Pete to retire!

At least that is what Yasinkas wrote in the Observer online.



Panthers backup QB joining Fox network show

[size=-1]PAT YASINSKAS[/size]

[size=-1]Staff Writer[/size]


Rodney Peete has elected to follow in his wife’s career footsteps instead of playing another season with the Carolina Panthers.

The backup quarterback will retire from football and become a regular on Fox Sports Net’s FSN’s “Best Damn Sports Show Period,” senior vice president for communications Lou D’Ermilio said Sunday night. A formal announcement is planned by the network today when Peete makes his debut as a full-time cast member with John Salley, Chris Rose and Rob Dibble. Peete informed team officials of his decision recently and it could effect what the Panthers do in next week’s college draft and the remainder of free agency. Peete, 39, was released by the Panthers in February to free up salary cap room. But team officials and Peete’s agent had said repeatedly he would re-sign at a lower salary and spend another season backing up Jake Delhomme.

But that won’t happen.

“We’ve been looking to try to get a full-time NFL player for the cast,” D’Ermilio said. “And we’re very happy to have an agreement with Rodney.

Peete was not available for comment Sunday. But he has been a occasional guest on the show in recent months and the move would allow him to live full-time in the Los Angeles area. Since joining the Panthers in 2002, Peete and his wife, actress Holly Robinson Peete, have had a coast-to-coast marriage. The actress lives in California and the football player spent the season in Charlotte and much of his offseason in Los Angeles. Peete, a 16-year veteran, started for the Panthers in 2002 and led the team to a 7-9 record. He gave way to Delhomme the next season and had been the backup the last two years.

Peete’s retirement could prompt the Panthers to make a move at quarterback.

Chris Weinke, who was viewed as a franchise quarterback when former coach George Seifert game him a $20 million contract, has been the No. 3 quarterback the last two years. Weinke was the starter in 2001 when the Panthers went 1-15, but lost the job to Peete the following preseason.

It remains to be seen if the Panthers believe Weinke can be the top backup and they could address the position in the draft, which starts Saturday. Quarterbacks such as Auburn’s Jason Campbell, Akron’s Charlie Frye, Arizona State’s Andrew Walter, Connecticut’s Dan Orlovsky and Purdue’s Kyle Orton could be possibilities in the second or third rounds.

The Panthers also have Rod Rutherford on the roster, but he’s viewed as a developmental project and it’s likely the team would want him to spend a year or two as the No. 3 quarterback before stepping into a backup role.

 

:bananalam

 

Bon Voyage Rodney :bananalam

 

good for him!! I'm thankful for what he did for the team, but at the same time, I think this will help us.

 

Maybe Campbell visiting last week wasn't smoke and mirrors

 

Menzers article today doesn't have the retirement news, but quotes Hurney as saying Peete might retire. They had that offer on the table for awhile.

Thanks for help Rodney. (I think he helped us alot.) Good luck with the rest of your life.

 

about damn time. We would've brought him back as long as he wanted to return.

 

i thought yasinskas got all his information off espn.com, but i can't find this story anywhere there...

 

every dog gets a bone now and then.