Super Bowl Hero Tyree Retired in Style

It didn't receive one millionth the fanfare that Brett Favre's apparent retirement today received, but backup receiver/special teams ace David Tyree retired last Friday with as many Super Bowl rings, one, as the all-time great quarterback.

And while neither was the Most Valuable Player in his team's ultimate victory 11 years apart, each could have been. Favre threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns as Green Bay topped New England 35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI and Tyree had a touchdown grab and a 32-yard catch that set up the winning score as the New York Giants stunned the unbeaten Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII.

That amazing reception which Tyree sandwiched between his hand and helmet despite Rodney Harrison's tight coverage might be the greatest ever. It earned Tyree a book deal, the cover of Sports Illustrated and plenty of appearances on talk shows. It also proved to be the last one of his career.

Tyree, who had caught just 54 passes during five seasons after being drafted 211th overall in 2003 out of Syracuse, missed all of 2008 following knee surgery and was cut last summer by the Giants after a hamstring had limited him in camp. Tyree, the NFC's Pro Bowl special teams player in 2005, caught on with Baltimore and played 10 games on special teams but didn't catch a pass. After not garnering any offers in free agency this offseason, he decided to re-sign with the Giants for a day and retire at 30.

"I really felt I finished the season strong enough and positioned myself to be on somebody's roster at some point this year, but what really made it the final decision for me was ... what was I really trying to stay in the game to accomplish?" Tyree said. "Obviously [the catch] is the one signature moment which I'll be remembered for as a football player, but I was definitely satisfied with the complete body of work as well."

Wouldn't it be great if every player could leave the game feeling that way?