"Former Dolphins linebacker Channing Crowder, 27, surprisingly announced his retirement in a radio interview Tuesday, saying his heart is no longer in it. Crowder, who was released by the Dolphins on July 29, visited the Patriots and explored other options but said "it started eating at me" that he didn't want to continue playing.

"When I went to the workout with the Patriots, it was just weird," Crowder told The Miami Herald after the interview. "I thought I'd be excited. I'd show them what I got. But it just felt dead. So I prayed on it, and things just started lining up."

Crowder and his wife are expecting their first child to be born in three weeks, which is another reason he does not want to keep playing.

He also said he'd pursue media. WQAM general manager Joe Bell said Crowder will have a role on WQAM this season but "I don't know what form. He's as good as any athlete I've ever heard on radio."

Coach Tony Sparano suggested Tuesday that he will give significant playing time to young players in Friday's preseason opener at Atlanta."