I just don't think they have the lasting impact that Sean did.
And I don't want to be belittling Sean but I'll just say that I don't know that he had THAT big a lasting impact. He should have. He was about to. But if, instead of being shot, he had, say, been traded after four seasons like Champ Bailey was, we wouldn't be talking about retiring his number. We probably wouldn't be talking about how much better he was than other guys that went to multiple pro-bowls and won championships wearing that number.
His untimely death is the big difference. And, hey, it should be. It was a big deal and we should never forget that.
However, that's the crux of the debate. Does his dying early warrant a retirement of the number. As much as I loved watching him play, and as saddened as I was about his death, I think it's time to bring the number back out. If you disagree I can respect that.
Not sure of your age, brother. I used to think 10yrs was a long time too.
But I swear, I laid down to take a nap yesterday. And when I woke up, 20yrs was gone!!!!
I hear ya. Pushing 50 over here. But 10 years (12 by next season, actually) is a long time in football years.