Another day in the NFL preseason and we have another NFL retirement to discuss as Wide Receiver Eric Decker has announced that he is done playing professional career

A 2010 third round pick from the University of Minnesota, Decker became a starter in 2011 and would record his first of two straight solid seasons for Denver after. He would net 85 and 87 receptions in 2012 and 2013 respectively with 1,000 Yards in both seasons. He would help the Broncos reach Super Bowl XLVII (albeit in a losing effort).

Decker would sign with the New York Jets where he played three seasons and had another 1,000 Yard Season (2015). He finished his career in 2017 with the Tennessee Titans and he signed with the New England Patriots in this off season. He did play in this pre-season and prior to his retirement it was uncertain whether he would make the roster.

While Eric Decker was never a Pro Bowler he retires with a pretty good career of 439 Receptions, 5,816 Receiving Yards and 53 Touchdown Receptions. This may not be a Hall of Fame career (he is however eligible in 2023) but a damned good one.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to wish Eric Decker the best in his post-playing career.

We have another retirement in the National Football League to mention as Tight End Julius Thomas has announced that he will be retiring from the National Football League to pursue a doctorate in psychology.

Thomas played collegiately at Portland State where he was drafted in the fourth round by the Denver Broncos in 2011. He would see little action in his first two seasons but would have a breakout 2013 season where we was named to the Pro Bowl with 65 Reception/788 Yard season where he also had a dozen Touchdowns. That year, the Broncos made it to the Super Bowl, although the Seattle Seahawks handily defeated them. He would have another Pro Bowl season in 2014 where he tied his mark for 12 Touchdowns.

He would sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars for 2015 where he would play two more seasons and he would finish off his career with Miami last year.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to wish Julius Thomas the best in his post-playing career.

The International Tennis Hall of Fame has released their ballot for the Class of 2019 and let’s get right to the eight nominees:

Jonas Bjorkman: Bjorkman would win 6 Singles titles and had a career high rank of #4 but he was a specialist in Doubles where he was a nine time Grand Slam Champion (Australian Open 1998, 1999 & 2001, French Open (2005 & 2006), Wimbledon (2002, 2003 & 2004) and the U.S. Open 2003). The native of Sweden would also assist his country win three David Cups.

Sergi Bruguera: From Spain, Sergi Bruguera won the French Open in both 1993 and 1994 and won 14 singles titles and in 1994 he was ranked as high as #3. He also won the Olympic Silver Medal in 1996. Notably he is the only player who has a wining record over both Roger Federer and Pete Sampras.

Goran Ivanisevic: In 2001, Goran Ivanisevic would a surprise winner of the 2001 Wimbledon Title. The Croatian star never did win another Grand Slam, although he did win 22 career titles and was ranked as high as #2. He would also help Croatia win the Davis Cup in 2005.

Yevgeny Kafelnikov: Kafelnikov is the last man to win a Grand Slam Singles and Doubles in the same year when he did so at the French Open in 1996. The Russian also won the Australian Open (1999) and the Olympics in Sydney (2002). He is a former #1 player and also won three more Grand Slam Doubles (French Open 1997 & 2002 & U.S. Open 1997).

Conchita Martinez: Martinez won the Wimbledon in 1994, which made her the first Spaniard to win a Grand Slam. She would win 33 Singles titles and three Olympic Medals (Silver 1992 & 2004 & Bronze 1996).

Thomas Muster: From Austria, Thomas Muster was once ranked # (1996) and he would win the French Open in 1996.He would win 44 Singles Titles over his career.

Li Na: Na won the French Open in 2011 and the Australian Open in 2014, which made her the first (and to date) the only Asian to win a Grand Slam. She won 9 titles in the WTA and was once ranked #2 on the world and should she be chosen for the Hall, Na would become the first player from Asia to be selected.

Mary Pierce: Pierce won the Australian Open in 1995 and the French Open in 2000 and had 18 career singles titles overall.   The Frenchwoman was ranked as high as #3.

As mentioned earlier in the week, the International Tennis Hall of Fame has announced a fan vote that will play into the voting as the leading vote getter will receive a three percent vote increase, the runner-up will receive a two percent increase and the third place finisher will be bumped up one percent.

To enter the Hall, a nominee must receive 75% of the vote.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the nominees.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced their two contributor finalists for the 2019 Class, which are Pat Bowlen and Gil Brandt.

Pat Bowlen became the owner of the Denver Broncos in 1984 and over that time the franchise would win the AFC seven times and the Super Bowl three times. In 2014 due to Alzheimer’s disease he would step down as the CEO of the team.

Brandt worked as a scout for the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers in the late 1950’s and he would take over as the chief talent scout for the Dallas Cowboys in 1960, a position he would hold for nearly 30 years. Brandt’s innovations in scouting would become a template for NFL teams.

Bowlen and Brandt automatically become finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, which will be chosen days before the Super Bowl.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate both Bowlen and Brandt for advancing to this stage.