Panthers' Safety Mike Minter to Retire

Mike Minter, the Carolina Panthers' career leader in games started and tackles, blamed achy knees in announcing his retirement Tuesday after 10 seasons with the team.

The 33-year-old safety, wearing dark sunglasses, blamed injuries for quitting a year earlier than he originally planned.

Owner Jerry Richardson, fighting back tears, said Minter was the face of the franchise.

Minter was the Panthers' second-round pick in 1997, and became a fan favorite because of his longevity, toughness, hard hits and work in the community.

He has 467 more tackles than any other player in franchise history. His 141 starts and 94 consecutive starts are team records, as are his nine fumble recoveries and four interception returns for touchdowns.

Minter had not missed a game since early in the 2001 season, despite several injuries along the way. He played with a torn biceps muscle and even on a broken foot during Carolina's loss to New England in the Super Bowl at the end of the 2003 season.