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February 7, 2013
Stampeders' Franklin retires to be full-time family man
By IAN BUSBY, QMI Agency
CALGARY - Arjei Franklin doesn’t have a summer plan yet, but that was actually the plan all along. After seven CFL seasons, the last three-and-a-half with the Calgary Stampeders, the Canadian receiver has retired from football. The main reason for packing up the pads is that the 30-year-old couldn’t bear to be away from his family any longer. Franklin’s wife and nearly 2-year-old son Miles live in Windsor, Ont., and it was always tough to part with them every May. He walks away having played 94 regular-season games, making 165 receptions for 1,952 yards and three touchdowns, but he leaves the CFL with one major regret. “I wish I had won a ring,” Franklin said. “That would have been nice. My son won’t remember me playing. “I think he would rather remember me as a dad that was around than one who had a giant ring on his finger. I had to make that choice. I’m glad I made the choice to be home. |