Another absence was lost in the news that Brett Favre wasn’t going to show up in Mankato, Minnesota on Wednesday.
This one was much more disappointing.
Vikings defensive end Kenechi Udeze, who was trying to make a remarkable return to pro football after missing all of 2008 with with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, has decided to retire.
Udeze felt well enough to participate in offseason minicamps, and he wasn’t able to be reached on Wednesday to discuss the decision to retire.
The team’s first-round pick in 2004, Udeze finishes his career with 11 sacks. He will reportedly earn a degree from USC in mid-May.
We wish Udeze all the best in his future pursuits.
Good Luck Man….
No quote included from Udeze? Weak sauce. Udeze was a really really great run stopper when he was in action.
Good luck, Udeze.
Sad.
Another defensive line first round bust of a draft pick for the vikings.
He got 11 sacks in 4 seasons.
He lived up to all the traditions of poor drafting by the vikings.
I wish him the best, also. Cancer is no fun, but he hopefully has a good long life ahead of him.
Here is a sad story that was buried under Favre’s nonsense. Now here is a REAL story from a TRUE and GENUINE player. No games here, no showboating, no lies…Kenechi Udeze was a star in the making with the Vikings and would have made an already impressive D-line that more powerful if not for leukemia. I wish nothing but the best for Kenechi.
Best wishes Kenechi! I was hoping to see you this year! I’m glad you have come so far! Keep up the hard work and I wish you a long and exciting life!
BobNelson is a true a**hole and a stupid ignorant, mindless loser with no life. Bob Nelson…..get cancer and die. You are pathetic.
Bob Nelson… seriously? The guy fought and beat cancer Go screw yourself. You’re the type of people that make this world a worse place.
Florio, Rosenthal etc…. you guys need to kick scum like Bob Nelson off this site
BobNelson:
Heres to you never getting cancer of the testicals, you insensitive, moronic, ignaramous.
The other Viking players should keep in touch with him upon his return to USC. He might be able to recommend neighborhoods to live in when Ziggy moves the team.
Bob Nelson — a bust in the draft of human evolution.
What classless douche.
Agreed, I hope Bob Nelson gets nut cancer. What a jerk. He’s that dude that can’t seperate sports from real life.
Kenechi,
Good luck in your future! It was sad to see your career cut so short, but I have no doubt that you will be a success in your future!
Bob Nelson,
You can bash the Vikings for their busts like Williamson, you can bash the Vikings for winning the division, you can bash the Vikings for never winning the big game, etc…The point is, you can bash the Vikings on basically anything, but to take a cheap shot at Udeze is pathetic…ever for you.
bob nelson… are you human… uncalled for bro… I can tell you hate the Vikings, but damn… that’s weak… I wish you the best and hope you change your ways quick homie
Smart move, I think he needs to focus on his health anyways.
Wow Bob Nelson why don’t you just drop dead, thats the worst crap I’ve ever seen posted on this site. Have some compassion for the man you heartless pig.
Bob Nelson and Jimmy Smith you 2 r pure scum. Even if you are kidding or have a dry sense of humor you are so mind f***k*d. You guys literally need a mental evalution.
Aw man, I really liked Udeze, and was looking forward to him returning to the lineup.
Good luck in your future Kenechi, we’ll miss you.
I think it’s funny that we’re getting “defensive line bust” smack from fans of the team that drafted Justin Harrell and Jamal Reynolds in recent years. Compared to those two, Udeze looks like Deacon freaking Jones.
Of course, Packer fans are the only ones that would feel the need to take a cheap shot at a cancer survivor. Hence we have scum of the earth like JimmySmith and Bob_Nelson showing their asses to the world once again. That’s who they are and, like many of their fellow Green Bay fans, that’s all they know.
Best of luck in your future endeavors, BKU. You’ll be missed.
Although I dislike bob nelson and pretty much every post he’s made… Wishing cancer on an idiot is a little much, no?
Best of luck to you kenechi, keep fighting, keep your head up.
What cheap shot?!!
