Chris Samuels said he played his entire NFL career knowing he was at risk because of a spinal condition.
The six-time Pro Bowl left tackle for the Washington Redskins formally announced his retirement Thursday. He said it's hard to walk away from the game, but doctors have advised him he shouldn't play again.
"I don't want to be paralyzed," Samuels said. "It's as simple as that."
Samuels' upper body went limp when he banged heads with a defensive player Oct. 11 in a game against the Carolina Panthers. He said he's had similar sensations several times during his 10-year playing career, the result of a spinal condition called stenosis.
Samuels said he'd like to become a coach. He's accepted a minority internship to assist the Redskins coaching staff during the offseason.
