Chiefs Lilja announces his retirement

**FRCDFED** · 01-02-2013, 08:56 AM

Veteran Chiefs lineman Lilja announces retirement
.DAVE SKRETTA, AP Sports Writer

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

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Comment, Blog about More Sharing ServicesShare .KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Veteran offensive lineman Ryan Lilja, who helped block for Peyton Manning during the Colts' Super Bowl-winning 2006 season, announced his retirement Monday.

Lilja said he was going to "hang it up" after the Kansas City Chiefs finished a 2-14 season with a 38-3 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Lilja had played guard his entire career until injuries along the Chiefs' line forced him to play center the majority of this season.

"I'm ready to shut it down and move on with my life," said Lilja, who grew up in Kansas City and starred for Kansas State before signing with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2004.

Undersized by NFL standards, the 6-foot-2, 285-pound Lilja was waived by the Chiefs and quickly claimed by Indianapolis, where he became one of Manning's most trusted blockers. He played in 11 games the year the Colts beat the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl.

He returned to Kansas City three years ago, and would have become a free agent.

"I think I'm done," Lilja said while cleaning out his locker Monday. "I've made a ton of dynamite relationships, but I think it's time I shut it down."

The 31-year-old Lilja said he had a feeling before the season that this would be his last, and a series of injuries — including a nagging back injury that forced him to miss a game — served to reassure him that walking away was in his best interest.

He wound up starting 104 of 111 career games over eight seasons.

"Physically, you kind of hit a wall," said Lilja, who started 104 of 111 games over eight seasons. "Your body tells you to start thinking about it."

Lilja had never played center until this year, when a season-ending injury to Rodney Hudson moved him to the middle of the Chiefs' patchwork offensive line. Lilja had his struggles, too, with several botched handoffs and a few cases of costly miscommunication.

Still, his willingness to take on a new role impressed his teammates.

"I can't say enough about how professional he is," right tackle Eric Winston said. "This organization is going to miss him and the guys in the locker room are going to miss him."

.

FloridaMan88 · 01-02-2013, 08:57 AM

This thread won't end well...

Rugby Thompson · 01-02-2013, 08:58 AM

**FRCDFED** · 01-02-2013, 08:58 AM

Already posted?

tredadda · 01-02-2013, 08:58 AM

Wish him the best. He shouldn't be too missed. He was solid if not unspectacular. z

rico · 01-02-2013, 08:58 AM

HOW MUST WE GO ON!?!?!?!

**FRCDFED** · 01-02-2013, 08:59 AM

Never stood out to me. Was a desperate attempt to fix an OL. Patchwork for poor drafting.

Marco Polo · 01-02-2013, 09:07 AM

Well, bye.

boogblaster · 01-02-2013, 09:47 AM

he earned his pay .....

AussieChiefsFan · 01-02-2013, 09:48 AM

Best of luck to him.

Deberg_1990 · 01-02-2013, 09:48 AM

Bye......Wellllll

**BigMeatballDave** · 01-02-2013, 09:48 AM

Not a single **** was given

Fansy the Famous Bard · 01-02-2013, 10:40 AM

wrong lineman i want retiring.

**ChiTown** · 01-02-2013, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave

Not a single **** was given

Well, amazingly enough, I gave a ****.

lcarus · 01-02-2013, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boogblaster

he earned his pay .....

