Chris Kelsay retires from Bills
By: John Kucko
Updated: February 27, 2013
Bills defensive end Chris Kelsay informed the team he is retiring from the NFL at the age of 32. Below is a transcript from a conference call Kelsay held with reporters on Wednesday evening:
Q: Why did you make this
decision?
A: It is something that has been kind of on our minds
for a couple months really. My wife and I discussed different options really
since the neck injury. Other factors weighed into the overall decision. I just
felt like as much as I kind of went back-and-forth on it, I believe if you are
thinking about retirement that much you are already retired. I am happy with the
decision that we made. I look forward to the next chapter of my
life.
Q: You had a terrific career here, but tell me about
the frustration of never getting to the playoffs and over that hump. Is that
something you will have to deal with as you move on here a little
bit?
A: Yeah, obviously. It is something that is frustrating.
Something that we did not achieve as a team. Obviously the goal was to make the
playoffs and to contend for a championship. In my 10 years here we were unable
to do that. It is a tough pill to swallow, but it is one that I am willing to
swallow and move on. I think there is more to it in this business. I have
learned a lot of lessons. I have met a lot of people and established a lot of
relationships that will last a lifetime. So I will not really dwell on that. To
move forward and like I said, start the next chapter of my life. I look forward
to doing that.
Q: How much did the new changes and the direction the
team seems to be going in maybe push you over to the other edge when you were
going back-and-forth on whether to retire or
not?
A: I cannot say that it did not weigh in, but it was not
a huge factor. I think the guys that they brought in, after meeting them last
month when I came in to get my neck checked out by Dr.
Cappuccino, I was very intrigued by what they had to say and the
direction the organization is going. Anytime you have an entire staff overhaul
like we have had it is tough to come in and re-prove yourself--do all the things
that I have had to do a number of times over the course of my career. I just
felt physically and mentally, too, that I was ready to go in a different
direction. That is what we decided and there is a sense of relief there so I
know that I made the right decision.
Q: Will you be remaining in the Buffalo area at all
and what are your impressions of this community as you
leave?
A: I love the community of Buffalo and Western New York
as a whole. It has meant an awful lot to me and my family. It has been a huge
part of our lives. All three of my kids were born in Buffalo. We are very much
involved in the community as far as charities and different organizations that
we are working with. Buffalo will always have a place in our heart. We will make
our primary residence in the state of Nebraska. That is where both of my wife
and I are originally from. Most of our family and a lot of our friends still
live there. It is definitely a place that we will come and go from. I could not
be more pleased with the experience I have had here in terms of communicating
with the community and being a part of the different activities and
organizations that we have been involved with.
Q: What do you say to the fans who have been
supportive during the window of time you have played for the Bills but you guys
never got it done?
A: I think just to continue to believe and have hope.
Every year I came in with the sense of excitement and optimism for each new
year. Unfortunately it did not pan out for our teams over the last 10 years. The
Buffalo Bills fans are the true fans--there is nothing like them. I think they
need to just continue to support the organization. We are going to turn the
corner. It is just a matter of time. Buddy (Nix), Russ (Brandon), Coach Marrone
and the staff that they have put together here--I see good things in the near
future for the Buffalo Bills. For the downtimes, there are good times. Sometimes
you just have to be patient. Our fans have definitely been patient for a long
time. I understand that. They are due. I think they have the right people in
here. Add a few more pieces to the puzzle through the draft, free agency and
they are headed in the right direction.
Q: How much did your health and the neck injury weigh
into the decision? Did the team at any time during this process ever ask you to
consider taking a pay cut?
A: Well first of all the neck obviously played into my
decision even though it was a ligament issue and not a structural issue. It is
still your neck. Obviously with three young kids and hopefully many more years
ahead of me, I did not want to leave the game broke down. That definitely played
into it. It was not the only factor. As far as an offer to restructure my
contract, that was never even brought up. I flew in this afternoon and sat down
with Buddy and we discussed the feelings that I was having. We came to the
resolution that I was going to retire a Buffalo Bill. I feel very honored and
blessed to have that opportunity. I always said from Day One when Mr. Wilson
drafted me in 2003 that I wanted to end my career a Buffalo Bill. That came to
fruition today and I feel very blessed to have that
opportunity.
Q: How much did it play into the factor of a new
regime? A new defensive coordinator, probably a new defensive scheme and a new
head coach--how much did that all play into the
decision?
A: Like I said, it definitely played a role in it but it
was not a deciding factor. It is always tough to have to come in and reestablish
yourself. Earn the respect, the trust and confidence of your coaching staff.
Obviously that is something I have had to do in prior years. It's something that
I am proud to say that I was able to do. It weighs into it. A whole new system.
A whole new scheme. Kind of a hybrid defense; 4-3, 3-4 mix. There is no question
that I feel like I could play in it, but at the same time I am just very happy
with where I am at and looking forward to
retirement.
Q: You are not going to pull a (Aaron) Schobel on us
and reconsider in August are you?
A: No. There is no way I am doing that.
Q: Is the neck better now? Is that all the way back
or is there still a little a little more rehab with that? How is that
going?
A: There is no rehab. I came in last month and saw Andy
Cappuccino. He cleared me to resume all normal activities. I have been working
out and staying in shape. That is something that I will continue to do. I have
always been kind of a gym rat. I like to work out and I enjoy it. I am not
having any issue with that right now.
Q: Will you miss the camaraderie and what kept you
coming back in the past--your relationship with DT Kyle Williams and things like
that?
A: Yeah. You establish a lot of great relationships in
this league and when you are with an organization for as long as I have been,
obviously you see a lot of guys come and go. You get close to certain guys and
Kyle (Williams) is one. Aaron Schobel, playing with him for seven years. Jairus
Byrd. The list goes on and on. Every single guy I played with was a great guy. I
enjoyed every single day coming in and working with them. That is something I
will always carry with me. I will stay in touch with a number of these
guys.
Q: Do you have plans to stay in the game in any way
either as a player, scout or front office? Do you have those types of
aspirations?
A: I do not know. When football has been such a big part
of my life for so long, it would be hard for me I think to just get out of it
completely. However for the next year or so I am just going to enjoy some time
with my wife, my kids and relax a little bit. You lose so much of that. Pressure
time, especially when the kids are young. Traveling and the off-season
back-and-forth to workouts. Then once the season kicks off we are gone almost
every other weekend on road trips. You miss out on a lot of time with them. I am
really going to cherish that and just kind of relish the opportunity that I have
now with the time that has been given to me.
Q: What plans would the Bills have had for you in
terms of competing in 2013?
A: We never really got to that point to be honest with
you. When I sat down with Buddy, I told him basically the thought process that
my wife and I had gone through over the course of the last couple months and
really even into the end of last season. It never really came to that. We were
kind of on the same page I think when I told him that I wanted to retire a
Buffalo Bill. I think Buddy was happy for me and happy for my family. That is
really as far as it went.
Q: The timing then--is that to allow the team to do
what it needs to do to replace you as far as with free agency looming and the
draft? Is it just to give time to put the team in the best possible position is
why you are doing it now?
A: Yeah, I just felt like now is the right time to do it
with the draft coming up and free agency starting here right around the corner.
You do not want to drag anything out too long. Like I said, it has been weighing
heavy on my heart for a while. I just looked at it as good an opportunity and
time to do it as any.
