"I wish my teammates, coaches and the entire Lions organization all the best."

"I want to thank all of the fans and media who made playing in the NFL such a wonderful experience. I have had the pleasure of meeting many of them."

"The game is the ultimate significance to me because it is so important to a lot of people. It has left a mark on our culture to be voted as one of the best to ever play."

"I quit because I didn't feel like the Detroit Lions had a chance to win. It just killed my enjoyment of the game."

"It was a wonderful experience to play in the NFL, and I have no regrets. I truly will miss playing for the Lions. I consider the Lions' players, coaches, staff, management and fans my family. I leave on good terms with everyone in the organization."

"Shortly after the end of last season, I felt that I probably would not return for the 1999-2000 season. I also felt that I should take as much time as possible to sort through my feelings and make sure that my feelings were backed with conviction."

"Let's just win it and go home."

"My desire to exit the game is greater than my desire to remain in it. I have searched my heart through and through and feel comfortable with this decision."

"Christianity affects your whole life. I feel I'm more competitive, a better player, but off the field is where there is always a battle."