agreed

01-02-2013, 08:56 AM
FRCDFED Line'em up Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: somewhere out there Casino cash: $9026297	Lilja announces his retirement Veteran Chiefs lineman Lilja announces retirement .DAVE SKRETTA, AP Sports Writer Tuesday, January 1, 2013 Favorite story Your favorited articles Discuss Comment, Blog about More Sharing ServicesShare .KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Veteran offensive lineman Ryan Lilja, who helped block for Peyton Manning during the Colts' Super Bowl-winning 2006 season, announced his retirement Monday. Lilja said he was going to "hang it up" after the Kansas City Chiefs finished a 2-14 season with a 38-3 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Lilja had played guard his entire career until injuries along the Chiefs' line forced him to play center the majority of this season. "I'm ready to shut it down and move on with my life," said Lilja, who grew up in Kansas City and starred for Kansas State before signing with the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2004. Undersized by NFL standards, the 6-foot-2, 285-pound Lilja was waived by the Chiefs and quickly claimed by Indianapolis, where he became one of Manning's most trusted blockers. He played in 11 games the year the Colts beat the Chicago Bears in the Super Bowl. He returned to Kansas City three years ago, and would have become a free agent. "I think I'm done," Lilja said while cleaning out his locker Monday. "I've made a ton of dynamite relationships, but I think it's time I shut it down." The 31-year-old Lilja said he had a feeling before the season that this would be his last, and a series of injuries — including a nagging back injury that forced him to miss a game — served to reassure him that walking away was in his best interest. He wound up starting 104 of 111 career games over eight seasons. "Physically, you kind of hit a wall," said Lilja, who started 104 of 111 games over eight seasons. "Your body tells you to start thinking about it." Lilja had never played center until this year, when a season-ending injury to Rodney Hudson moved him to the middle of the Chiefs' patchwork offensive line. Lilja had his struggles, too, with several botched handoffs and a few cases of costly miscommunication. Still, his willingness to take on a new role impressed his teammates. "I can't say enough about how professional he is," right tackle Eric Winston said. "This organization is going to miss him and the guys in the locker room are going to miss him." .
Posts: 3,199

01-02-2013, 08:57 AM	#2
FloridaMan88 Mahomes: We Are All Witnesses Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Miami, FL Casino cash: $-567094	This thread won't end well...
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01-02-2013, 08:58 AM	#3
Rugby Thompson Banned Join Date: Nov 2012 Casino cash: $10004900	Good
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01-02-2013, 08:58 AM	#4
FRCDFED Line'em up Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: somewhere out there Casino cash: $9026297	Already posted?
Posts: 3,199

01-02-2013, 08:58 AM	#5
tredadda Three-Pat Join Date: May 2011 Location: Colorado Springs Casino cash: $-1814947	Wish him the best. He shouldn't be too missed. He was solid if not unspectacular. z
Posts: 19,251

01-02-2013, 08:58 AM	#6
rico ON CP YOU’RE SOMEBODY’S BITCH! Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Da SEI Casino cash: $2314809	HOW MUST WE GO ON!?!?!?!
Posts: 13,301

01-02-2013, 08:59 AM	#7
FRCDFED Line'em up Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: somewhere out there Casino cash: $9026297	Never stood out to me. Was a desperate attempt to fix an OL. Patchwork for poor drafting.
Posts: 3,199

01-02-2013, 09:07 AM	#8
Marco Polo Veteran Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: 41°59.4′N 87°39.6'W Casino cash: $3968908	Well, bye.
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01-02-2013, 09:47 AM	#9
boogblaster MVP Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Verdigris Valley Campsite Casino cash: $10004900	he earned his pay ..... __________________ WR or S please
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01-02-2013, 09:48 AM	#10
AussieChiefsFan MVP Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Casino cash: $5688501	Best of luck to him.
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01-02-2013, 09:48 AM	#11
Deberg_1990 In Search of a Life Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: San Antonio Tx. Casino cash: $284454	Bye......Wellllll __________________ Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning: Matt once made a very nice play in Seattle where he spun away from a pass rusher and hit Bowe off his back foot for a first down. One of the best plays Matt has ever made.
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01-02-2013, 09:48 AM	#12
BigMeatballDave GBM 8-12-15 Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Dayton, Oh. Casino cash: $10052154	Not a single **** was given
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01-02-2013, 10:40 AM	#13
Fansy the Famous Bard I'm with the Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Casino cash: $-983560	wrong lineman i want retiring. __________________ Hi.
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