After getting no serious sniffs on the free-agent market, Carolina Panthers Mike Rucker has decided to retire from the NFL.

Per Steve Reed of CarolinaGrowl.com, Rucker will announce his retirement at a 1:00 p.m. EDT press conference on Tuesday.

Shortly before free agency began, we were specifically told by a very good source that Rucker planned to continue to his career.  In hindsight, it’s possible that Rucker merely wanted to see whether anyone would offer him a long-term contract.

After all, it’s not like the guy is 40.  He turned 33 in late February, and he entered the league in 1999.  He was a full-time starter for seven seasons.

Though someone surely would have offered him a one-year deal for the veteran minimum, Rucker is opting to walk away, while he still can walk.  Given the problems that so many former players have in their 40s and 50s, it probably is a smart move.