WINNIPEG – Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Robert Marve has announced his retirement from professional football exactly a month after suffering a knee injury.
Marve tore his lateral meniscus in the Bombers’ 36-8 loss to the Calgary Stampeders on August 29th. He was placed on the six-game injured list shortly after.
“I felt a little bit of it during the game,” said Marve. “Afterwards, when I sat down and calmed down, the body started responding. I was having a hard time walking. I struggled to move for a couple of days. Got the MRI and saw I had more cartilage issues on my knee.”
The American suffered several knee injuries before joining the Bombers in 2014. Marve tore his ACL three times in four seasons while playing college football with the Purdue Boilermakers.
“Dealing with the knee, it’s been an on-going thing,” said Marve. “It got to the point with dealing with the latest injury, it was kind of enough is enough.”
Marve started two of the three games he played in this season, completing 34 of 55 passes for 346 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions. He was set to become a free agent at the end of the year. He hopes he won’t have to undergo surgery to repair his latest injury.
“They say it’s something that can heal on its own,” said Marve. “I’m going to give it as much time as I can before I make that decision.”
Marve will head back home to Tampa Bay, Florida later this week to start his new job teaching football to youth at the Tampa Bay Sports Academy.
“It’s time to get back to my family,” said Marve. I feel good about the decision. I believe everything happens for a reason. Do I feel bad about not playing? Yes. But I think there’s more I can do to help people. There’s more I can do to further my career in a different aspect.”
THIRD DOWN: The Bombers have added running back Joe Hill and defensive lineman Chase Vaughn to their practice roster. Both players are imports. The team has also released receiver Mike Willie and defensive lineman Justin Cole.
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