Giants guard Chris Snee explains decision to retire

On the day the New York Giants are reporting to training camp, longtime Giants guard Chris Snee announced his retirement from the NFL. Shortly after the announcement, Snee shed some light on the decision to ESPN's Josina Anderson:

“I felt worse by continuing to work out,” Snee said. “I am nowhere near the level of strength that I usually have. That’s been my game for 10 years, being one of the strongest players out there and using that to my advantage. If I don’t have that, I wouldn’t be able to do my job the way I expect, but also with what they expect of me.

That’s kind of what [Giants G.M. Jerry Reese] and I agreed upon in March when we decided to try this thing and see if I can come back. I told him that he had my word, that I would be honest with him, and I was. I’ve told him that my body has had enough. With the way last season ended that’s the last thing I wanted to experience again.”

Snee, the son-in-law of head coach Tom Coughlin, was drafted in 2004 by the Giants and helped them win two Super Bowl championships. 

More: Giants' David Wilson cleared for training camp

Injuries had caught up to the 32-year-old Snee over the last two seasons, and he only played three games for New York in 2013. Aside from back-to-back offseason hip surgeries, he underwent an elbow surgery that reportedly didn't recover as quickly as hoped, leading to today's announcement. 

- Jack Jorgensen