Marion Barber Retires At 28

By Tim Bearden in News on Mar 24, 2012 2:30PM

While he wasn't expected to be signed to the Bears for another season following the pick up of top free agent Michael Bush, Bears back-up running back Marion Barber has decided to retire.

Barber, 28, was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2005 in the fourth round and has accumulated 1,156 carries for 4,780 career yards and 53 touchdowns. He was picked up by the Bears prior to the 2011 season and was touted as a "bruising back" to pick up short yardage and quick scores, but two miscues in the Denver Broncos game along with a nagging calf injury seems to have forced the Bears to look elsewhere for another back.

He was one year into a two-year deal with the Bears and was expected to make $1.9 million in his final year. His decision has left the Bears with $2 million extra in cap space for free agents and draft picks. Though that point seems moot, seeing as how the Bears were expected to release him in the coming days anyway following the pick up of Bush. Kahlil Bell will remain the third string running back at $1.26 million for 2012.

Barber's age makes retirement seem premature, but it may not have been fully his choice. The announcement, coming only one day after the signing of Bush, seems like it could be a "nobody will sign me" retirement.