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Tuesday, July 6, 2004

Nagging hip injury forces Goodwin to retire

By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

ATLANTA -- Only three weeks before the beginning of summer training camp, tight end Hunter Goodwin, acquired by the Atlanta Falcons as an unrestricted free agent in late March, has decided to retire.

The end to Goodwin's eight-year NFL career came in a brief press release by the Falcons, and resulted from his inability to overcome a nagging hip injury that plagued him through the offseason.

While his career statistics are modest, Goodwin was being counted on by the Falcons to play a key role, primarily as an in-line blocker in two-tight end situations. The Falcons' highest-profile tight end, 2003 Pro Bowl performer Alge Crumpler, is scheduled to be used more as a receiver in the West Coast offense implemented during the offseason.

In that offense, Crumpler will be "flexed" more off the line of scrimmage and will often be a "motion" tight end or H-back. With the reconfigured role for Crumpler, and also his emergence as a rising star, Atlanta required a more conventional right end and felt that Goodwin was a good fit. It is not known if the Falcons will attempt now to sign another veteran tight end.

Goodwin, 31, had signed a one-year contract with a $25,000 signing bonus and a $660,000 base salary. He was one of three veteran tight ends added by the Falcons in the offseason. Atlanta last week signed free agent Justin Swift, who did not play in the NFL in 2003, and earlier in the spring claimed Spencer Nead on waivers from the Rams.

The list of available tight ends is neither deep nor talented. It does include Sean Brewer, who was released when the Falcons signed Swift last week.

A former Texas A&M standout, Goodwin previously played with the Vikings (1996-98 and 2002-2003) and Miami Dolphins(1999-2001). He had 37 catches for 265 yards and two touchdowns in 119 appearances.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.