Ruben Brown: Hangs em' up

Ruben Brown, a perennial Pro Bowl left guard for the Buffalo Bills, has officially retired.

Ruben Brown's announcement on Buffalo radio station WECK wasn't a surprise, but it brought his decorated career to an official end.

He missed the entire 2008 season while trying in vain to latch on with a team.''

Brown had this to say today:

"I came to the conclusion it's time to hang it up, I'm going to officially retire this week. I'm going to submit my paperwork to the NFL. ... I am terminating my active playing days. It's a wrap. There's no more football for me. They're always inquiring if I'm done. Yeah, that's it. There's no more. It was an awesome ride."

Brown last played in 2007 for the Bears, who declined to re-sign him after four seasons with them.

He played only eight games that year because of a right shoulder injury.

He was a nine-time Pro Bowler, including eight straight trips to Honolulu from his second pro season until he left the Bills after 2003.

His final Pro Bowl season was with the Bears in 2006, when he started every game in their Super Bowl run.

Brown will turn 37 on Feb. 13.

He missed a combined 11 games in 2004 and 2005 with chest, knee and neck injuries.

all quotes from yahoosports.com

Ruben Brown on Donovan McNabb

Guard Ruben Brown, a nine-time Pro Bowler talks about Eagles QB Donovan McNabb.

Brown, who sat out last season due to injury after spending four seasons in Chicago, said he is trying to convince Chicago coach Lovie Smith that McNabb would be a good fit in the Windy City.

“I’d like to see him go to Chicago, I think it’s the perfect fit for him. The Bears are a smidgen away from getting back to the playoffs and getting into the Super Bowl and hopefully winning it. What would be greater than Donovan McNabb winning a Super Bowl with the Chicago Bears, when he’s from Chicago?”

Brown says McNabb, who is still under contract with the Eagles, deserves better than the reception he’s had in his 10 seasons in Philadelphia.

“I think for a guy like that to have to put up with all of the scrutiny that he’s put up with, being in Philadelphia — eventually, you’ve got to say enough is enough,” said Brown.

“For him, I don’t know. I don’t know how he feels. But me, personally looking at it, I’m saying enough’s enough. Give the guy a break. He’s been a very successful quarterback. There’s a bazillion teams out there that would love to have a quarterback like him. With the Eagles not treating him like he should be treated, he should go home. Go to Chicago where they’ll definitely love him.”

Former Bear Ruben Brown talks about Bears season

Ruben Brown on the Bears season:

"I do like the 9-7 record because if you watch that team, that team was better than 9-7,'' even though the final record was what it was, and the Bears were right there, one more win they're in the playoffs. This is the thing when you look at the Cardinals, when you get in the playoffs, anything can happen. It's anybody's ballgame. Homefield advantage isn't always homefield advantage. Same thing happened to us in 2005. Carolina came in and we had beaten them during the year. It didn't matter. Chicago is promising.''

"Orton is as good as they can get right now, I'm not an Orton hater. I know there are a lot of other teams that wish they had a player like Orton to manage their team, an example is Buffalo, don't turn it over and hand it off to our stud running back and let those guys carry the load with the defense. And that's what we're talking about. Let's face it, we're never talking about how great the quarterback is in Chicago not unless we're talking about Sid Luckman. What we're really talking about is the running game and the defense and the defense didn't step up.

"Whether it is the D-line not producing enough pressure on the quarterback or just the inconsistent play all around for the unit because when that group was humming, they were humming. They were scaring everybody out of their socks when they walked on the field. Now, they have shown a vulnerable side. Injuries have caused that and just time. They're not a young team. But with the draft if they can get some help on the line, I'll tell you if they can get pressure on the quarterback, that defense is back."

And if the defense is back, Brown believes the Bears will be back in contention.

all quotes from chicagosuntimes.com