Colts: Anthony Castonzo explains Andrew Luck’s role in retirement decision
By Jerry Trotta
Colts left tackle Anthony Castonzo revealed that Andrew Luck consulted him during his retirement decision.
It obviously wasn’t enjoyable for Indianapolis Colts fans to watch the team lose their first-round playoff matchup against Buffalo, but the misery was no doubt amplified knowing that they were the victims of their own demise, failing to capitalize on numerous opportunities in the first half.
If there was a silver lining to be had in the gutting defeat, however, it lied in the fact that the Colts’ largely inexperienced roster pushed a buzzsaw in the Bills to the absolute brink, confirming that they could compete with some of the NFL’s best teams.
This viewpoint sparked optimism among the fan base for what lies ahead in the offseason in terms of potential additions the front office could make to bolster their chances at advancing further in 2021. Unfortunately, however, those positive vibes were halted as soon as it was confirmed that left tackle Anthony Castonzo had announced his retirement on Tuesday.
As if that news wasn’t debilitating enough, Castonzo, while on a Zoom call with reporters to discuss his bombshell settlement, touched on the role former quarterback Andrew Luck played during his decision-making process.
Castonzo says he leaned a bit on Andrew Luck and Jack Mewhort, two friends of his who retired at relatively early ages, in making his decision.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) January 12, 2021
You had to know this was coming, Colts fans.
Castonzo and Luck were teammates for seven seasons before the latter made one of the most surprising decisions in NFL history and decided to retire during the 2019 preseason smack in the middle of his prime. The four-time Pro Bowler famously cited health reasons and his compromised mental health as a result of countless surgeries and rehabs as his reasoning for calling it a career.
Taking that into account, it makes perfect sense why Castonzo turned to him for consultation prior to one of the toughest decisions he’s ever encountered. The 32-year-old lineman has missed time due to injury in four of his 10 seasons with the Colts, which included being sidelined for a combined nine games in 2018 and 2020.
Castonzo says Chris Ballard and Frank Reich didn't try to talk him out of retirement this time because "I came to them to a lot of conviction." Then it turned into some great conversations and admiration from them for "going out on my own terms."
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) January 12, 2021
Castonzo had just signed a two-year, $33 million extension last offseason and he, according to reporters, had every intention of playing out that contract.
However, when you consider all that he went through this season just to suit up for 12 games — he battled a lingering knee issue early on and was placed on injured reserve at the end of the year with an ankle injury that required surgery — you really can’t help but fully respect his decision.
In retrospect, it almost seems like a miracle that Castonzo made himself available for 75% of the regular season. The news that he sought consultation from Luck stings a lot only because it draws a parallel between two heroes gone too soon from the game.
If it helped him come to peace with his settlement, it was definitely the right call.
