Retirement Was For Personal Reasons Says Giants Tight End Ben Patrick

The NFL lockout may have come to an end but problems for the New York Giants have apparently just begun after tight end Kevin Boss accepted a position with the Raiders and now Ben Patrick has informed the team that he is retiring for “personal reasons” after just five practices with his new team.

Speaking to the Savannah Morning News Patrick said of his decision:

“I decided (Friday) night that I needed to step away to handle some personal issues and some family issues,” while adding, “I’ve got some issues that I need to work through and, obviously, that much of a distraction wouldn’t allow me to perform and prepare in football like I need to. I decided to step away for awhile to handle these personal and family issues.”

Patrick went on to add:

“There are some things that I have to handle and need to handle, and I need to step away from the game. I appreciate everybody’s support but also ask for a little privacy until these matters are resolved.”

After spending four seasons with the Cardinals the 26-year-old tight end signed a one-year deal last week with the New York Giants and they will retain that one-year contract after placing him on the reserve/retired list.

Ben added:

“Just as I was beginning to move forward, I began to realize that things were going to be too much of a distraction to prepare the way you need to prepare in the NFL.”

To address the teams issue at tight end they have signed Daniel Coats to a short term contract. Coats caught just 30 passes in four-years with the Cincinnati Cardinals and Denver Broncos, in comparison Boss had 35 pass catches last year in New York with 531 yards and 5 touchdowns, while Coats has averaged 9.7 yards per catch with a career high reception of just 25 yards.

Ben Patrick has not said whether or not he plans to come back to the NFL in the future, his answers have been decidedly vague.