Ryan Howard And 5 Athletes That Should Have Retired Sooner
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Ryan Howard has gone from hero to zero.
The three-time all-star, two-time home run champ, 2006 National League MVP, and 2008 World Series champion is now a shell of himself. In fact, at 36-years-old, Howard has turned into one of baseball's worst players going 7-69 (.101) with 28 strikeouts in May. His -1.4 wins above replacement is tied for the worst in MLB.
Related: Ryan Howard: 'I'm Not Going To Quit'
Howard is in the final-year of his five-year, $125 million contract (including a $10 million buy-out on $23 million in 2017). But now, he'll be classified among the great athletes who should have retired sooner.
Here are the five of the best athletes that should have retired sooner.
5. Patrick Ewing
An 11-time all-star and Hall Of Fame inductee, Ewing is one of the greatest to ever lace 'em up. However, after 15 seasons with the Knicks, Ewing played two more seasons -- one with Seattle, one with Orlando. He averaged about nine points and seven rebounds and then six points and four rebounds, respectively, in those two final seasons.
4. Jerry Rice
Rice played 15-seasons with the 49ers and is regarded as the greatest wide receiver in the history of the NFL. After a bad 2003 season with the Oakland Raiders, his third with the team, Rice was traded to the Seattle Seahawks six games into the 2004 season.
He even joined the Broncos on a one-year deal after that 30-catch '04 season, but decided to retire instead.
3. Brett Favre
Old Brett Favre, who spent one season with the Jets and one with the Vikings, is remembered for wild and reckless interceptions. Green Bay Packers Brett Favre is an 11-time Pro Bowl, Super Bowl winning, iron man quarterback.
Favre retired and came back a bunch of times. He just couldn't give it up.
2. Michael Jordan
MJ is the greatest basketball player of all-time and there isn't much debate. But after all those wonderful championship seasons with the Bulls, MJ spent his final two years with the Washington Wizards, coming back from retirement for a second time. While he still average 20 points per game, he wasn't the same guy, and everyone could see it.
1. Muhammad Ali
Ali, the biggest name in boxing history, was on a steady decline in the final five years of his career. Ali came back from retirement to fight Larry Holmes, an attempt to win the heavyweight championship for a fourth time. Holmes dominated Ali, but Ali went on to fight yet one final time. It was another sad loss to Trevor Berbick.
