Written by Nate Daves at USAToday.com
Eight NFL seasons was apparently enough for Arian Foster.
The running back has retired according to his new team, the Miami Dolphins.
Foster’s agent, Mike McCartney, tweeted Monday night: “Congrats to Arian Foster on a great career! What a run he had starting with a magical 2010 season. Proud of both the player and the man!”
The digital media company UNINTERRUPTED tweeted a message from Foster, which read in part: “There comes a time in every athlete’s career when their ambition and their body are no longer on the same page. I’ve reached that point. It’s hard to write those words because this game has been everything to me … my therapy, my joy, my solace and my enemy. I’ve learned to love every facet of this game, from the peak of accomplishment to the gutter of criticism. And it all makes the ride worthwhile.”
Foster, 30, was a stellar performer when his body cooperated. Undrafted in 2009 after an inconsistent career at the University of Tennessee, he became the Houston Texans’ starting tailback in 2010 and turned in an all-pro season that included his only rushing title.
A versatile threat out of the backfield, Foster eclipsed 1,200 rushing yards four times with the Texans, including a league-best 1,616 yards on the ground and 2,220 from scrimmage in 2010.
“It was pretty surprising. Obviously, I think the world of him as a football player. It’s not easy to see guys step away from the sport,” Texans linebacker Brian Cushing, a longtime teammate of Foster’s, said Monday.
“I admired the way he played, and I admired the physical talents. He was one of the most talented running backs possibly ever. It’s sad, but at the same time, he’s moving on in life. He’s an interesting character and he probably has a lot to do in his life after football.”
Various injuries often sidelined Foster; he played 80 of a possible 119 regular-season games in his career. Hamstring issues this season limited him to four games and 55 rushing yards during his first year with Miami. And with Jay Ajayi’s emergence in recent weeks, Foster was probably ticketed for a supporting role.
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