Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel has been thinking long and hard this offseason about whether he will play another NFL season or retire. With just six weeks remaining before training camp, retirement looks to be the more likely decision.
"At this point I doubt I'm coming back," Schobel told Buffalobills.com. "I'm not ready to say I'm retiring yet, but if Buffalo needs to move on without me they sure can. I would understand. Don't wait on me."
For Schobel the decision is a difficult one as he has three young kids that will all be of school age come September. Splitting the school year between his home in Columbus, Texas and Buffalo is not an ideal scenario, so with plans to have his children remain in his native Texas full time next school year, being away from them for the majority of the fall during a football season is not an option.
Long time teammate Chris Kelsay isn't surprised Schobel is taking as long as he has in making a final call on his football future.
"He never told me one way or the other when Kyle Williams and I went down there early in the offseason to spend some time with him," said Kelsay. "We didn't spend a whole lot of time talking about football. I never really got a feeling one way or another. But knowing him as a person and being close friends with him and playing my entire career with him I know he's a family man. He places a lot of his choices on what's best for his family, but he still has that football mentality."
The Bills stance on the situation concerning Schobel is no different than it was at the outset.
"Our position regarding Aaron has not changed from our comments a few months ago," said Bills GM Buddy Nix.
In a one-on-one interview with Buffalobills.com earlier this offseason Nix said the following in reference to Schobel.
"The ball is in his court. If he wants to play we certainly want him back. If he wants to retire we wish him the best."
