BlainThePain Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 http://www.postgazette.com/pg/07032/758775-66.stmSteelers' Hartings to retireThursday, February 01, 2007By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-GazetteMIAMI BEACH, Fla. -- Pro-Bowl center Jeff Hartings has told his Steelers' teammates that he is retiring.Hartings, who succeeded Dermontti Dawson at a position that has been the team's most stable and successful for the past four decades, told his fellow offensive linemen shortly after the season ended that he will not be back.Peter Diana, Post-GazetteJeff Hartings, right, said today that he plans to retire."He's done. He told all of us," said offensive tackle Max Starks.Hartings ends an 11-year playing career with two teams at two different positions. He began as a guard after the Detroit Lions drafted him in the first round from Penn State in 1996. He switched to center, a position he had never played, when he signed with the Steelers in 2001 as an unrestricted free agent.Dawson was forced into retirement after the 2000 season because of lingering hamstring muscle injuries. Hartings moved in and started all but six games over the past six seasons at center, despite chronic problems and soreness with his knees because of a loss of cartilage.Hartings made two Pro Bowls as a center after the 2004 and 2005 seasons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteelerFan87 Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 Great player, but it was time. It's better that he retire now than wear down his knees even further. He'll be missed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stripes Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 Weren't there rumors of Bentley retiring too? AFC North centers are dropping like flies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riagogogoindanati Posted February 2, 2007 Report Share Posted February 2, 2007 Yes......cartilage is a must. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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