The guy did not play very well and was a bust before he quit football last year.
In 4 years as a DE he averaged 21.5 tackles a season assisting on 8 more with less than 3 sacks average a season. That is below expectations for a first round pick.
In the last 15 years the vikings have had a very high number of poor performing defensive line draft picks.
All are verifiable facts.
I never mentioned his cancer, religion, politics, family, hygiene, or anything personal. Just his poor performance on the field is in keeping with viking defensive line draft busts.
I can recall seeing Kenchi on some NFL rookies show, where he went golfing, for what I could only believe to be his “first time”. I clearly remember his huge smile and lighthearted sensibility. Ever since then, I always like Udeze. I wish you well man and I applaud how you played the game.
Bob Nelson and JimmySmith, you’re as cool as AIDS…
and, speaking as a long time Bucs season ticket holder, you’re both disgraces to a proud Green Bay fan base…
You will be missed Kenechi~! The nicest, softest spoken, smart Guy you could ever meet~! We Will Miss You and God Bless You~!
Bob_Nelson ~
Your an A$$Hole~! A complete A-Moral person with ZERO respect to human life as we know it~! Why can’t you seperate the sports life from REAL life and pat a Guy on the back for fighting and Winning his own life back instead of judging and being basis to a Sports Team~? There is LIFE other than sports you LOSER~!
Bob_Nelson, Your A First Class A$$~!
pft was so much fun reading til ppl like bob nelson joined ship and got a PC
EdReed4prez says:
July 30, 2009 12:01 AM
Although I dislike bob nelson and pretty much every post he’s made… Wishing cancer on an idiot is a little much, no?
————
Do unto others and so forth.
Bob Nelson People like you do not deserve the right to be on computers with that remark .I hope you are banned from this site. I can imagine you are a little zitted faced dork siting at your moms computer typing shit to make your dumb ass feel tough.People like you should get a life and some morals.
I think the best part of this is Bobby doesn’t even understand what he did wrong. Or maybe he does and is just pretending to be an idiot.
Thanks for the memories Udeze. While he didn’t put up the sacks, he was a big part in the D ranking number 1 against the run before he got sick, and put pretty good pressure on the QB.
I’ll never forget against Jacksonville in 03-04 when Udeze flew across the field and forced Leftwich to fumble that was scooped up by K. Williams and returned 70+ yds for a TD, it was like something out of the ‘purple people eaters’ era.
Also, Udeze was probably one of the best draft memories as the kid dropped all the way to 22-23 because of health issues. And if you watched video of him at USC, the guy was a freakin’ stud.
As for Bob_Nelson, go sodomize yourself with a barb wire covered stick. Punk. Packer fans should be ashamed that you cheer for their team. Hopefully if you ever get cancer a matching transplant donor can’t be found.
Bob Nelson -
Although I’m not surprised your tiny brain doesn’t understand this story is about something more important than football, team performance, or supporting your team.
The man beat (or is at least presently beating) cancer. If you’re not familiar with cancer, the disease can kill you, and the death is slow and painful.
And surviving it is more important than any game on any field at any time.
I’m guessing you sent a sympathy card to the Johnson family in Philadelphia reminding them that the Eagles never won a Super Bowl when Jim Johnson ran the defense — a verifiable fact, right? Cause to you that’s all that counts…
But you should absolutely be proud of what you’ve posted — you’re right Udeze didn’t have a great career.
You got that part right, so be proud little boy…be very proud.
Udeze seems like a decent guy…fought all the way back to training camp, then said:
“Wait a minute–I’m working this hard to get back to the VIKINGS??! Nevermind.”
The heart to fight.
And the good enough sense not to re-join that loser team.
Yup, I like ‘em.
Let’s list those “defensive line busts” for the Vikings that Bob Nelson is talking about, because they have something in common.
Derrick Alexander
Duane Clemons
Dimitrius Underwood
Chris Hovan
Kevin Williams
Kenechi Udeze
You know what those men have in common?
With the exception of Underwood, they’re all better than any defensive lineman the Packers have drafted in the first round in the past 30 years. Don’t think so? Let’s review, shall we?
