"Breaking: Chiefs unexpectedly bench NFL's fastest man, John Ross, labeling him a draft bust!"

NFL's fastest man, John Ross, retires after disappointing career.

In a surprising turn of events, the NFL's fastest man, John Ross, has decided to retire from the game. Ross, who made headlines back in 2017 for his record-breaking 4.22-second performance in the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, informed the Kansas City Chiefs of his decision, as reported by ESPN. This announcement comes as Ross was officially placed on the reserve/retired list on Wednesday, marking the end of his six-year career in the league.

It's worth noting that Ross's career in the NFL has been met with mixed results, ultimately earning him the reputation of being one of the league's biggest draft busts in recent memory. Throughout his career, Ross managed to accumulate 62 catches, 957 receiving yards, and 11 touchdowns on 143 targets. These statistics translate to an average of 6.7 yards per target. Unfortunately, unless there is a surprise comeback, these numbers will remain unchanged.

One of the major challenges Ross faced throughout his career was his struggle to stay on the field. Despite his impressive record-setting 40-yard dash time, the Cincinnati Bengals, who selected Ross as the ninth overall pick out of Washington in the 2017 NFL Draft, had high hopes for him to become a game-changing deep threat. However, Ross never quite lived up to those expectations.

In his rookie year, Ross found himself buried on the depth chart due to a knee injury, resulting in him playing in only three games. To make matters worse, he fumbled the only time he touched the ball. His second year showed some improvement, with 21 catches, 210 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns on 58 targets. Ross seemed to have a breakout moment in Week 1 of the 2019 season, recording 158 yards and two touchdowns, followed by another impressive performance of 112 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. Unfortunately, this would be the peak of his career. He struggled to replicate that success, finishing the rest of the season with only 236 yards while spending eight weeks on injured reserve due to a shoulder injury.

Ross's time with the Bengals came to an end after one more season, during which he made just two catches for 17 yards. Despite requesting a trade, his plea went unanswered. He then signed with the New York Giants, where he posted similar numbers of 11 catches, 224 yards, and one touchdown on 20 targets in the 2021 season. However, Ross did not see any playing time in the following season.

In January, Ross signed a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, with hopes of making a comeback. Unfortunately, it appears that he has decided to retire instead. His career serves as a cautionary tale, highlighting the dangers of solely relying on straight-line speed without considering the physical challenges of going up against cornerbacks, catching the ball consistently, and, most importantly for someone of Ross's stature at 5-foot-11 and 194 pounds, staying healthy.

The Bengals took a gamble on Ross's ability to outrun defenders, but as we have seen, success in the NFL is never that simple. It requires a combination of skills and attributes that extend beyond pure speed. Ross's retirement serves as a reminder that while speed can be an asset, it is not the sole determinant of success in the league.

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