Devonta Freeman went off on rumors he’s going to retire

Devonta Freeman doesn’t want to hear your stupid retirement rumors.

Last week, former Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman turned down a one-year deal upwards of $4 million to play for the Seattle Seahawks. Freeman is coming off three straight down years after he was a two-time Pro Bowler in Kyle Shanahan’s offense. Though he has been smart with his money in his NFL career, he dispelled rumors of retirement on Memorial Day.

Freeman took to Twitter on Monday with a message that kills all of his intentions of retiring.

It was to the point but off-brand for the likable former Falcons star running back. No wonder he quickly deleted the tweet shortly after sending it out into the internet.

Even before the one-year deal to spend a season playing in Seattle, which eventually went to journeyman running back Carlos Hyde, it was surprising to see one of the better free agent running backs without a home this late into the NFL offseason. Freeman may not be the 1,000-yard rusher or the Pro Bowler he was in 2015-16, but he can still help a team win.

Devonta Freeman lays all the retirement rumors to rest with one tweet.

The former fourth-round pick by Atlanta in the 2014 NFL Draft is 28-years-old. While that’s closer to age-30 than most NFL general managers will feel comfortable with giving big money, Freeman is too competitive to hang up the spikes after only six seasons in the league. He’s a tick under 4,000 rushing yards in his career. If he plays a few more years, maybe he has a shot at 6,000?

For a guy who was so critical to Florida State winning a national title back in 2013 as a junior and such a big part of the early success of the Dan Quinn era in Atlanta, this isn’t the last we’ve seen of the guy in the NFL. Someone will get hurt in fall camp and a team in desperate need of a stabilizing presence in the backfield will get in contact with Freeman’s representation.

Atlanta acquired former Los Angeles Rams star running back and Georgia Bulldogs phenomenon Todd Gurley in free agency to replace Freeman. Though both have their durability issues, Gurley is a bigger body, is significantly better in pass protection and is an overall better NFL player at their respective apices. Gurley is also 2.5 years younger than Freeman, so that aids him, too.

Ultimately, Freeman may regret not taking the Seahawks’ offer because he would have played in a ground-centric offense and on a team that is essentially a lock to make the NFC playoffs. Then again, he’d be maybe the No. 2 back in Seattle behind Chris Carson, competing for carries with Rashaad Penny. Freeman will find a team, but will it feature the zone blocking scheme he craves?

Though he may not have a new home just yet, Freeman has no intentions of retiring whatsoever.