The Seattle Seahawks' veteran center Chris Gray just announced his retirement because of what he said was a low-back spine injury. He said the doctors didn't really give him a choice about retiring because if he injured it again he risked paralysis.

Gray said he was told on Saturday at the scrimmage about the diagnosis, and that he has spent the past 36 hours coming to terms with it. He said he is doing pretty well right now but the past day and a half have been very tough. He said his summer has been filled with football since the 6th grade, and this will be the first time he will not be doing that.

Gray said he suffered the injury while hitting the blocking sled on the second day of camp. "After 20 years of hitting a sled, I guess something finally had to give," Gray said. He said he had absolutely no indication the injury was this serious. He said he had some tingling in his legs but just thought he had a lower back strain. He said he was shocked when the doctors told him what had happened.

For his immediate future, he said he is going to do perhaps some marketing for the team. "Kind of like what Brett Favre is doing," Gray said. "Except I won't be getting $20 million." He said he thinks the offensive line is in fine hands and he doesn't think they need his help with coaching, but he told the organization he would do whatever he could to help out.