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Luke Kuechly retires

RJK

By RJK,
in Carolina Panthers

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Ship Collaborator

Ship

Posted
Posted

It's incredible to watch a guy's whole career unfold. From not having a clue who he was when we drafted him to immediately seeing him become a shark in our defense. We were both in awe of him and also took his presence and the stability he provided for granted. By the end of his run here it felt like nothing to have him on the field. But, looking at his stats, he was the best in every category for the duration of his career. No one did it better than him while he was around. He was so good, but also seemed to be discounted. Not maliciously, but we'd just grown so accustomed to his greatness. There's so much that will be different and will be a shock to see when we play our first game and he's just gone.

The concussions were terrible to watch and you could feel something missing these past two years. I have nothing for respect for him for toughing the hard times out and giving everything he could give to the team and the fans. I truly hope he sticks around the team in some capacity and I'm sure we'll see him in the hall of honor very soon. Walking away can be the hardest thing a person does in their life, but they have to do what serves them and not necessarily what serves others. Luke will have a new chapter and so will the Panthers. 

It feels good to mourn. This era is over and more faces will leave and fade away. We should all appreciate what we got out of the past decade. Some truly incredible players and all time great plays and games. We didn't cap it off with a Super Bowl win, but that doesn't take anything away from the guys, like Luke, who gave everything in pursuit of it. The pillars of the franchise will move on, but new young pillars will rise. For the most part we're going forward with a clean slate and I look forward to the changes and the excitement that the new coaches and team will bring. I truly believe this next decade of Panther football will build off the level this past decade brought us and that is how we will honor the players like Luke.

Thanks for everything Luke. Thank you for being a true competitor and a true Panther for your entire career. I was proud to watch every game you ever played here.

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bigdavis Rising Star

bigdavis

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14 minutes ago, Ship said:

It's incredible to watch a guy's whole career unfold. From not having a clue who he was when we drafted him to immediately seeing him become a shark in our defense. We were both in awe of him and also took his presence and the stability he provided for granted. By the end of his run here it felt like nothing to have him on the field. But, looking at his stats, he was the best in every category for the duration of his career. No one did it better than him while he was around. He was so good, but also seemed to be discounted. Not maliciously, but we'd just grown so accustomed to his greatness. There's so much that will be different and will be a shock to see when we play our first game and he's just gone.

The concussions were terrible to watch and you could feel something missing these past two years. I have nothing for respect for him for toughing the hard times out and giving everything he could give to the team and the fans. I truly hope he sticks around the team in some capacity and I'm sure we'll see him in the hall of honor very soon. Walking away can be the hardest thing a person does in their life, but they have to do what serves them and not necessarily what serves others. Luke will have a new chapter and so will the Panthers. 

It feels good to mourn. This era is over and more faces will leave and fade away. We should all appreciate what we got out of the past decade. Some truly incredible players and all time great plays and games. We didn't cap it off with a Super Bowl win, but that doesn't take anything away from the guys, like Luke, who gave everything in pursuit of it. The pillars of the franchise will move on, but new young pillars will rise. For the most part we're going forward with a clean slate and I look forward to the changes and the excitement that the new coaches and team will bring. I truly believe this next decade of Panther football will build off the level this past decade brought us and that is how we will honor the players like Luke.

Thanks for everything Luke. Thank you for being a true competitor and a true Panther for your entire career. I was proud to watch every game you ever played here.

Very thoughtful and insightful of you, sir.

This news brings up a lot of emotions for me:  personal sadness that I won't be able to see one of the greatest players in a game again -- but more sadness for him.  I imagine that for Luke it is far more difficult to make this decision, not for the $10Million he's walking away from this next year, but facing the fact he can't play the game he's loved playing for 1/2 his life, at the level he demands of himself.

We all saw the inconsistency in play last year -- the missed tackles and shooting the wrong gaps that showed themselves amid the flashes of brilliance.  Can we imagine the frustration HE felt at those signs of decline?  We all saw those vicious hits he absorbed, on those games he suffered the concussions, but we couldn't see the effects he may have felt in brain function.  He was the GOAT at his position in intuiting a play before it was run, and those diagnostic skills were what made him what he was.

So he knew this was coming.  And he is man enough to decide to leave, before another random collision scrambled him.  Now we may know what he and Tepper were discussing after the last game, and what that hug with Olsen might have been about.

The many social media tributes to Luke (on the Panthers' website) were really moving, as not only his current and ex- teammates and coaches confirmed his greatness, as player and man, but many of his opponents spoke up, too, some of which were shared by TheSpecialJuan. 

Yes, this is a sad day, for Luke, and for his fans.  But life, and the game, go on.

I think his life is football, and hopefully we'll see him again, in coaching or broadcasting, in some extension of his love for that game.

Thanks for all the wonderful memories you've given me, Mr. Kuechly!

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Ncpantherfan71 Rookie

Ncpantherfan71

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Well, poo.  I have said before I like defensive games, and especially the linebacker position.  

I own 2 Panther's players jerseys, a TD and a Luke.  Going to suck not being able to follow both my favorite players next year.  The team missed TD this year, and it is really going to miss Luke next.

I understand why, and I am happy for him, kind of depressing. 

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Davis83 Enthusiast

Davis83

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Does not make it any easier to digest,  but...

I was sad when Mills retired.  I was sad when Beason got traded.

I'm respectful of his decision and thankful to have been able to see him play - truly one of the very best to play.

Thank You Luke...  now I order the glass to place your jersey behind in the man cave.  

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