Dear Ronde -
There comes a day in the life of every athlete where you realize that age has caught you and you can't run away from it any more.
Maybe it's Ali taking head shots from Larry Holmes. Maybe its Michael Jordan in a Wizards uniform, Johnny Unitas in a Chargers uniform or Jerry Rice unable to get open as a Raider. Playing fields are littered with players who hung on too long, who didn't see the game passing them by, who tried to squeeze just one more moment of glory out of their career.
They didn't see it coming.
Ronde Barber, that day has come for you. If there was any doubt, watching Jonathan Stewart face plant you on three successive carries in tonight's Monday Night Football Game erased it.
You've had a great career. You might still have some shelf life on special teams for a year or two. But your days as a run-stopping corner are over. That fact was made evident to the world tonight.
Go home. Watch the film. Recognize and understand. And start coaching up your replacement. There's no shame there.
Oh, and tell Carnell Williams that we miss him at Auburn and we applaud his courage. He looks damn good running the ball. Glad he worked his way back. Shows what that young man is made of.
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