ProFootballTalk.com is reporting that Jeremy Newberry, an eight-year San Francisco 49er center who also spent one season as a Raider, is retiring from the NFL. And Newberry announced this via his Facebook page.
Newberry is Antioch, Calif. born-and-bred, attended Antioch High and went to Cal. An 11-year NFL veteran, Newberry was drafted by the 49ers in the second round of the 1998 draft and ended up a far sounder pick than the Niners' first-round selection, R.W. McQuarters. He took over for the injured Chris Dalman in training camp of 2000, and by the next season Newberry was a Pro Bowl center for the 49ers. He was named to the Pro Bowl again in 2002.
Newberry endured a pretty major microfracture procedure on his left knee in 2005 and spent the next season on injured reserve. The 49ers didn't bring him back.
Newberry signed a one-year deal with the Raiders in 2007. But that was both Lane Kiffin and JaMarcus Russell's rookie seasons, and the Raider offense imploded. He bolted for the Chargers last season, appearing in nearly every game and starting three times.
Newberry then signed with the Atlanta Falcons a little over a month ago and, well, you see how that's ended up.
The retirement was reportedly prompted by complications from the two microfracture surgeries which Newberry has had performed on his knees.
Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who can't wait for the first NFL player to announce a bankruptcy on his Facebook page.
