They had already lost three of their best players to retirement and Friday the San Francisco 49ers added a fourth. Right tackle Anthony Davis hangs up his cleats after five seasons in the league.
Davis, at just 25, joins fellow former 49ers Patrick Willis, Chris Borland and Justin Smith in retirement. Only Smith had been in the league a decade. Borland was just coming off a stellar rookie season.
Anthony Davis retires. If you've got a conspiracy theory on 49ers/retirements, does it account for giving up $ rather than asking for trade?
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) June 5, 2015
“After a few years of thought, I’ve decided it will be best for me to take a year or so away from the NFL,” Davis said in a statement. “This will be a time for me to allow my Brain and Body a chance to heal. I know many won’t understand my decision, that’s OK.”
Asked one of Anthony Davis’ ex-teammates about his departure from NFL. Said he didn’t think Davis was a guy that “loves football.”
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) June 6, 2015
Davis was a first-round pick for the 49ers back in 2010 at No. 11 overall out of Rutgers. Davis was injured much of last season and had yet to attend any of the team’s organized team activities. Davis had a concussion late last season that he described as “scary” and that likely impacted his retirement decision.
The 49ers are down to 2015 seventh-round pick Trent Brown at right tackle, so look for them to make some moves in free agency soon or shuffle some guys around the line.
Something going on in SF? 25 year old RT Anthony Davis retires today, joining Chris Borland, Patrick Willis and Justin Smith this offseason
— Ben Volin (@BenVolin) June 5, 2015
“The 49ers organization thanks Anthony for his contributions to our team over the last five seasons,” 49ers GM Trent Baalke said in a statement. “And wishes him the best as he moves on from the game.”
Dolphins’ DeVante Parker has foot surgery, Caleb Stugis hurts leg
After participating in rookie camp and OTAs, Miami Dolphins wide receiver DeVante Parker took a break to get a screw replaced in his foot Saturday. Parker will probably miss all of training camp, but the Dolphins expect him to be physically ready by Week One.
The #Dolphins are taking the long-term approach. DeVante Parker is expected to begin training camp on PUP, but focus is on the 2015 opener
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) June 5, 2015
The loss of Parker is a blow to the Dolphins, who drafted the Louisville wideout at No. 14 with the idea that he’d start this season as at least the No. 3 wide receiver alongside Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings.
It was going to be enough of a challenge for the Dolphins to put three wideouts on the field in their first year in offensive coordinator Bill Lazor’s offense, but missing all of Parker will likely make him a non factor until deep into the season.
This all comes just a day after kicker Caleb Sturgis injured his non-kicking leg in a team-sanctioned kickball game and will miss at least four weeks.
Jaguars’ Sample breaks arm
It’s been a rough offseason for the Jacksonville Jaguars. They already lost No. 3 pick Dante Fowler Jr. to a torn ACL right after the draft and Friday they took another hit, with safety James Sample breaking his arm severe enough to require surgery.
Jaguars rookie James Sample breaks arm in practice http://t.co/B7Zoko6qNS
— AP NFL (@AP_NFL) June 5, 2015
Sample was a fourth round pick out Louisville. He led the Cardinals with 90 tackles, four interceptions and eight passes defended. Sample will be back before training camp is over, but will miss at least the first couple of weeks.
Rams release wide receiver Bud Sasser
Missouri wide receiver Bud Sasser never got to play a down in the NFL. After failing a physical because a pre-existing heart condition, the sixth-round draft pick was released by the St. Louis Rams.
Filed to ESPN: Sources: Rams plan to release WR Bud Sasser today after he was unable to get cleared physically because of a heart condition.
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) June 4, 2015
Sasser never hid his condition, but the University of Missouri didn’t share it with the Rams when they inquired about Sasser because of a prohibition in federal privacy law. Missouri team spokesman Chad Moller did make it clear that Sasser passed their own standards to play.
“Nobody is allowed on the field if our medical team isn’t comfortable with their health situation,” Moller said.
Sasser was not invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
The Rams doctors as well as a group of doctors outside the team recommended that Sasser not play. According to Sasser’s agent Scott Thiel, the receiver got a second opinion from the Mayo Clinic.
“He has a very small case of the diagnosis given in St. Louis, he is at little to no risk, he should be able to play,” Thiel said in a text to a Missouri newspaper. “The doctor told Bud he in fact knows there are others in the league playing with this same issue.”
Sasser will get to keep his $113,737 signing bonus and is free to sign with any other team if he can pass their physical.
