Frank Ragnow reflects on abrupt Lions retirement, aborted return - ESPN

LAKE ORION, Mich. — Frank Ragnow's days of attempting to play in the NFL again are officially over as the former Detroit Lions All-Pro center says he has closed that chapter of his life.

One year after announcing his abrupt retirement on social media, Ragnow broke his silence on the process to reporters Friday afternoon during his fourth-annual Skeet Shoot Showdown to support Michigan families coping with loss.

He attempted to make a comeback in late November but failed a physical after Detroit's medical team revealed that Ragnow had suffered a Grade 3 hamstring strain.

«To shoot it to you straight, I was trying to will myself to play, and my body was telling me otherwise. And I was just in like a paralysis if you will,» Ragnow said. «I did not plan on retiring in the middle of the summer, believe it or not. I was trying to get like, 'You can do it,' for the guys, the fans… like, it's who you are.

»But it's just like I was uncomfortable, and it's one of those things where you have a couple kids, and I don't want a sob story," he added. «I'm going to be completely fine and everything, but it's one of those there where like, 'is the juice worth the squeeze' thing, and to me, ultimately it came down to that decision, and obviously, I struggled with that decision too.»

Initially, Ragnow struggled with the mental aspect of walking away from the game. He felt a lot of guilt and regret but said he is now in a great headspace with the recent fan reception coupled with the help of his family, notably his wife, Lucy, and their two children.

He continued to stay in shape, so when he attempted to end his retirement in November, he was disappointed by the hamstring injury. Ragnow described it as a soft tissue injury that was sore and