CINCINNATI — Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said Tuesday that former University of Georgia star David Pollack planned to retire, but to Haruki Nakamura, the revelation was not a surprise.

Nakamura, a former University of Cincinnati safety, had trained with Pollack for the past few months in preparation for this weekend's NFL Draft, and as Pollack began to look thinner and thinner, Nakamura sensed his professional career with the Bengals was over.

Even as Pollack weighed his options — "He went back and forth," Nakamura said — and told reporters he hadn't made up his mind, Nakamura deciphered a different story.

On Tuesday, April 22, Lewis revealed that Pollack — who suffered a fractured vertebrae in his neck during the 2006 season — probably wouldn't play and that "I believe where he's headed is retirement."

"I think he's not completely comfortable with where he is medically," Lewis said. "Although he has been given an opportunity and released to play football, I think there's a lot to this guy. We know the quality of the person. He has such a bright future no matter what he chooses to do. We're proceeding in the fashion that he's not going to be part of this football team. He spoke to me well over a week ago and that's where things are headed. It's been a tough, tough decision for he and his family."

Pollack did not return a text message, and his agent, Ken Kremer, did not return two phone messages.

A three-time All American defensive end for the Bulldogs, Pollack was Cincinnati's first-round draft pick (17th overall) in 2005.

After a lengthy holdout and a switch to linebacker at the beginning of his rookie season, Pollack soon grew into his role, eventually earning a starting spot and making a career-high 10 tackles in the Bengals playoff loss to Pittsburgh.

He finished the season with 35 total tackles and recorded 4 1/2 sacks in 14 games.

But on Sept. 17, 2006, the second game of the season, he collided with Browns running back Rueben Droughns, and suffered a fracture of the C6 vertebrae. Though he avoided paralysis, he wore a neck immobilization device until he underwent surgery in January 2007.

He's spent the last 16 months trying to rehabilitate himself into football shape. Apparently, he felt he couldn't get there.

"The good thing," Lewis said, "is he's recovered from this where he's going to have an outstanding life."

Even though doctors cleared him to resume football activities, Pollack apparently decided not to risk his future. It means Pollack — who has talked about returning to UGA and has worked on TV with CBS during college football season — could come home.

Lewis also mentioned that Pollack, if he chooses, could turn to coaching.

"I know he wants to stay close to the game," Lewis said.

Already, he's gotten a taste of that, working with Nakamura and other potential NFL draft picks at Ignition Athletics Performance group in Mason.

He continued showing his support for the University of Cincinnati players in March when a much-thinner version of Pollack arrived on the Nippert Stadium turf to cheer on his new friends as the Bearcats worked out for NFL scouts during the school's pro day.

Although he declined that day to talk on the record about his decision-making process, he seemed content with his life.

"Even if I can't play football again, I feel blessed that I've been able to play a kids' game this long," Pollack said in February. "The experiences along the way have made me a better person, a stronger person. You learn a lot about life and who really cares about you when things like this happen."

Nakamura, for one, was impressed by the impact Pollack made.

"He's probably one of the best people I've ever been associated with," Nakamura said. "He's so happy all the time. He brings energy to training. When he walked in, he'd light up the room.

"He knows how to relate with players. He has a good understanding. Those are keys to being a good coach. Some coaches have a hard relationship with their players where they can't push other players. He can get guys going and really push guys."

Nakamura — who said Pollack was about 25 pounds lighter than his playing weight — also thinks Pollack is making the correct call. He sensed that months ago, and he feels the same way today.

"For him, that's a risky situation," Nakamura said. "It's unbelievable. For him to be walking is a miracle in itself. For him to walk around and enjoy life, you have to be blessed. I think he made the right decision."

Atlanta Journal-Constitution staff writer Carroll Rogers contributed to this report.

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