Robert Mathis: Officially Retiring (merge)

[shakedownstreet]

[Hi-Tek]

Nastiest ball stripper I've ever seen

 

 

[shakedownstreet]

2 minutes ago, Hi-Tek said:

Nastiest ball stripper I've ever seen

 

 

[twfish]

7 minutes ago, shakedownstreet said:

 

As I was typing into Google images for a Robert mathis strip sack I got to Robert mathis strip I realized how bad that could be and typed in sack as fast as possible

[stacymac]

Thanks for everything Robert Mathis!  You are a class guy and I can't wait to see you in the hall of fame!!!

[gacoop1]

Congratulations Mr Mathis on your announcing your retirement, enjoyed watching you take down those QBs with your tomahawk style....A lot of fumbles for the benefit of your team....You're a class act, take care!!!

[2006Coltsbestever]

Great career,  he should make the ROH someday.

[ReMeDy]

Clone and name him Freeney 2.0. See you in 18 years, Freeney 2.0. Pretend to lose and we'll select you 32nd overall.

[CR91]

One of the greatest to ever do it. Future hall of famer

[teganslaw]

He will be missed. Good luck on retirement.

[IinD]

He's a Mount Rushmore Colts player.

[JColts72]

Glad I met him in person when he was at a Modells in NY during Broncos and Seahawks Superbowl week. Nice person to chat and autographed ball, 07 colts yearbook, and mini helmet and action photo.

 

 

 

[ricker182]

A lot of people's favorite football players are QB's or RB's or WR's. 
Well mine is a guy in the trenches. 
Robert Mathis will play his last game this weekend.

Congrats RM on a GREAT career.

The ULTIMATE professional.

Looking forward to seeing you in Canton.

  

EDIT: No idea what happened with the formatting.

[HOZER]

Glad to see him retire a Colt, gonna miss you big fella!!!

[jskinnz]

3 hours ago, CR91 said:

One of the greatest to ever do it. Future hall of famer

 

Ring of Honor for sure.  Hall of Fame?  Not very likely to me.

[superrep1967]

7 hours ago, Somewhere ovr the Waynebow said:

It's official,  one of the greatest colts ever will hang them up after Sundays game:

 

 

 

He was good once as he ever was. 

[CF4L]

Had a great run

 

At least there will be a worthwhile reason to watch this game(beyond this being the last Colts game of the season of course)

[Austin Leonard]

9 minutes ago, jskinnz said:

 

Ring of Honor for sure.  Hall of Fame?  Not very likely to me.

The only Thing that might hurt him is the ped suspension,but hes a sb winner,5 time pro bowler,top 20 in sacks,all nfl first team in 2013 (but once again could be looked at different due to peds closely after)top 20 fumbles recovered,all time leader in strip sacks,played great in 2 diffrent schemes,i think he has a decent case

[Coltswarriors]

Thanks for everything Robert! Truly a Colts legend.

[GoColts8818]

Sad he's career is over and grateful for everything he gave the team but it's time for him to go. 

[jskinnz]

8 minutes ago, Austin Leonard said:

The only Thing that might hurt him is the ped suspension,but hes a sb winner,5 time pro bowler,top 20 in sacks,all nfl first team in 2013 (but once again could be looked at different due to peds closely after)top 20 fumbles recovered,all time leader in strip sacks,played great in 2 diffrent schemes,i think he has a decent case

 

I am well aware of his resume.  I just don't think it adds up to a HoF career.  Hope to be wrong.

[LJpalmbeacher2]

Him & Freeney the Greatest Pass Rush Duo's in NFL History!!!

[Dark Superman]

It's going to be weird not seeing #98 out there on Sundays, but I think the timing is right for him to retire. The Colts clearly need young and more explosive pass-rushers and Mathis clearly isn't the same player he was before the ACL tear. The Colts could potentially move on from Walden and Cole too, and draft a stud early in RD 1. We really need to upgrade our LB position all around.. this time we need to hit a home run when we either sign someone via free agency or draft someone to replace Mathis.

[Dark Superman]

Anyone worth signing in free agency this year in terms of replacing Mathis? I really wanted us to sign McPhee a few years back.

[Andrew Luck fan club]

Absolute beast. 

[jvan1973]

2 hours ago, LJpalmbeacher said:

Him & Freeney the Greatest Pass Rush Duo's in NFL History!!!

Certainly among the best all time.

[RollerColt]

Thanks for the memories Robert! Saving your mind and body for your kids is a noble thing to do! Only 35, with hopefully a lot of mileage ahead! Godspeed!

