El mundo de la NFL reacciona a la noticia del retiro de Michael Bennett

El martes, Michael Bennett anunció su retiro de la NFL tras 11 años de carrera en los que ganó un Super Bowl y logró tres Pro Bowls. Como defensive end, Bennett poseía una extraña combinación de potencia, velocidad e inteligencia que lo hacían uno de los defensas más duros de la liga.

Fue con los Seahawks que Bennett ganó un Super Bowl y se convirtió en un afamado miembro de la Legion of Boom.

Bennett tuvo una entrevista con Louisa Thomas de The New Yorker para discutir su retiro y, además, compartió un sentido mensaje en Instagram, en el que dijo que “retirarse es un poco como la muerte del ser, pero espero con ansias mi renacimiento — la oportunidad para reimaginar mi propósito”.

Este es el post:

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Retiring feels a little like death of self, but I’m looking forward to the rebirth – the opportunity to reimagine my purpose. ⠀ I would like to thank my wife and children, who have sacrificed so much for me to succeed. I’m looking forward to supporting them the same way they have me these past 11 years. I have never been more at peace in my life. ⠀ As the great Toni Morrison said: “Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another.“

A post shared by Michael Bennett (@mosesbread72) on Jul 21, 2020 at 3:37am PDT

Tras la noticia, jugadores, reporteros y personalidades de la NFL hablaron sobre el gran Bennett:

legend in this game. not sure there will be another like him.

seems like every few years we get draft prospects billed as “the next michael bennett”. there’s only one michael bennett.

not the biggest, not the most conventionally athletic, but the power and balance were rare. https://t.co/5ICfPHlpS2

— charles (#1 wear a damn mask fan) mcdonald (@FourVerts) July 21, 2020

@mosesbread72 say bro i thought you was gon play another 10 honestly!! Dang, big ups to doing it on your own terms!! Salute!!! https://t.co/MgrwOCxNj0

— cameron jordan (@camjordan94) July 21, 2020

Michael Bennett made an amazing career as a defensive lineman wearing kicker shoulder pads and numbers in the 70s.

A true football icon. pic.twitter.com/66gKS58uSj

— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) July 21, 2020

Former #Seahawks star Michael Bennett is retiring.

One of the more unique players in Seattle’s history. Was always authentically himself, whether you liked it or not. Used his platform as an athlete for social/racial activism. That will surely continue in his next chapter: pic.twitter.com/8gqemmn0Hh

— Ben Arthur (@benyarthur) July 21, 2020

My other favorite Michael Bennett story: I asked him to sit down and watch tape with me a few years back. He said he would only do it if Cliff Avril did it with us, because Bennett believed that Avril was not getting the recognition he deserved.

Voila. https://t.co/IwN1NlboAj

— Doug Farrar (@NFL_DougFarrar) July 21, 2020

Easily my favorite Michael Bennett story pic.twitter.com/u94dalzNCJ

— Sam HawkBadger (@hwkbgr) July 21, 2020

The Legion of Boom team that dismantled Denver in the Super Bowl would not have been the same without Michael Bennett. One of a kind player and a great guy to boot. https://t.co/0DI0ZfnRvq

— Ben Natan (@TheBenNatan) July 21, 2020

Michael Bennett retiring.

A great player. Unique. Fun to watch.

And owner of the most absurd shoulder pad look in NFL history. Dude was rocking his peewee pads in the NFL: pic.twitter.com/e2jUczilFV

— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) July 21, 2020

Artículo traducido por Gabriela Enríquez