Ravens WR Mason retires suddenly

WR Derrick Mason surprisingly announced his retirement on the website JOCKlife.com. Mason is due to earn $3 million in the final year of his contract, and was unable to agree on a multi-year deal with the Ravens during the offseason. He said he had been contemplating retirement since the end of last season, and that he decision wasn’t contract related.

"I have been thinking about this since [the] season ended," he told the website. "Emotionally I am just not that enthused. I have not been that enthused to get up and work out ... it was getting to that point. This decision has nothing to do with the contract situation; I have made enough money, more than enough money. Emotionally there are things that are more important. It's time right now. I don't know what's going to happen from here, but it's going to be really nice to see what life has in store for me. What I want people to remember about my NFL career is that I played hard ... played hard in practice and the game. I tried to make everyone better and would do anything to help."

If Mason truly does retire, it puts the Ravens’ offense in a serious bind. They weren’t able to pry Anquan Boldin away from Arizona, and haven’t had any serious discussions with Denver about Brandon Marshall. If they don’t make a move to acquire a veteran receiver before training camp, oft-injured Demetrius Williams would be thrust into the starting role opposite Mark Clayon.

Ravens senior vice president of public relations Kevin Byrne released a statement saying the 35-year-old receiver has not informed the team of his decision. "For any player to retire, he has to send a letter to the NFL stating this. Derrick Mason has not done that," said Byrne.

Mason also had surgery to repair his labrum and scapula during the offseason.

"This decision has nothing to do with the contract situation," Mason said. "I have made enough money, more than enough money. Emotionally there are things that are more important."