Carolina Panthers guard Travelle Wharton to retire
By Cory Buck
Carolina Panthers guard Travelle Wharton is set to announce his retirement, per the Charlotte Observer. He will be the second veteran lineman to retire this offseason, following the retirement of tackle Jordan Gross.
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"Wharton, 33, will announce his retirement Tuesday during a news conference at Wofford, ending his career where it began 10 years ago after the Panthers drafted the former South Carolina standout in the third round of the 2004 draft."
Wharton, along with Gross, was a start on the Panthers offensive line from 2004 to 2012. He left Carolina for Cincinnati, but never played a game for the Bengals after he blew out his knee in the preseason. Wharton returned to the Panthers and played 12 games for the team in 2013. Those appear to be his final games as a pro.
All is not lost for Wharton, who will continue working in some capacity with football. For now, the article notes that “Wharton is expected to join Gross, his longtime teammate and neighbor, as a regular guest on Gross’ weekly TV show on the Panthers’ newly launched channel on Time Warner Cable.”
Television has long been a refuge for retired athletes and at only 33 years of age, Wharton has plenty of time to hone his television game and succeed in life outside of football. As of now though, it appears his life in football will be cut short.