WR Matthews retires after seven seasons

[August 13, 2019]    Two days after being released by the New Orleans Saints, wide receiver Rishard Matthews announced his retirement from the NFL on Instagram on Monday.

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Rishard Matthews (12) catches a pass during training camp at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Matthews, 29, appeared in 87 games over parts of seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins (2012-15), Tennessee Titans (2016-18) and New York Jets (2018). He signed with the Saints in June.

He caught 230 passes for 3,160 yards and 21 touchdowns. His best season came with the Titans in 2016 as he set career highs with 65 receptions for 945 yards and nine TDs.

In a lengthy Instagram post titled "No Longer Exist," Matthews said he was tired of feeling disposable as an NFL player. He said he won't miss the "brainwashing" and "fakeness" he experienced during his career.

"It was cool being a Professional Football Player and getting to play a kids game for work I will always be a fan of the best sport in the world but for me that Kids game No Longer Exist," he wrote.

Matthews entered the league as Miami's seventh-round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Nevada.

--Field Level Media

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