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Starting QB Tony Romo
Age: 37
Team: Cowboys (2004-16)
Career earnings estimate via Spotrac: $127.4 million
With Tony Romo, Jay Cutler and Michael Vick all retiring this year, handing out the starting quarterback job on the All-Retirement Team wasn't easy, but the nod goes to Romo because was the most clutch and consistent quarterback among the three. Not only did Romo retire with the fourth-highest passer rating in NFL history, but the four-time Pro Bowler also led more fourth-quarter comebacks than any other QB between 2006 and '15. And just for the record, no, I'm not sucking up to him just because we're employed by the same company.
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No. 2 QB Michael Vick
Age: 37
Teams: Falcons (2001-06), Eagles (2009-13), Jets (2014), Steelers (2015)
Career earnings: $124.8 million
After being selected by the Falcons with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 NFL Draft, Vick quickly became one of the most popular players in the NFL thanks to his electric style of play. The reason Vick was fun to watch was because he could also beat teams with his feet. The retiring quarterback holds the QB records for rushing yards in a season (1,039 yards in 2006) and career rushing yards (6,109). He might have added to those numbers if not for some legal trouble midway through his career; in 2007, he was sentenced to 23 months in federal prison for running a dog-fighting ring.
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RB Justin Forsett
Age: 31
Teams: Colts (2008), Seahawks (2008-11), Texans (2012), Jaguars (2013), Ravens (2014-16), Broncos (2016), Lions (2016)
Career earnings: $11.1 million
If you want to stump people in trivia, just ask them to name every team that Forsett played for during his final season in the NFL. In 2016, Forsett played in at least one game with the Ravens, Broncos and Lions. Probably the most impressive game of his career came in January 2015 when he rushed for 129 yards for Baltimore in a 35-31 playoff loss to Patriots.
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WR Andre Johnson
Age: 35
Team: Texans (2003-14), Colts (2015), Titans (2016)
Career earnings: $106 million
Not many guys from this year's All-Retirement team will end up in the Hall of Fame, but Johnson could definitely be one of them. During his impressive 14-year career, the former Texans receiver led the NFL in receptions twice (2006, '08), led the NFL in receiving yards twice ('08, '09), and was voted to the Pro Bowl seven times. Johnson's career totals of 1,062 receptions and 14,185 receiving yards both rank 11th all-time in NFL history.
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WR Steve Smith
Age: 38
Teams: Panthers (2001-13), Ravens (2014-16)
Career earnings: $81 million
Smith is the the oldest player on the All-Retirement Team and he also might be the toughest. If there's any retired player out there who might start a Fight Club in their basement one day, it's Smith. The receiver's toughness is a big reason he was able to last 16 seasons despite standing only 5-foot-9 and weighing 185 pounds. Smith was voted to the Pro Bowl five times, including in 2005 when he led the NFL in both touchdown catches and receiving yards. Smith finished his career with 1,031 receptions (seventh all-time) and 14,732 yards (12th). Smith was also known for coming up big in the postseason, tallying nine touchdown catches and 59 receptions for 1,001 yards in 11 career playoff games.
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WR Roddy White
Age: 35
Team: Falcons (2005-15)
Career earnings: $65 million
Although White played his final season in 2015, we've put him on this year's All-Retirement Team because he didn't officially retire until this offseason. During his 11 seasons with the Falcons, White rewrote the team's record book. The four-time Pro Bowler holds the franchise records for receptions (808), receiving yards (10,863) and touchdown catches (63). Unfortunately for White, he probably won't be able to enjoy those records for long because there's a good chance Julio Jones will break them all.
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TE Jordan Cameron
Age: 28
Teams: Browns (2011-14), Dolphins (2015-16)
Career earnings: $15.9 million
As a reminder, it's former Dolphins tight Jordan Cameron who retired this year, not Saints defensive lineman Cameron Jordan. We only mention that because the two players regularly got mixed up while Jordan Cameron was playing. As a matter of fact, even the Dolphins had trouble keeping the two names straight. Cameron went to the Pro Bowl in 2013 after catching 80 passes for 917 yards.
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OT Sebastian Vollmer
Age: 32
Team: Patriots (2009-16)
Career earnings: $20.2 million
Vollmer spent his career protecting Tom Brady, and he obviously did something right, because Brady rarely ended up on the ground during Vollmer's seven seasons as a starter. Although Vollmer mostly played right tackle, there were a few times where he was in charge of protecting Brady's blind side from the left tackle spot. Although he spent the 2016 season on injured reserve, Vollmer still gets a Super Bowl ring, which means he'll have two in his collection. Vollmer also played for the Patriots when they beat the Seahawks 28-24 in Super Bowl XLIX.
