Andrew Luck dropped a surprise on the football world when he decided to retire from the game. It was a decision for his own well-being, and a decision that he seems certain about, but it caught everyone by surprise.
It also came at a very strange time. The news came out while the Colts were wrapping up a preseason game, one day earlier than Luck had planned, meaning that Luck was on the sidelines in the same building as thousands of Colts fans.
Thousands of Colts fans that were about to be devastated.
The reaction wasn’t quite the classy thank you that many football fans would have hoped. As Luck was leaving the field, surrounded by security for his own protection, he was showered with boos from the Colts faithful. While it was likely more of a knee-jerk reaction than anything, the booing fans have met a lot of criticism in the following days.
It’s not just from other fans and analysts, players have also criticized the reaction. Most recently, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers chimed in, explaining to SiriusXM’s Mad Dog Sports Radio that he felt surprise at the announcement, but then that quickly faded into “disgust” at the booing fans, as well as how the story leaked at such an inappropriate time.
“Surprise was obviously the first emotion. Young player. He’s got a really good career. But I think the second was a little disgust with the way it was handled. Him getting booed, the word leaking out the way that it did. I thought that was a little disgusting because here’s a guy who is making a quality-of-life decision. He’s given a lot to the game. Although he’s not a 15-year vet, but he’s put himself through a ton just to get back on the field.”
Not pulling punches.
Andrew Luck was a very Aaron Rodgers-esque quarterback, but while Rodgers has enjoyed a lot of time on the football field, Luck struggled with nagging injuries that ultimately wore him down mentally and physically.
If the Colts fans could have a do-over, we’re sure they’d applaud their now-former QB for his work with the franchise. Some of them at least, some of them are straight up mad.
(H/T Mad Dog Sports Radio)
