• Articles
  • News
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Terms of Use
  • Contact
Total Packers - Green Bay Packers Blogs and News
  • Home
  • Analysis
  • Packers News
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Analysis
  • Packers News
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer
No Result
View All Result
Total Packers
No Result
View All Result

B.J. Raji’s Return Unlikely, Not Unprecedented

Joseph Bonham by Joseph Bonham
March 15, 2016
in Uncategorized
10

Johnny Jolly

We consider defensive tackle B.J. Raji to be retired after Monday’s announcement. That is to say, he’ll never play again.

Raji phrased it differently, however. He said he was taking a hiatus; that he wouldn’t play in 2016. That would suggest Raji may consider playing again in 2017 or beyond.

We’re going to go ahead and call that highly unlikely.

There are a number of reasons why.

First, at this time next year, Raji will be 30 going on 31. He’s no longer in his prime.

Second, Raji has been a free agent for three consecutive offseasons now. Each year, the interest in his services has been minimal at best. To think that interest in Raji would increase after a year away from the game would be foolish.

Third, men of Raji’s stature and girth typically end up growing larger and getting more out of shape when they’ve got excess time on their hands.

There are plenty of reasons to believe Raji’s hiatus is in fact a retirement, whether he would like it to be or not.

However, let’s play devil’s advocate for a moment.

It’s not unheard of for defensive tackles to play well into their 30s. The guy that always comes to mind is former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams, who played until he was 38. Houston’s Vince Wilfork played at 34, last season.

It’s not the norm, but it does happen.

Those guys didn’t sit out a season and then return to the game, though.

You don’t have to look far for a guy that did, of course.

Former Green Bay Packers defensive end Johnny Jolly sat out three seasons — 2010-12 — while facing criminal charges and doing prison time, before returning in 2013 at age 30.

The Jolly situation was different, however. He had the motivation to prove himself and get back what he lost. Plus, he had plenty of time on his hands to workout.

Raji not only doesn’t have that same motivation, he also faces long odds if he did want to return.

That’s why we’d bet we’ve seen the last of B.J. Raji on a football field.

Tags: B.J. RajiB.J. RajiGreen Bay PackersJohnny Jolly
Previous Post

Let’s Not Overreact to B.J. Raji’s Retirement

Next Post

Packers Made No Attempt to Keep Casey Hayward

Packers vs Jets 2018

Recapping Packers 2019 Off-Season Moves

July 9, 2019
Green Bay Packers in snow

[Updated] A Look Ahead at the 2019 Packers Schedule

April 17, 2019
Geronimo Allison injury against Buffalo

Were the Packers Snake-bit with Serious Injuries Last Season?

February 23, 2019
Jimmy Graham - November 2018

Can the Course of Jimmy Graham’s Career Be Reversed?

February 18, 2019
Next Post
Casey Hayward

Packers Made No Attempt to Keep Casey Hayward

Comments 10

  1. Avatar for Pack packers rule Pack packers rule says:
    7 years ago

    I still think Raji has a year or 2 left in him, the packers defense is so young, it needs veterans to hold it together

  2. Avatar for Harry Hood Harry Hood says:
    7 years ago

    Seriously, 2 freaking Raji articles, and you can’t even properly roast his ass!

  3. Avatar for PF4L PF4L says:
    7 years ago

    Again, great points. I doubt we see him again, but if we did, it would only be in Green Bay. His free agency experience tells you that. Would Ted bring him back? I think so, because for some reason, he loves himself some Raji.

  4. Avatar for Cheese Cheese says:
    7 years ago

    Bring back Jolly if everyone wants tough guys. He sat out for three seasons, then came back and was arguably the best player on the D-line. I know it wont happen, but maybe cheap ass Ted should start scouting the release gate the local penitentiary. It seems to work better than his fetish for practice squad dwelling UDFA’s.

  5. Avatar for Eduardo Eduardo says:
    7 years ago

    He’s total panty waste. Move on.

  6. Avatar for chaka chaka says:
    7 years ago

    B.J.’er blew 8 mil a year when TT offered it in 2013. oops!!

  7. Avatar for NachoDan NachoDan says:
    7 years ago

    Fucker cut me off today pulling into the Golden Corral!

  8. Avatar for V V says:
    7 years ago

    Thank goodness the D Line is the strength of this year’s draft class.

  9. Avatar for Phillthy Phillthy says:
    7 years ago

    Aww man I miss Jolly. Dude was amazingly nimble for a big dude. Ol boy served his time and got out a better person, couldn’t ask for better than that.

  10. Avatar for Nic Nic says:
    7 years ago

    The sad fact is they may be better off because the management continues to send players on the field when they have better options sitting on the bench

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Total Packers - Green Bay Packers News and Rumors

Find It!

No Result
View All Result

Recent Posts

  • Packers Season Recap: Best NFL Highlights from Green Bay
  • Comparing The 2022 First Round Wide Receivers with Christian Watson and Romeo Doubs
  • Look Into the Top 5 Favorites of This Season’s 2023 Super Bowl
  • Reviewing Gutekunst, the Packers Roster and Coaches: Where Did it All Go Wrong: The Preseason Decisions
  • Packers Fall Apart in 4th: Lose 20-16 to End Season
  • Packers vs Lions – Game Day: Week 18
  • Packers Make Statement: Pound Vikings 41-17
  • Packers vs Vikings – Game Day: Week 17
  • Packers vs Vikings: The Pack Needs to Save the Season
  • Packers Deliver Huge Present: 26-20 Over Dolphins
  • Packers Bring Rams; Mayfield Back to Earth 24-12
  • Packers vs Rams – Game Day: Week 15

Popular Tags

A.J. Hawk Aaron Rodgers Brett Favre Brian Gutekunst Bryan Bulaga Charles Woodson Chicago Bears Chicago Bears Clay Matthews Clay Matthews III Dallas Cowboys Davante Adams Detroit Lions Eddie Lacy fans Featured free agents game analysis Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers Greg Jennings injuries Jay Cutler Jermichael Finley Jordy Nelson Julius Peppers Mike McCarthy Mike McCarthy Minnesota Vikings Morgan Burnett New England Patriots New Orleans Saints NFL Oakland Raiders Philadelphia Eagles predictions Randall Cobb Sam Shields San Francisco 49ers Seattle Seahawks T.J. Lang Ted Thompson Ted Thompson Tramon Williams Ty Montgomery
No Result
View All Result
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Articles
  • News
  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Terms of Use
  • Contact

© 2022 Total Packers -- This site is not affiliated with the Green Bay Packers or Packers.com

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Analysis
  • Packers News
  • Contact
  • Disclaimer

© 2022 Total Packers -- This site is not affiliated with the Green Bay Packers or Packers.com