Mark Gaughan and Allen Wilson at The Buffalo News spoke with Buffalo Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel on Thursday, and the nine-year veteran informed the two reporters that he's unlikely to return to the only NFL team he's ever played for.
"At this point I don't think I'm going to play," Schobel told Gaughan and Wilson.
Schobel, 32, also indicated that he'd be open to returning to the team at some point during the 2010 season if he was needed, but that he would understand if the team wanted to move on without him. The veteran end will not be participating in the team's mandatory mini-camp, which starts June 23, nor does he have plans to return at any point. He is not, however, referring to this decision as a retirement.
"I'm not ready to say I'm retiring but it's in the Bills' hands," said Schobel.
Drafted in the second round of the 2001 NFL Draft, Schobel has appeared in 133 games during his Bills career, accumulating 483 tackles, 78.0 sacks, 21 forced fumbles, 31 defended passes, three interceptions and a defensive touchdown in the process. Schobel was voted to the Pro Bowl in 2006 and 2007, and ranks second in team history in sacks behind the NFL's all-time sack leader, Bruce Smith.
And thus, it appears that Schobel's career with the Bills is over. Feel free to leave your thoughts on Schobel's illustrious career in the comments section.