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Rich Gannon will not return to the field for the Oakland Raiders this season because of a broken vertebra in his neck.
The quarterback, who turns 39 in December, saw four of the country's top neck and spine specialists over the past couple of weeks and was told he shouldn't try to play again this year. But Gannon didn't rule out a return next season and wasn't ready to say he's going to retire.
"After visiting with these professionals and these experts, it's been brought to my attention that it's the general consensus that a return to action this season is unrealistic," Gannon said Monday, speaking publicly for the first time since getting hurt in a helmet-to-helmet hit Sept. 26. "As far as my future, I'm just not really in a position to speculate beyond the 2004 season."
Gannon was knocked out of the game in the first quarter of the Raiders' 30-20 win over Tampa Bay last month after being hit by linebacker Derrick Brooks.
The Raiders originally said Gannon would be out at least eight weeks. Kerry Collins is playing in his place.
This was supposed to be Gannon's comeback season.
The 2002 NFL MVP was hurt in a 17-10 loss to Kansas City last Oct. 20, and had shoulder surgery in November, finishing the season on injured reserve. This offseason was the most productive in his 17-year career as he worked his way back.
The Raiders had not yet placed Gannon on injured reserve.
"It's extremely disappointing," said Gannon, wearing a hard neck brace he'll need for about six weeks. "I don't think a lot of people realize just what went into it, and the night of the injury I think people saw the excruciating pain on my face... I put a lot of effort and energy into coming back."
Gannon said he knew the injury was significant right away, but never felt numbness in his extremities.
During the Raiders' Super Bowl season two years ago, Gannon broke the NFL completions record with 418. He led the league with 4,689 yards passing, nearly becoming just the second quarterback to go over 5,000 yards in a season. Dan Marino threw for 5,084 yards in 1984.
Gannon completed 67.6 percent of his attempts, had 26 touchdowns passes and only 10 interceptions. His 97.3 rating was second in the NFL to the Jets' Chad Pennington.
He also threw for more than 300 yards in 10 games, another record.
Gannon will discuss his future in football with his wife, Shelley, and the couple's two daughters.
"I have no regrets if that Sunday night game was my last," Gannon said.
Gannon was traded to Minnesota only two weeks after New England drafted him out of Delaware in the fourth round in 1987. He played for the Vikings until 1992, spent '93 with Washington, sat out the 1994 season after shoulder surgery, then became an effective starter in Kansas City from 1995-98.
Gannon left the Chiefs as a free agent in 1999, and had been a standout in Oakland until getting hurt last year.
Source: AP
The quarterback, who turns 39 in December, saw four of the country's top neck and spine specialists over the past couple of weeks and was told he shouldn't try to play again this year. But Gannon didn't rule out a return next season and wasn't ready to say he's going to retire.
"After visiting with these professionals and these experts, it's been brought to my attention that it's the general consensus that a return to action this season is unrealistic," Gannon said Monday, speaking publicly for the first time since getting hurt in a helmet-to-helmet hit Sept. 26. "As far as my future, I'm just not really in a position to speculate beyond the 2004 season."
Gannon was knocked out of the game in the first quarter of the Raiders' 30-20 win over Tampa Bay last month after being hit by linebacker Derrick Brooks.
The Raiders originally said Gannon would be out at least eight weeks. Kerry Collins is playing in his place.
This was supposed to be Gannon's comeback season.
The 2002 NFL MVP was hurt in a 17-10 loss to Kansas City last Oct. 20, and had shoulder surgery in November, finishing the season on injured reserve. This offseason was the most productive in his 17-year career as he worked his way back.
The Raiders had not yet placed Gannon on injured reserve.
"It's extremely disappointing," said Gannon, wearing a hard neck brace he'll need for about six weeks. "I don't think a lot of people realize just what went into it, and the night of the injury I think people saw the excruciating pain on my face... I put a lot of effort and energy into coming back."
Gannon said he knew the injury was significant right away, but never felt numbness in his extremities.
During the Raiders' Super Bowl season two years ago, Gannon broke the NFL completions record with 418. He led the league with 4,689 yards passing, nearly becoming just the second quarterback to go over 5,000 yards in a season. Dan Marino threw for 5,084 yards in 1984.
Gannon completed 67.6 percent of his attempts, had 26 touchdowns passes and only 10 interceptions. His 97.3 rating was second in the NFL to the Jets' Chad Pennington.
He also threw for more than 300 yards in 10 games, another record.
Gannon will discuss his future in football with his wife, Shelley, and the couple's two daughters.
"I have no regrets if that Sunday night game was my last," Gannon said.
Gannon was traded to Minnesota only two weeks after New England drafted him out of Delaware in the fourth round in 1987. He played for the Vikings until 1992, spent '93 with Washington, sat out the 1994 season after shoulder surgery, then became an effective starter in Kansas City from 1995-98.
Gannon left the Chiefs as a free agent in 1999, and had been a standout in Oakland until getting hurt last year.
Source: AP