Cris Carter is serious about retiring. He's seen too many of his colleagues – John Elway, Steve Young and others – not completely retire on their own terms.

	Carter

For Elway, it was his knee that couldn't handle any more pain. For Young, it was concussions. For others such as Cortez Kennedy and so many veterans, they can't find the right salary to keep them in action.

Despite having the best of all worlds in Minnesota, Carter decided to make this season his last. He wanted the world to know.

"I just wanted to make sure that my intentions are clear," Carter said. "I probably can play a couple of more years. I'm looking forward to going around and truly enjoying this season as my last."

Carter didn't completely close the door on playing in 2002, but it would take strange sets of circumstances for that to happen. For example, if an injury ended his season early, that would make him reconsider it.

But throughout his career, Carter has been durable. His training regiment keeps him in the best of shape year-round. He's probably faster now than he was five years ago – he trains that hard.

So many off-the-field circumstances are pulling at him. First, there's family. Second, there are businesses. His Cris Carter Fast Program has grown to a point in which it accommodates 1,700 athletes. There's talk of franchising it outside of Southern Florida.

There's also broadcasting. He's been doing ESPN work for years. On Friday, he was flying over to do NFL Europe games for Fox.

"I think that I've had an impact on young players by personally getting involved in their lives," Carter said.

His tutoring of teammate Randy Moss has been the most publicized example. Moss has grown as a player and person under Carter's lead. As a talent, Moss is one of the most exciting receivers in the sport.

Four years ago, Carter convinced him to come to his then building conditioning center. Moss followed with a monster rookie season. Carter advised Moss that he'd probably play only four more seasons. This is Year Four.

Carter is ready to hand the torch to him.

The reason he picked this week to announce his plans was to ease any uncertainty.

"The one game I'm looking forward to the most is my last game in Lambeau Field against the Packers," Carter said. "That is the purest form of football when you play there. It's like it was when I was a young football player."

John Clayton is the senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.