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Derrick Mason considered retiring.
Like Ray Lewis last offseason, he "flirted" with other teams around the league.
But in the end, Mason decided that he wanted to play football again, and he wanted to play for the Ravens.
"For me, it was a no-brainer to sign back because I don't think there was any other opportunity that was as good as this one considering who we have on the football field and the coaching staff we have," Mason said today at a press conference. "I don't think there was any other team that intrigued me more than this team here.
"For me to go anywhere else would have been a step back."
After another offseason of speculation about his future, Mason signed a two-year, $8 million deal last month.
The 36-year-old wide receiver said he gave retirement some thought, but that unlike last year, his health isn't an issue and he still feels like he's got a lot left in the tank.
"I don't think it was so much physically, I think it was mentally did I want to play again," Mason said. "Mentally, I was getting tired a little bit, but I think it was so because of the run that we made at the end of the season and what we had to go through to get to the playoffs. I think it was more so that than anything.
"But you have time to think about it and reflect and you understand that this is a game that you love and you can still play it at a high level. Especially in my situation, because I haven't won a championship, I wanted to give myself an opportunity with the personnel that we have to win a championship."
