clarinews@clarinet.com (01/17/90)
PHOENIX (UPI) -- Phoenix Cardinals quarterback Neil Lomax, one of the National Football League's most accurate passers in his eight-year career, announced Tuesday he would retire because of an arthritic hip that sidelined him for the 1989 season. Speaking at an afternoon news conference, Lomax, 31, said he had decided to retire during the late part of the 1989 season, which he missed because of the hip, although he said he felt he was ``at the peak of my game, especially mentally.'' ``I didn't want to be a burden,'' Lomax said, referring to the degenerative arthritic condition that first showed up about four years ago. Lomax said he would continue discussions with Cardinals' General Manager Larry Wilson about staying with the club in another capacity, but first would undergo a hip replacement. Lomax, who set dozens of NCAA passing records at Portland State before joining the Cardinals in St. Louis in 1981, completed 1,818 passes in 3,153 attempts for 22,771 yards and 136 touchdowns in 108 games in the NFL. He had a career passing efficiency of 82.7, placing him seventh on the NFL's all-time quarterback ratings list. Lomax reported to training camp in the fall of 1989, but later announced he would sit out the season and continue therapy in the hopes of making a comeback in 1990. He spent the season helping the Cardinals' quarterbacks, veteran Gary Hogeboom, who won the starting job, and youngsters Tom Tupa and Timm Rosenbach. ``It was frustrating accepting the role I had this year,'' Lomax said, adding that ``it was hell'' to have to stand on the sidelines and watch his teammates play. Lomax signed a four-year year contract in 1988 for $6 million. It called for salaries of $1.4 million in 1990 and $1.5 million in 1991 and was guaranteed in case of a career-ending injury. The quarterback's agent, Leigh Steinberg, said the player will receive the full $2.9 million. ``The Phoenix Cardinals have been absolutely concerned about Neil's health and have been very classy,'' Steinberg said. Lomax became a starter for the Cardinals midway through his rookie season in 1981. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 1984 and 1987.