Hartings leaves football on bended knees

By Darrell Laurant  |   Friday, February 09, 2007  |  Comments( 0 )

Pittsburgh Steelers
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Jeff Hartings' life will still revolve around Sundays -- just not in the same way.

The 11-year NFL veteran announced his retirement from the Pittsburgh Steelers Feb. 5, deciding to walk away while he can still walk.

"I want to be able to run around in the backyard with my kids in a few years," he said.

Called "the father of our offensive line" by teammate Max Starks, Hartings had been progressively hampered by bad knees during the last few seasons, especially after a 2004 operation on his left knee that took out most of the cartilage.

In a conference call to Pittsburgh-area media, Hartings explained his decision with the same clear logic he used in calling blocking assignments at the line of scrimmage.

"I'm getting out at the right time," he said, "because I felt I wasn't going to be able to go into the offseason to work out and be prepared.

"I don't enjoy working very much any more because it's painful. When it starts being painful, you'd rather not do it. Since I'd rather not do it, it's time for me to retire."

Hartings and his wife now plan to start a non-denominational church in Salt Lake City. Given his continued professed love for football, though, count on the services being over well before 1 p.m. on Sundays between September and January.

A 6-foot-3, 295-pounder, Hartings was a first-team All-American for Penn State in successive years, 1994-95, blocking for Ki-Jana Carter and Kerry Collins as the Nittany Lions led the nation in total offense.

Before that, he was a high school All-American in St. Henry, Ohio, where he was raised as one of 10 children.

No doubt the Steeler coaches and management have mixed feelings about Hartings' announcement. Although he was one of the most respected players on the team, he had seen his skills diminish as his knees deteriorated. He also expressed bitter disappointment with the Steelers' collapse in 2006 from their Super Bowl pedestal.

Hartings began his career with the Detroit Lions and wasn't switched to center until he came to the Steelers in 2001. He tacked the last six years onto a remarkable record in Pittsburgh at that position -- just four centers (Ray Mansfield, Mike Webster, Dermontti Dawson and Hartings) since 1964.

The competition to replace Hartings should be between longtime heir apparent Chukki Okobi, second-year man Marvin Philip and starting guard Kendall Simmons, who played center for two games when Hartings was hurt.

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