National Football League

Report: Giants tight end quits football

Published Aug. 7, 2011 3:39 p.m. ET

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Tight end Ben Patrick said that he quit the New York Giants less than a week after signing a one-year contract to "handle some personal issues and some family issues," according to reports Sunday.

The former Arizona Cardinals player put pen to paper in New York on Monday and was expected to fill a role within the Giants offense, an opportunity that got larger Friday when the Giants in free agency lost Kevin Boss to the Oakland Raiders.

But Patrick has since informed the team that he no longer wants to play football. He was placed on the reserve/retired list, the New York Post reported late Saturday.

After returning to his base in Arizona, the 26 year old explained his reasons behind his shock decision.

Patrick, who grew up in Savannah, Ga., told his hometown paper, the Savannah Morning News, "I've got some issues that I need to work through, and, obviously, that much of a distraction wouldn't allow me to perform and prepare in football like I need to. I appreciate everybody's support but also ask for a little privacy until these matters are resolved."

Yet Patrick suggested his time out of the game would not be permanent.

"I'm just sorting through some things and figuring out my next move," he added. "Hopefully, I'll be able to return [to the NFL] sooner rather than later."

Patrick spent five years with the Cardinals, and his departure made an already-thin position at the Giants nearly devoid of NFL-caliber players.

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