PITTSBURGH - Chris Hoke spent 11 seasons carving out a niche as one of the best backup nose tackles in football, winning over coaches with his work ethic and his Pittsburgh Steelers teammates with his affability. Rashad Johnson Jersey For Sale . Even better, he did it while staying relatively injury free, remarkable considering his position. Yet when a neck injury sustained early in the 2011 season lingered and doctors told him surgery was required to fix the problem, he figured his time was up. "I think the man upstairs was trying to talk to me," Hoke said. Hoke briefly considered attempting a comeback but thought better of it when warned of the risk of re-injury. "I could have tried, but to me that wasnt responsible," Hoke said. "That was doing my family a disservice." The way Hoke looks at it, his wife Jaimee and their four kids had already put up with enough, sticking with him early in his career as he struggled to stay on with the Steelers after getting picked up as an undrafted free agent out of BYU in 2001. Hoke spent three seasons hanging by a thread, convinced defensive line coach John Mitchell hated him. Turns out, Hoke was wrong. "He breaks you down then he builds you up into what the Steelers want you to be," Hoke said. "You think this guy doesnt like me at all (but) he sees the potential in you. Hes building you up." Hoke finally caught on in 2004, filling in well when Casey Hampton went down with a knee injury early in the season, posting a career-high with 24 tackles in 14 games while helping Pittsburgh to a league-best 15-1 record. The Steelers rarely lost when Hoke started, going 17-1 when Hokes No. 76 was in the huddle on the first defensive series. Though he knows he could have gone elsewhere to compete for a starting spot, Hoke was content to remain in Pittsburgh as part of a core group thats made Pittsburgh one of the leagues best defences over the last decade. "Im in a great organization, Im playing for great coaches, Ive got great teammates," Hoke said. "I didnt want to give that up. To me it was more than just going and chasing the almighty dollar. "It was about my family and my way of life." Hokes retirement is another step in what could be an eventful off-season for one of the leagues most stable franchises. Offensive co-ordinator Bruce Arians retired last week. The 34-year-old Hampton is facing surgery on his injured left knee and 35-year-old defensive end Aaron Smith is mulling retirement after sustaining a neck injury similar to Hokes. Smith, Brett Keisel and Hampton stood off to the side while Hoke spoke, with Hoke joking Hampton has been tasked with developing a new version of the "Hokey Pokey" dance Hoke frequently performed during practices. Hoke briefly fought back tears while talking about his journey, one that included a pair of Super Bowl victories while becoming a fan favourite for his blue-collar mentality. "I brought my lunch pail to work every day," Hoke said. "I worked and I worked and I worked ... I gave everything I had every day. "I think people here identified with that because thats the way this city is." Popular in the media because of his accessibility, Hoke admitted hed be interested in working in TV or on the radio one day, though Keisel thinks Hokes future lies in coaching. Pittsburgh nose tackle Steve McClendon cried when Hoke went on season-ending injured reserve in December, and rookie Cameron Heyward likened Hoke to a coach in the huddle. "I love the mental part of the game and helping others," Hoke said. "(Coaching) is always an option. Its something I want to do. "I feel like Ive created a lot of great relationships over 11 years." Larry Fitzgerald Pink Jersey . Hoefl-Rieschs exit — from the downhill course into safety nets, then airlifted from the slope by helicopter — left Anna Fenninger of Austria favourite to win her first giant crystal trophy one month after becoming an Olympic champion. Kurt Warner Jersey For Sale . Take a look at TSN.INDIANAPOLIS - New Cleveland coach Mike Pettine calls a report "noise" that the Browns tried to trade for Jim Harbaugh. The Pro Football Talk website reported Friday that before hiring Pettine last month Cleveland had a deal in place with San Francisco, but Harbaugh decided to stay. Via Twitter, 49ers CEO Jed York denied that was true. Pettine said Saturday the issue "has no bearing" on his job. Thhe Browns didnt deny their attempt to acquire Harbaugh, but Pettine said that didnt bother him, either. Tyrann Mathieu Elite Jersey. He said he thought that shows the organizations commitment to turning around the struggling franchise. Harbaugh has led the 49ers to three straight NFC championship games, but they lost their only Super Bowl appearance with him. Pettine is the seventh head coach of the Browns since 1999. cheap nfl jerseys ' ' '