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G Chris Chester
Age: 34
Teams: Ravens (2006-10), Redskins (2011-14), Falcons (2015-16)
Career earnings: $25.6 million
Chester might be the most durable player on the All-Retirement Team's offense. From 2011 to 2016, Chester didn't miss a single game due to injury. In that span, the offensive lineman started 96 regular-season games for the Falcons and Redskins. The downside of retirement for Chester is that the final game of his NFL career was Super Bowl LI, and let's just say, he wasn't on the winning team. Basically, he might be having nightmares about the Falcons blowing a 28-3 lead for the rest of his life.
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C Kory Lichtensteiger
Age: 32
Teams: Broncos (2008), Redskins (2009-16)
Career earnings: $15.7 million
After playing guard for the first five seasons of his career, Lichtensteiger successfully made the transition to center in 2014 when new Redskins coach Jay Gruden asked him to switch. Lichtensteiger started 24 games at center for the Redskins, which is how he got the starting nod at the position on the All-Retirement Team.
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G Geoff Schwartz
Age: 30
Teams: Panthers (2008-11), Vikings (2012), Chiefs (2013), Giants (2014-15)
Career earnings: $10.3 million
The 2017 All-Retirement Team is full of players who went overlooked at the start of their careers. Besides the undrafted Romo and Josh Cribbs, there's Schwartz, who lasted eight seasons in the NFL despite the fact that he was the 241st pick in the 2008 NFL Draft (if you're scoring at home, Schwartz was 11 picks away from being Mr. Irrelevant). Besides being a durable guard, Schwartz was also a threat with the football in his hands; he once returned a kickoff 16 yards while playing for the Panthers.
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OT Doug Free
Age: 33
Team: Cowboys (2007-16)
Career earnings: $36.1 milion
Free earned a starting job on the Cowboys' offensive line in 2009 and started in every game he played in between 2010 and '16. The Cowboys' rushing attack finished second in the NFL in two of the past three years with Free as the starting right tackle, including last seasons's unforgettable breakthrough for rookie Ezekiel Elliott.
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DL Vince Wilfork (?)
Age: 35
Teams: Patriots (2004-14), Texans (2015-16)
Career earnings: $59.7 million
Right now, Wilfork is an unofficial member of the All-Retirement Team, and that's because he hasn't officially announced his retirement. The giant nose tackle has spent his offseason mulling his future but still hasn't made a decision as of July 7. If he does retire, he'll leave the NFL as a five-time Pro Bowler, a two-time Super Bowl winner (2004, '14) and as a guy who has an unhealthy obsession with wearing overalls that are too small for him.
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DL Terrance Knighton
Age: 31
Teams: Jaguars (2009-12), Broncos (2013-14), Redskins (2015)
Career earnings: $12.2 million
Knighton became a household name while playing for the Broncos in 2013 when America found out that his nickname was "Pot Roast." Pot Roast was a big reason the Broncos got to Super Bowl XLVIII. During the 2013 season, Knighton started in all 16 games that Denver played, and he also tallied a sack of Tom Brady during Denver's 26-16 win in the AFC title game.
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DE/LB DeMarcus Ware
Age: 34
Teams: Cowboys (2005-13), Broncos (2014-16)
Career earnings: $90 million
Of everyone on the All-Retirement team, Ware definitely has the best shot of ending up in the Hall of Fame. With Ware, the only real question is whether he'll get voted in his first year of eligibility. During his 12-year career, Ware went to the Pro Bowl nine times and was named first-team All-Pro four times. Ware also led the NFL in sacks twice (2008, '10) and is one of only 11 players to record 20 or more sacks in a season. Ware retires with the eighth-most sacks in NFL history (138.5). Cam Newton will probably always remember Ware for his two sacks during the Broncos' 24-10 victory over the Panthers in Super Bowl 50.
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LB Stephen Tulloch
Age: 32
Teams: Titans (2006-10), Lions (2011-15), Eagles (2016)
Career earnings: $30.1 million
There are a lot guys on the All-Retirement team who have never won a Super Bowl, but Tulloch even has them beat in the pity department: He never even won a playoff game during his 11-year career. The linebacker went to the postseason three times -- twice with the Titans and once with the Lions -- but his team never advanced. Maybe he should come out of retirement and sign with the Patriots.
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LB Chad Greenway
Age: 34
Team: Vikings (2006-16)
Career earnings: $51.8 million
The All-Retirement Team's defense is loaded with former first-round picks, including Greenway, who was selected 17th overall by the Vikings in the 2006 NFL Draft. After landing in Minnesota, Greenway never left. During his 11-year career, Greenway went to two Pro Bowls. The most impressive thing Greenway did might've come off the field. In 2014, Greenway rescued two boaters who were having some trouble on Lake Minnetonka. That's slightly more impressive than his two career pick-sixes.
