Running out early on the NFL
In recent years, more and more NFL players are retiring at the top of
their game. By Erik Spanberg
http://www.csmonitor.com/2004/0816/p12s01-alsp.html?s=hns

Despite the records beckoning to be broken, and the lure of cheers, money, and fame, some professional athletes suddenly call it quits. At the top of their game, they retire from the sport that made them famous.

It can happen to any athlete. But in recent years, retiring young has become a recurring theme in the National Football League, especially among running backs. The latest to turn in his shoulder pads: Ricky Williams, the 27-year-old star of the Miami Dolphins.