Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr chose retirement over collecting a paycheck while dealing with a serious shoulder injury, citing his moral compass as the deciding factor, according to ESPN.

The veteran signal-caller announced his retirement May 10 after team doctors diagnosed him with a labral tear and “significant degenerative changes to his rotator cuff.” Facing the choice between surgery or playing through pain, the former Fresno State star walked away from football entirely.

Financial Sacrifice for Integrity

“That part was tough because I didn’t want to have surgery and just sit there and — it sounds crazy but — just take the Saints’ money,” Carr told Front Office Sports. “I wouldn’t have been able to play if I had the surgery. And then if I tried to play with it, I

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