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LB A.J. Hawk
Age: 33
Teams: Packers (2006-14), Bengals (2015), Falcons (2016)
Career earnings: $36.2 million
After being selected with the fifth pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, Hawk immediately became a starter in Green Bay, where he would spend nine of his 11 NFL seasons. The highlight of Hawk's career probably came during the 2010 season when he won a Super Bowl ring thanks to the Packers' 31-25 victory over the Steelers in Super Bowl XLV.
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LB James Laurinaitis
Age: 30
Teams: Rams (2009-15), Saints (2016)
Career earnings: $35.8 million
Laurinaitis is definitely the ironman of the All-Retirement defense. During his seven-year career with the Rams, the linebacker never missed a game despite playing one of the sport's most violent positions. This wasn't a guy who avoided contact, either: Laurinaits retired as the Rams' all-time leader in tackles (654). He probably can thank his dad -- who was a member of WWE's Legion of Doom -- for his toughness.
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DB Jerraud Powers
Age: 29
Teams: Colts (2009-12), Cardinals (2013-15), Ravens (2016)
Career earnings: $16.4 million
Powers is the youngest member of the All-Retirement defense, and his retirement was one of the most surprising. The long-time cornerback said that although he's still healthy enough to play, he just wasn't into it mentally. During his eight-year career, Powers played in a Super Bowl (XLIV while with the Colts) and an NFC title game (with the Cardinals). The veteran defensive back also tallied at least one interception in each of his eight seasons.
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DB Antrel Rolle
Age: 34
Teams: Cardinals (2005-09), Giants (2010-14), Bears (2015)
Career earnings: $62.5 million
Rolle hasn't played since 2015 but didn't announce his retirement until November of last year, so we're giving him a spot on this team, especially with so few key DBs hanging up their cleats. A three-time Pro Bowler, Rolle racked up 26 interceptions and scored five touchdowns during his career. He missed just one game in eight years with the Cardinals and Giants but sprained his MCL with the Bears before eventually calling it quits.
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DB/PR Josh Cribbs
Age: 34
Teams: Browns (2005-12), Jets (2013), Colts (2014)
Career earnings: $16.5 million
Since there's a serious shortage of defensive backs on the All-Retirement Team, Josh Cribbs has been moved to the secondary, which actually isn't that crazy. During his time in Cleveland, the Browns experimented with putting Cribbs on defense. Cribbs will also be serving as a kick and punt returner on the All-Retirement team. The three-time Pro Bowler made his name in the NFL as a returner; not only did he lead the NFL with three kickoff-return touchdowns in 2009, but he's also tied with Leon Washington for the most kickoff-return touchdowns in NFL history (8). And despite missing the 2015 and '16 seasons, Cribbs did not retire until March.
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DB/KR Percy Harvin
Age: 29
Teams: Vikings (2009-12), Seahawks (2013-14), Jets (2014), Bills (2015-16)
Career earnings: $42.2 million
Harvin is the first player in NFL history to make our All-Retirement Team two years in a row, because that's what happens when you retire and then unretire. Although Harvin never actually played in the secondary during his eight-year career, we're putting him there because he has been disqualified from being a receiver again and we have a shortage in the secondary. Harvin is also our kick returner, as the 2009 Offensive Rookie of the Year had some big kick returns in his career, including an 87-yarder for a touchdown during the Seahawks' 43-8 victory over the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII.
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K Josh Scobee
Age: 35
Teams: Jaguars (2004-14), Steelers (2015)
Career earnings: $24.9 million
Scobee was in Jacksonville for so long that he was actually a member of the last Jaguars team to win a playoff game, in 2007. That also happens to be the season where Scobee led the NFL in field goal percentage (92.3 percent). During his 11 years in Jacksonville, Scobee scored 1,022 points, which ranks No. 1 in franchise history. The good news for Scobee is that there's a good chance he'll be holding on to the title of "Jaguars all-time leading scorer" for a long time: No active player on Jacksonville's roster has more than 225 points with the team.
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P Pat McAfee
Age: 30
Team: Colts (2009-16)
Career earnings: $15 million
The Colts punter surprised everyone in February when he decided to retire and go work for Barstool Sports. Although the Colts didn't win the Super Bowl last season, McAfee is definitely leaving the NFL at the top of his game. The two-time Pro Bowler led the NFL in yards per punt (49.3) in 2016. McAfee's 2016 average currently stands as the eighth-best single-season total in NFL history.
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