The photo above (which I finally got to work, hurray!) is of former Houston Oilers star running back Earl Campbell, and the back of that kid’s head is me, age 10, in 1980. I got his autograph that day, along with many other Oilers, in a story I’ll save for another time when there little NFL news to pontificate about. I thought about that day after seeing another photo in Sports Illustrated this week, a photo that featured 16 Heisman Trophy winners. In the picture, 15 of the players are striking a Heisman pose, but Campbell is sitting down.

Campbell is only 52 years old, but he is so run down physically that he couldn’t stand for that picture of past Heisman winners. He had an outstanding NFL career (eight years, 9,407 yards, 74 TDs) in which he ran over defenses, but now, he can barely walk.

Aside from the memory of getting Campbell’s autograph, the Heisman picture reminded me of the decision another star running back made — Tiki Barber’s choice to walk away from the game after last season. Barber was only 31 when he retired, after 10 years in the league, and still had the skills to play. What’s galling is that he was criticized for his choice to do something else. Campbell didn’t even get to 10 seasons, yet look where it left him today. Barber, Barry Sanders and others who retire shouldn’t be criticized for choosing not get beat up Sunday after Sunday. Playing in the NFL takes determination and guts. Walking away before it can cause you misery for the rest of your life takes even more.