卡罗来纳黑豹队中卫麦克·敏特（Mike Minter）在球队拦截榜排名第一，是最受球迷欢迎的球员之一。然而，据他的一位好友透露，由于受到膝盖伤痛的长期影响，敏特决定退役。这名好友还声称，敏特在周末做出了决定，他周一没有参加球队的训练，正式的声明会在周二宣布。

　　33岁的敏特曾经表示过2007赛季将是自己的最后一个赛季。但他说自己在上周末开始考虑退役的问题，因为他害怕自己的膝盖不能支撑起他的第11个NFL赛季。

　　敏特是卡罗来纳黑豹队在1997年选中的第二轮新秀，他以953次拦截高居球队榜首。同时，他首发141次、94次连续首发也创造了球队纪录。尽管他近几年速度明显下降，每场比赛结束后也需要更多的时间来恢复，但从2001赛季第三周开始，他就没有缺席过任何一场比赛。

　　在今年的训练营期间，敏特已经不能跟上一天两练的节奏，并且对膝盖能否允许自己做出游卫必须的快速扑抢和防守动作表示担心。他的膝盖问题从大学期间就一直困扰着他，在加盟黑豹队的第二个赛季即1998赛季中，他的膝盖又在手术后受到了病菌感染。他曾一度觉得自己的职业生涯已经结束了，但他还是挺了过来，并成为了球队后防线的中流砥柱，担任游卫和强卫。他经历了球队最为困难的2001赛季，球队当时的成绩仅为1胜15负。但他也经历过精彩的2003赛季，球队参加超级碗决赛。

　　敏特身高5尺10寸，体重195磅，由于他那过于凶猛的防守风格而成名。在参加超级碗的那个赛季中，他有两次成功的截球达阵。过去5年，他都被选作防守组的组长。

　　上赛季训练营期间，敏特的母亲突然去世，这时他在球队的地位也凸现出来。球队老板杰瑞·理查德森（Jerry Richardson）、总经理马蒂·亨尼（Marty Hurney）、主教练约翰·福克斯（John Fox）和好友拉克（Mike Rucker）都飞赴奥克拉荷马参加了葬礼。

　　敏特今年参加训练营时特地带来了一台摄影机，以便纪录自己的最后一个赛季。他希望自己能在退役后在黑豹队的办公室中工作。他的退役将大大削弱球队的中卫位置。黑豹队上周已经从芝加哥熊队得到了克里斯·哈里斯（Chris Harris），他很可能和内特·萨利（Nate Salley）搭档首发，后者从未在联盟里打过中卫。哈里斯的搭档也可能是德克·库珀（Deke Cooper），2005赛季他在杰克逊维尔美洲虎打过12场先发强卫。

原文 

SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Aug. 6, 2007) —— Carolina Panthers safety Mike Minter, the team's career leader in tackles and one of its most popular players, has decided to retire because of chronic knee pain, a person familiar with the decision said.

The person, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because an official announcement will be made Tuesday, said Minter made the decision over the weekend. He did not practice with the team Monday morning.

The 33-year-old Minter had said 2007 would be his last. But he said late last week he was considering retiring before this season because he was afraid his knees wouldn't hold up for an 11th NFL season.

Minter, the Panthers' second-round pick in 1997, is the franchise's leader with 953 tackles. His 141 starts and 94 consecutive starts are also team records.

Minter hasn't missed a game since the third week of the 2001 season, though he slowed in recent years and has taken longer to recover after games. He would often miss midweek practices.

During training camp this year, Minter was unable to practice twice a day and worried his knees wouldn't allow him to make the quick cuts and bursts necessary at free safety.

Minter's knee problems began in college, and he developed a staph infection following knee surgery during his second year with the Panthers in 1998.

He has said he thought his career was over then, but Minter worked his way back to become the mainstay in the secondary, shifting between free and strong safety.

Minter was part of the team's bad times —— receiver Rae Carruth's arrest on a murder conspiracy charge and the 1-15 season in 2001. But he also reveled in the good times, highlighted by Carolina's trip to the Super Bowl after the 2003 season.

Minter, 5-foot-10 and 195 pounds, was known for vicious hits, especially early in his career. He had two interceptions for touchdowns during the Super Bowl season, and he was voted defensive team captain during each of the past five seasons.

Minter is involved in several community and business ventures, both by himself and with defensive end Mike Rucker, his best friend on the team and a fellow former Nebraska Cornhusker.

His standing on team was evident when his mother died unexpectedly during last season's training camp. Team owner Jerry Richardson, general manager Marty Hurney, coach John Fox and Rucker flew to Oklahoma for the funeral.

Minter came to training camp this year with a tape recorder, intent on remembering details of his final season. He has said he would like to work in the Panthers' front office.

Minter's decision to retire leaves Carolina thin at safety. Carolina acquired Chris Harris from the Chicago Bears last week. He most likely will start with Nate Salley, who has never played a down at safety in an NFL game, or Deke Cooper, who started 12 games at strong safety for Jacksonville in 2005.