OT: Should Payton Manning return

[GSD118]

Interesting and age-old question. Should an older athlete retire at the top of his game or come back for that one last season and risk tainting what otherwise would be a great career?

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[JIMSOULS]

Originally posted by GSD118:

Interesting and age-old question. Should an older athlete retire at the top of his game or come back for that one last season and risk tainting what otherwise would be a great career?

Not sure if coming back taints a legacy. Did Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays taint their legacies by hanging on well past their prime? Very few seem to quit at the top of their game, especially with today's money.

I'm sure there are others, but I can't think of any recent athletes besides Mike Mussina who retired at or near the top of their game. The only others I can think of are old standbys Sandy Koufax (extenuating circumstances), Jim Brown, and Barry Sanders.

 

[hbkmyr]

John Elway always comes to mind as an athlete leaving on top. But I agree, no one remembers the last few years of a career. The list if all time greats in all sports is lined with guys who were awful in the limelight.

 

[Piratz]

I really don't think players that are on the level of Peyton Manning could ever tarnish their legacy with one poor season because they hung on a year too long.