Giants' Chris Snee announces retirement from NFL

New York Giants right guard Chris Snee announced his retirement Monday after 10 seasons.

Selected by the Giants in the second round of the 2004 draft, Snee struggled with elbow and hip injuries recently and was unable to make it through organized team activities pain-free. 

"I felt worse by continuing to workout," Snee told Josina Anderson of ESPN. "I am nowhere near the level of strength that I usually have. That's been my game for 10 years, being one of the strongest players out there and using that to my advantage. If I don't have that, I wouldn't be able to do my job the way I expect, but also with what they expect of me. 

"That's kind of what Jerry (Reese) and I agreed upon in March when we decided to try this thing and see if I can come back. I told him that he had my word, that I would be honest with him, and I was. (Now) I've told him that my body has had enough. With the way last season ended that's the last thing I wanted to experience again."

On the team website, Giants head coach Tom Coughlin recounted the first time he met Snee, who would eventually become his son-in-law and the father of three of his grandchildren.

"It's different," Coughlin said, "because not only is it a great football player retiring from the game, who has contributed so much to our team and our franchise and has two world championships to show for it, he is a highly-respected and loved member of our family.

"The first time I met him I was with Jacksonville and I went up to Boston College (to scout a running back). Kate (his daughter) was a freshman at BC and I said, 'Let's have dinner tonight.' She said, 'Dad, can I bring a friend?' It was Snee. He doesn't say a word. Not one word that I can remember. You should see him with his kids. He's unbelievable. He has really blossomed here."

Snee retires as a two-time Super Bowl champion and four-time Pro Bowler.