Around the NFL

Veteran LB Keith Rivers retiring from NFL

Published: Jul 30, 2015 at 06:23 AM

Marc Sessler

Keith Rivers has played his final down in the NFL.

The veteran linebacker, who signed with Dallas this offseason, is retiring after seven seasons split among the Bengals, Giants and Bills, the Cowboys announced Thursday.

A first-round pick by Cincinnati in 2008, Rivers never lived up to his draft pedigree, starting just 33 games for the Bengals over four campaigns before he was traded to New York for a fifth-round pick in 2012.

It's fair to wonder if Rivers might have produced a different type of career had Steelers wideout Hines Ward not broken his jaw with a crushing block during the linebacker's rookie season. That kicked off a long string of injuries that sidetracked Rivers, including plantar fasciitis, wrist and ankle surgeries, calf issues and a car accident.

After 14 starts with Big Blue, Rivers finished his career last season with the Bills, playing just 192 snaps for Buffalo before the team cut him in February. Signed by Dallas to a one-year pact in March, the former USC star was a reach to make the Cowboys' roster.

Rivers finishes his NFL journey with 50 starts, three sacks, two picks and possible questions about what might have been minus the laundry list of injuries.

The latest Around The NFL Podcast discusses Tom Brady's lawsuit and debates which veteran players are most likely to be cut.

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