Greg Oden Quotes

I sometimes lament the fact that I do not have the benefit of a complete and ailment free body structure.

I've gone through back surgery a couple times, and of course, my radiation treatments for six weeks got me to the point where I was not able to play at the level that I was accustomed to.

I think many people with a chronic illness would prefer not to have their chronic illness, simply because it's high maintenance.

I am doing better now though one of my legs is shorter than the other due to the operations.

I've gone through a lot as far as health.

I was on my way to becoming a Hall of Famer and having my name in the rafters, but three surgeries in 14 months, that is not good. I wasn't the same player.

I think as long as I feel good and am able to perform on a high level, I will keep playing because I love football so much. After that, I have many options but haven't set any goals.

I'm thankful that I have been able to play so long and still be healthy. I'm not all banged up and beaten down. I still feel good. But as much as I would love to play forever, I know that I can't.

It's just been really hard, 'cause I had a really hard year in 2012 where I had to have triple hernia surgery, and I was out of commission for a year; I couldn't walk, I couldn't sing, I couldn't do anything with work. So it was kind of a rough year.

I feel great. I had a blood clot. It was a bad deal. But when I look at my friends with hip replacements, knee replacements, shoulder replacements, neck surgeries, back surgeries, I'll take the blood clot.

People think I played 10 years. I only played 68 games.

I don't cancel because of temperament. I have had seven major surgeries in my life. I have had tumors. I have had two children with Caesareans; you don't just get up and sing the day after one of those.

There's not enough talked about in terms of growing older. You start to lose your body.

I've been in the hospital once when I had my daughter, and, oh, when I broke my elbow, but other than that, I've been very fortunate.

No professional athlete likes to admit that he has played too long. There is too much money involved, rarely enough saved, and there is the eternal hope that age has not withered skills.

I have no cancer. I have four illnesses, but they are not fatal.

When you have an injury, you are hindered a little bit.

I've always been aware of mortality because I've always had ill health most of my life.

During your career, you put yourself in peak physical condition, but then you bear the brunt of it for the rest of your life.

I've had nine major operations in ten years. A lot of it is to do with something called retroperitoneal fibrosis, where the internal tissues attack each other.

I don't want to rush into retirement and regret it, because people say play as long as possible until the legs can't take any more.

At the time I retired I was kind of known for it, as one of the guys whose career ended technically as a result of a big hit.

I think every athlete is afraid for their career to be over.

When you are 28, 29 years old... you are aware that this is going to be your last big contract of your career. You have to make up your mind: What is it that I want? Do I want to find something new, a new culture, a new league, a new language, new teammates, a new city? And what is it that I need to be happy? What is it that I need to perform?

There are only a certain amount of years you can play this game, and it's even a lower amount for a running back.