Jamal Reynolds – Bust
Alphonso Carreker – Bust
Ezra Johnson – Bust
Justin Harrell – Bust
Vonnie Holliday – Serviceable at best; got the hell out of Green Bay the first chance he got, as any thinking person would
Bruce Clark – Bust
Mike McCoy – Bust
Richie Moore – Bust
Green Bay hasn’t drafted a decent defensive lineman in the first round since. . .well, possibly ever. But certainly not in the last 30 years. Soon we’ll be able to add the fat tub of goo known as B.J. Raji to the “bust” list, too.
But, again, this is about something bigger than filth like Bob and Jimmy can comprehend. We can only hope that either of both of them suffer the same fate someday, only with a significantly worse ending.
Wish you all the best in the world Udeze, you are a model of determination and grit. While some people, like dumb old #4, drag out their time in the spotlight, you realized that there is more to life than the game. Congrats on the pending degree!
And Bob Nelson, really, you have taken enough of a beating, but really dude, how many sacks you got to show for your life? Not even one between your legs
It’s the same old, same old from good old Bob every day. Any Vike fan that reads these posts regularly knows the turd spends more time commenting on Vike articles than his own team — almost all of them so one-sided and clueless, that they are actually entertaining.
If you thought his Udeze comments were bad, read the one where he laughs about the Vikes’ release of Gordon after Bob’s Packers “snapped his leg like a twig”.
Udeze was a class act and a solid player for the Vikes. Vikes fans, and any NFL fans with a clue, wish him well.
The year before he was diagnosed with cancer Udeze led the NFL in tackles for loss. He didn’t have a lot of sacks, but had a knack for finding the RB in the backfield. People forget that or just weren’t aware. He was going to be a solid player.
wow what the hell? that bob guy didnt say anything wrong, i’d say the lynch mob is wrong on this one. so someone beats cancer, is that to say you can never criticize him at his work performance, or the people who invested money in him?
jim johnson was a good coach. udeze was a bust before he had cancer.
it’s one thing to talk objectively about the talents of pro football players on a site called profootballtalk.com. if this site was called supportgroupforcancersurvivors.com, then what that bob guy said was out of line. also, if he was talking TO udeze and said that, he’s out of line.
if a person does not fulfill his prospects, he doesnt fulfill it. you cant avoid criticizing him for the rest of his life. and if he tries to become a teacher, and he sucks, i hope someone says “man, that guy is a sucky teacher” without the world going after him saying “HEY MAN WATCH YOUR MOUTH THAT GUY HAD CANCER!!! I HOPE YOU GET CANCER FOR SAYING HE’S A BAD TEACHER!!!”
My list of things to never, ever, ever, ever, never speak negatively of or joke about in ANY way if you know what’s good for you and you don’t want to endure a tidal wave of phony moral outrage:
People with Disabilities
Native Americans
Magic Johnson/AIDS
Cancer
Rape victims
Donovan McNabb
While Udeze didn’t earn all the stats, keep in mind that he only played three seasons, not four. His last season when he started to peak he had 5 sacks, not huge, but better then half the starting DEs in the league in 2007. Lets look at DE’s in 2007 that played 16 games,
Udeze, 5.0 sacks, 47 tackles,
Haynesworth – 6 sacks 40 tackles ,
Shaun Ellis 5.0 sacks, 49 tackles,
Alex Brown – 4.5 sacks, 41 tackles,
La’Roi Glover, 6.0 sacks, 39 tackles,
Gaines Adams, 6.0 sacks, 32 tackles.
Wow those are some horrible DEs on that list. All complete busts right.
Out of 96 starting defensive lineman (based on 3 per team) Udeze ranked 41st for sacks and 40th for tackles. There’s the proof that he was better than half the starting DE’s in the league. It’s too bad that cancer cut short a promising career.
And even though I don’t like Bob_Nelson and while he might be lacking in some tact and timing, he isn’t exactly gloating that Udeze retired due to cancer. Let’s just keep in mind that he is an uneducated cheesehead that could have taken time to look at some stats before proclaiming Udeze to be a 1st round bust.
