't take for granted. It's one that I cherish."
He paved the way to Chris Johnson’s 2,006-yard season last year but the Titans elected not to re-sign the 39-year-old. Instead the Titans shifted the younger Eugene Amato from guard to centre. While Amano will certainly be able to fill the role, given his strength, it will be hard to replace a man who was a captain for Tennessee. The Titans’ youth movement this offseason saw them part ways with several of their aging veterans including Keith Bulluck, Kyle Vanden Bosch and Mawae.
Mawae believes that the reason he was not offered a contract from any team this offseason was due to his role with the union. It could be a sign that the labour negotiations are getting ugly. The current CBA expires in March and a lockout for the 2011 season is a definite possibility. Mawae will now get a chance to focus solely on getting a deal done with the owners to avoid a work stoppage.
"Learning the business side of the NFL was a rude awakening for me, and it's when I realized that even though it was a game, it's a job and if you don't perform, you don't have a job. The one thing I have learned that keeps players in the league is consistency in how they work and how they prepare for the game," Mawae said.
The Seattle Seahawks drafted Mawae in 1994. He spent his first four seasons with them and began his career as a right guard before being shifted to centre in his third year. He never disappointed.
The New York Jets signed Mawae in 1998 and Mawae spent his next eight seasons with the team, anchoring the Jets’ offence. Mawae consistently led the o-line to successful seasons in which they rarely allowed sacks and paved the way for running back Curtis Martin to enjoy his best NFL seasons.
Following a triceps injury in 2005, the Jets released Mawae who was picked up by Tennessee. Since his arrival the Titans became a rushing machine and the offensive line has been one of the league’s best in the last four seasons. In 2006, the Titans ranked fifth in rushing and Mawae was named team captain.
"The life of an offensive lineman is one of obscurity and living in the background, but winning is always the main goal," Mawae said. "Reaching different milestones in a career just adds to your memories when your playing days are over."
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