[King Colt]

Mathis said he wants to walk away, not limp away from the game. No concussion there. Good luck and thanks for being a good example that this is only a game, not a life.

[CanuckColtsFan]

A truly amazing player to watch. One of the big reasons I got into the Colts. Some of he most beautiful, game ending strip sacks. Sad day for the organization.

[ColtsBlueFL]

What was the best part of Mathis / freeney is they not only performed, they performed in the clutch.  I don't recall how many times the Colts would have a late lead, but the opponent mounting a drive for a comeback.  And before they get into scoring position, Mathis or Freeney in a crucial situation totally disrupts the play and completely wrecks their comeback hopes to joyous Whoops and Hollers of Colts fans!!

 

I believe I can fly...

 

Thanks for the memories Robert!

[csmopar]

11 hours ago, jskinnz said:

 

I am well aware of his resume.  I just don't think it adds up to a HoF career.  Hope to be wrong.

Then what would? He may not get in on the first ballot, but he gets in. No doubt about that one

[IndyTrav]

3 minutes ago, csmopar said:

Then what would? He may not get in on the first ballot, but he gets in. No doubt about that one

 

He may not get in, and if he does it's gonna be a long time from now. He's Hall of Very Good for me, and a RoH guy. But I don't see him making the HoF any time soon. He's gonna be waiting behind Peppers, Allen, Ware, and Freeney (maybe Abraham, but I doubt it) from his pass rushing generation.

[ricker182]

1 hour ago, IndyTrav said:

 

He may not get in, and if he does it's gonna be a long time from now. He's Hall of Very Good for me, and a RoH guy. But I don't see him making the HoF any time soon. He's gonna be waiting behind Peppers, Allen, Ware, and Freeney (maybe Abraham, but I doubt it) from his pass rushing generation.

It is going to take some time, but the inventor of the strip sack will get in.   

He changed the art of pass rushing. 

[SilentHill]

Damn gonna miss him, hope we bring him back in some capacity.

[jskinnz]

4 hours ago, csmopar said:

Then what would? He may not get in on the first ballot, but he gets in. No doubt about that one

 

Sorry.  There is most certainly doubts about his HoF candidacy.  

 

He wasn't the best pass rusher on his own team so I think the perception is that he largely benefited from that.  There are a handful of players that are recently retired or still active that are higher on the sack list than Mathis and that was what he is known for.  There are not other parts of his game that will help his cause.

 

I love him.  Said earlier he and 87 are my all time favorite Colts.  I would love to be wrong on this but I sincerely doubt I will be.  We can revisit in 15 years to see who was right.  

[shakedownstreet]

22 hours ago, twfish said:

As I was typing into Google images for a Robert mathis strip sack I got to Robert mathis strip I realized how bad that could be and typed in sack as fast as possible

 

 

Yeah as much as I love Mathis, I don't want to see him naked  

[Horse Shoe Heaven]

I have been a Colt fan for 40+ years and Robert was one of the best Colt defensive players in Colt history. Playing DE in a 4/3 at his weight it never seemed like a great idea but he silenced critics & played the position at an all pro level year in and year out giving away some 70 plus pounds, doing so with Ridiculous speed and Strength!! The guy did what ever we asked of him to, special teams early, and the moving to OLB in a 3/4 scheme and covering backs!  He became a leader in front of our eyes, and has been and will go down as one of the best defensive Colts player to wear the uniform!! Always fun to watch loved his motor he will be surly missed, extremely hard to replace, But always remembered!! Good luck Robert and thanks for everything you gave Colt Nation!!!

[jvan1973]

6 hours ago, ricker182 said:

It is going to take some time, but the inventor of the strip sack will get in.   

He changed the art of pass rushing. 

No he really didn't change the art of pass rushing.   He was very good,   but he isn't going into the hall.   Freeney won't either I 

[jvan1973]

8 hours ago, csmopar said:

Then what would? He may not get in on the first ballot, but he gets in. No doubt about that one

He and freeney are behind a bunch of pass rushers.  I doubt either ever get in

[Gavin]

1 hour ago, jvan1973 said:

He and freeney are behind a bunch of pass rushers.  I doubt either ever get in

Both will get in at some point. both players are SB champions, Have well over 100 sacks in there careers. Now they will probably end up having to wait like Kevin Greene did for nearly 20 years and he had over 160 sacks but never won a SB as a player I don't think. He played in 2 1 with Carolina and 1 with Steelers.

 

I think the committee hold players with SB wins in higher regard though in general. I don't agree with it but I think they do. I think its a big part of why Greene had to wait so long