Two-time Pro Bowl guard Carl Nicks, who has played in just nine games in two seasons after signing a five-year, $47.5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers back in 2012, has decided to step away from the game of football.
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According to Fox Sports insider Jay Glazer, the Buccaneers and Nicks have come to some sort of a financial agreement that enables the guard to move on from an injury-plagued tenure with the team.
Pro Bowl guard Carl Nicks' time with the Bucs is over. He and the team have agreed on an amicable settlement.
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) July 25, 2014
Nicks earned Pro Bowl honors with the New Orleans Saints in 2010 and made the All-Pro team in 2011 prior to signing with Tampa Bay. Since then, he’s had to deal with a rash of injuries including a MRSA infection that plagued the Buccaneers last season.
It was previously reported in January that Nicks might not be able to resume his football career due to MRSA-releated complications (via National Football Post).
Two sources said in the past week that Tampa Bay guard Carl Nicks is still dealing with pain in his foot in the aftermath of dealing with surgery and then a recurring bout with MRSA. As a result, there is some doubt about whether Nicks will be able to play next season or ever again. That may lead to the Buccaneers cutting the former high-priced free agent acquisition this offseason.
This apparently became a reality on Friday afternoon. If Nicks is unable to continue his football career, this is a sad ending for a player who was once considered the best all-around guard in the entire NFL.
Photo: USA Today