Michael Munoz -- Undrafted -- Quits Football

[sandgk]

Call it a casualty of the draft, call it a life making decision for Michael Munoz the Mason, OH native and son of famed Bengal O-Lineman Anthony Munoz.

He's been through many games for the Volunteers, he's been through many injuries. He's taken stock of things after the draft and elected not to pursue free agency.

Given some of his comments below, it seems suddenly far less strange that Munoz went undrafted. Injuries alone could have made his stock fall, but someone with that many questions in their mind cannot hide those feelings from interviewers and GM's at the Pro level.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By ELIZABETH A. DAVIS, AP Sports Writer
April 25, 2005

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- Tennessee offensive tackle Michael Munoz decided to quit football after he was not chosen in the NFL draft over the weekend, his father, NFL Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz said Monday.

The All-American started 46 games in his career despite injuries, including a torn rotator cuff that ended his senior year before the Southeastern Conference championship game in December.

Anthony Munoz said his son has not yet decided what he plans to do now.

``When you're not drafted, I think that's a pretty clear indication as Michael has said,'' Anthony Munoz told The Associated Press. ``He'll tell you one door was closed and there's four or five other doors being opened at the same time. It's kind of a divine intervention here.''

Michael Munoz, visiting with his family in Ohio, declined to be interviewed by telephone.

He told WNOX radio in Knoxville he is ready to move on.

``I had fun playing football. But I never found my identify playing football,'' he said. ``Football isn't who I am. I knew the day would come when I'd have to walk away from the sport and I'm fine with that. Some people are so wrapped up in it they can't walk away because that's who they are. It's time to make a clean break.''

Michael Munoz was one of the most highly regarded recruits in the country coming out of Moeller High School in Mason, Ohio.

He graduated early from Tennessee with a bachelor's degree in political science and started working on a master's in public administration last season.

He was awarded the Draddy Trophy as the nation's top scholar-athlete in December and received $25,000 in scholarship money. He is considering getting an MBA, his father said.

Michael's wife Emily will graduate from Tennessee nursing school this spring.

``The amazing thing about it is how well Michael and Emily are doing even as tough a blow as that was,'' Anthony Munoz said.

The elder Munoz believes injuries hurt his son's chances.

Michael Munoz, a team captain for two seasons, had to redshirt his second year at Tennessee because of a knee injury. He has missed some games with other injuries and played through pain at times. ``We were totally shocked that he did not get drafted. He started four years at Tennessee,'' Anthony Munoz said. ``Knowing as many people in the NFL as I do, there was no inkling that that was going to happen.'' Anthony Munoz, also an offensive tackle, was the Cincinnati Bengals' No. 1 pick out of Southern California in the 1980 draft.
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[OSUBasketballJunkie]

I wonder if his career would have been different if he would have came to OSU. Its good that he has the attitude of closing that chapter in his life and pursuing other avenues.


Good Luck Michael.

[AKAKBUCK]

He was awarded the Draddy Trophy as the nation's top scholar-athlete in December and received $25,000 in scholarship money. He is considering getting an MBA, his father said.

I have a feeling that Michael is going to get along just fine.

[exhawg]

Unless his injury problems are so bad that he can't play anymore you'd think he would at least try go as a FA. Even the league min for a couple years would start him off on the right foot after college. Grad school will always be there.

[sandgk]

Originally Posted by exhawg

Unless his injury problems are so bad that he can't play anymore you'd think he would at least try go as a FA. Even the league min for a couple years would start him off on the right foot after college. Grad school will always be there.

exhawg -- Thing is he just seems to not have the heart for it -- and there are lots of Bengal fans whose openly stated wish was to see Munoz suit up in Cincinnati that are sad about this.

"I never found my identity playing football." AND "Football isn't who I am..."
AND -- Michael has options beyond the game that he enjoyed, but didn't love, the way his father loved it all those years.

We here in Cincy are all wishing Michael well in whatever path he now follows.

[stxbuck]

The Vols offered him a grad assistant position for next year, and they said he had a bunch of other options. It's good to see someone like this-a player who sees life clearly beyond the field, and is not going to be a washed up meathead in few years, working construction or as a bouncer and talking about his glory days back in school......

[CleveBucks]

Munoz and Antonio Hall were the two "can't miss" OL prospects from Ohio that year. Neither got drafted. Weird, huh?