Former New York Jets Nose Tackle Kris Jenkins Announces Retirement

Former New York Jets nose tackle Kris Jenkins has decided to hang it up. The long-time Carolina Panther has retired at age 31, and he will not attempt another comeback after blowing out the ACL in his left knee each of the last two seasons. After being drafted 44th overall in the 2nd round of the 2001 draft by Carolina, Jenkins played seven years with the Panthers, making three Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams. He was traded to the Jets before the 2008 season for a 3rd-round pick and a 5th-round pick in that year’s draft, and he had a dominant bounce-back season, making the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro team again. But in 2009 and 2010, he suffered season-ending ACL tears in his left knee, both on pretty fluky plays in the trenches with a teammate awkwardly falling on his leg. Jenkins worked his butt off getting back into shape to be ready for training camp in 2010, and had a few memorable scenes on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” last season. However, a freak injury in the fi...