Safety Su'a Cravens stuns teammates and leaves Redskins scrambling with his plan to retire.
By Mike Jones
September 3, 2017 at 12:36 PM
Safety Su’a Cravens dives at a pass during training camp. (John McDonnell/The Washington Post)
The Washington Redskins were sent scrambling Sunday morning when projected starting strong safety Su'a Cravens informed team officials and teammates that he will retire just one year after the organization selected him in the second round of the NFL draft.
Cravens came to Redskins Park Sunday morning to inform team president Bruce Allen of his decision, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Allen, however, convinced Cravens to postpone such a decision. The team will place Cravens on the exempt list, which will give him a month to resolve personal issues that played a role in his decision.
The player and team will then revisit his situation after that.
Cravens has missed the past three weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee. He was supposed to return to action by Week 1. Cravens had worked on the side with trainers here and there over the past three weeks and was expected to return to practice this week.
But Saturday night, Cravens informed his fellow defensive backs in a group text message that he was retiring, a second person familiar with the situation said.
Cravens, in the group message, praised each of his teammates for their skills and expressed gratitude for them and their role in his life. He said that he had enjoyed playing with them, but was retiring on Sunday and ended the text message with, "Peace out," and then removed himself from the group chat.
Members of the group chat were both shocked and angered by Cravens' decision, players said.
The Redskins didn't make coach Jay Gruden available to reporters on Sunday, which marked a change in the schedule. The coach was originally scheduled to address reporters the day after final roster cuts. But team PR said Gruden now will speak to reporters on Tuesday, the next day of practice.
Gruden did, however, address Cravens' absence with the team following Sunday's practice. Players said Gruden told them that Cravens was considering retirement and had some personal matters to tend to and would be away for the next month.
"It's shocking, but it is what it is," said free safety D.J. Swearinger, who had taken Cravens under his wing since signing with Washington in March. "He's got to handle what he needs to handle, whether it's mental, whether it's family. We're here to support him, but that's something tough. I'm not in those shoes so I can't speak on it. I'm praying for him and hope he'll be back."
By Mike Jones
September 3, 2017 at 12:36 PM
Safety Su’a Cravens dives at a pass during training camp. (John McDonnell/The Washington Post)
The Washington Redskins were sent scrambling Sunday morning when projected starting strong safety Su'a Cravens informed team officials and teammates that he will retire just one year after the organization selected him in the second round of the NFL draft.
Cravens came to Redskins Park Sunday morning to inform team president Bruce Allen of his decision, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. Allen, however, convinced Cravens to postpone such a decision. The team will place Cravens on the exempt list, which will give him a month to resolve personal issues that played a role in his decision.
The player and team will then revisit his situation after that.
Cravens has missed the past three weeks after having arthroscopic surgery on his knee. He was supposed to return to action by Week 1. Cravens had worked on the side with trainers here and there over the past three weeks and was expected to return to practice this week.
But Saturday night, Cravens informed his fellow defensive backs in a group text message that he was retiring, a second person familiar with the situation said.
Cravens, in the group message, praised each of his teammates for their skills and expressed gratitude for them and their role in his life. He said that he had enjoyed playing with them, but was retiring on Sunday and ended the text message with, "Peace out," and then removed himself from the group chat.
Members of the group chat were both shocked and angered by Cravens' decision, players said.
The Redskins didn't make coach Jay Gruden available to reporters on Sunday, which marked a change in the schedule. The coach was originally scheduled to address reporters the day after final roster cuts. But team PR said Gruden now will speak to reporters on Tuesday, the next day of practice.
Gruden did, however, address Cravens' absence with the team following Sunday's practice. Players said Gruden told them that Cravens was considering retirement and had some personal matters to tend to and would be away for the next month.
"It's shocking, but it is what it is," said free safety D.J. Swearinger, who had taken Cravens under his wing since signing with Washington in March. "He's got to handle what he needs to handle, whether it's mental, whether it's family. We're here to support him, but that's something tough. I'm not in those shoes so I can't speak on it. I'm praying for him and hope he'll be back."
