What went into kicker Chandler Cantanzaro’s decision to retire last weekend? Here is what Jets special team’s coach Brant Boyer had to say:
“[Chandler] walked in in the morning, text me that night and said, ‘Can I talk to you in the morning.’, I said, ‘Sure.’ And he was waiting for me when I got in. When I saw him, he sat down and said, ‘I just don’t feel like I’ve got anymore, I don’t want to put you guys in a tough situation.’
“In my 12th year, I was there myself and I flew in to take a physical for the Giants and I didn’t have it anymore. I knew right where he was at, I totally understand, and I totally respect it and I wish him nothing but the best. I have a lot of great things to say about the young man, he’s a lifelong friend to me and I’m sorry to see him go. I really like him.
“It’s really tough. But when you finally [retire], every athlete knows when it’s time and it was his time, it was my time. Every athlete knows when it’s time and he felt good about his decision and I’m genuinely happy for him because when you know like that, it’s time to go. You wake up and you can’t do it anymore, you can’t mentally get yourself ready, you can’t physically get yourself ready anymore. If you feel like that, it is what it is, you can’t do it anymore.”