True 1st round busts are Ryan Leaf, Akili Smith, Charles Rogers.
Minnesota 1st round busts – Troy Williamson (no question), Demetrius Underwood, Derrick L. Alexander.
GB 1st round busts – Tony Mandarich, Ahmad Carroll, Jamal Reynolds,
juggadore,
You completely missed the point or you are just as misinformed as Bob. The reason we are mad at Bob…well not even mad but more disappointed is because there is no reason to say it on this story. Forget the fact that both of you two are completely wrong, (the stats for his years in the league and the D at that time prove his worth), but this story is not about playing football. This story is about life, fighting for it, beating it, and moving on. It doesn’t matter if you hate the Vikings or the fans, but this is a story that if you don’t have anything nice to say, then move on. There were plenty of stories available to bash the Vikings on the 29th. Couldn’t you two just move on? Nope, you have to kick someone while there down and that’s really pathetic and classless.
the headline was “Udeze decides to retire”.
bob had a right to say what he wants. he was giving an objective assessment.
the good news is, he beat cancer. the bad news is, he isnt going to play pro football anymore. but he will get his degree and live a normal life. this isnt the worst of news.
guys, i’m an eagles fan, die hard. it could have been a lot worse, i understand that. i am reading a lot of stuff about jim johnson’s character and i wish he were still around. he was maybe the best coach the eagles have seen.
but this udeze guy wasnt that great, lets be honest. it sucks that he couldnt continue his career but there’s a chance that he would have been able to keep a roster spot much longer anyway. lets be happy he gets to spend some time with his kids.
juggadre-
He decided to retire because of his fight with cancer not because he was a bust. The point is people liked him and he was a class act so learn to separate football talk with real life situation.After all they are people and football is only there job. And 2 years ago he was tied for 1st in sacks on the team so how can you say he would not have a roster spot?
well ok i should say that i dont know how well he was feeling. he seemed to have been in good physical shape or he wouldnt have been part of the OTAs. he is in remission but the treatment is making it difficult for him to practice and play.
but come on, 5 sacks? the best on the team? thats a technicality. let me ask you guys– was mike mamula a bust? most people would say yes, of course.
lets take a look at the numbers:
mamula:
1995, 14gp, 5.5 sacks
1996, 16gp, 8.0 sacks
1997, 16gp, 4.0 sacks
1999, 16gp, 8.5 sacks
2000, 15gp, 5.5 sacks
there was only one year that mamula had less sacks than udeze had his best year. what does that tell you? mamula retired at 27 because of severe injuries. not cancer, but he was hurting.
yes, udeze was a much better run stopper, but if you cant get more than 5 sacks in a season with the williamses eating up double teams, then you have to look elsewhere… and lets be truthful here, ray edwards started 11 games on the right side that year and also had 5 sacks, and brian robison started the other 5 games and had 4.5 sacks.
i mean he started 16 games in 2006 and got ZERO sacks. thats 16 more games than me, and i think i might be able to get a half a sack with those DT’s. That year, darrion scott started on the other side and got 5.5 sacks.
i dont know what to tell you guys. im not saying he’s not a good guy. im saying he might not even make the team this year. he wont start over jared allen, and he probably wont start over ray edwards. Robison would be a 3rd down specialist on edwards side. where does that leave Udeze?
i can separate life from football.
lots of people have cancer. fred, the guy who works at the deli, is in remission from his cancer, but if i see a fly in my soup im gonna hold fred accountible.
but if youre gonna tell me i should get cancer for being pissed about the fly in my soup….
wait, who the hell wishes cancer on anybody for any reason? who are the insensitive ones here?
Why would you hold Fred accountable the fly could of landed in your soup and that is out of his control.
you mean you wouldnt hold him accountable? he was serving you the soup. look in there before you serve it.
i mean i was just jabbering on with my fingers, it may not have been the best analogy– the nfl isnt a service job.