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Posted at 12:00 p.m., Thursday, October 25, 2007

NFL: Titans DT Simon retires, says job too hard on body

Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Defensive tackle Corey Simon retired from the NFL today after trying to resume his career with the Tennessee Titans, saying practice and games started wearing on his body again.

Simon, who was sidelined by Indianapolis last year on the non-football illness/injury list, confirmed that he had dealt with polyarthritis in 2006. He signed with Tennessee on Aug. 28 and played in four of the Titans' six games.

But recovering from each game and practice finally became too much for the 30-year-old.

"It's just been a struggle, especially the last couple weeks, just getting my body to recover after every practice to go out there and do it," he said. "I hurt every day. This is something I love to do, and I tried to push it as long as I could.

"My body was just telling me it's time to let it go and move onto something else."

Simon, who won a national title at Florida State, was the sixth overall pick in the 2000 draft by Philadelphia. He played five seasons there and 13 games for Indianapolis in 2005, registering 32 career sacks and 312 tackles.