Retirement not an option for Colt, despite release

Former Hawaii quarterback Colt Brennan said he is exploring several options, but retiring from football is not one of them.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League released Brennan last week, two days before their first exhibition game.

Brennan said he believes he was in good shape, and is awaiting videos from Roughriders practices to verify his belief his agent should continue to pursue pro football opportunities.

"I went up there and I was so excited about what I was doing physically that I’ve got to try to keep playing football," Brennan said. "Where it takes me, as far as the (Arena Football League) or CFL, I’m going to keep pursuing football."

Brennan has suffered several setbacks since graduating from UH. He underwent four surgeries — to each knee and hip — and suffered multiple injuries in a two-car crash in November 2010. He was with the Washington Redskins for two years and the Oakland Raiders for a summer. He signed with the Hartford Colonials of the United Football League, but the team folded before playing a game in 2011.

While recovering from the car accident, in which he was left in a coma with head injuries and a fractured collarbone, Brennan pondered his future. He thought: "The reality is: What will you do if you don’t play football?"

He added: "At the same time, I was so happy with the way I was playing (in Canada), I’ve got to keep going. I’m going to leave that door open, so if the opportunity comes, I can jump on it."

Brennan said he has the financial resources to continue to train. When he returned to UH for his senior season, he took out an insurance policy after he received a high draft grade from the NFL’s evaluation committee. The policy was paid when Brennan suffered the hip injury before the 2008 draft, when he was selected in the sixth round by the Redskins. Brennan’s father also invested most of the money earned from the Redskins.

"My dad took care of me," Brennan said of the financial advice his father gave him.

Brennan’s only big purchases were a car in 2008 and the rental of a North Shore beach house for a month in 2009.

"It was the coolest month of my life," said Brennan, who hung out with former teammates Gerald Welch and Tala Esera.

"I’m fine," Brennan said. "I’m truly an honest believer that money doesn’t make you happy. I swear to God, I was blessed. I grew up with a grandfather who was financially very helpful to me and my family. I never had to worry about the small things, like dinner. I’m blessed. My dad did a great job of ensuring my future. I don’t care about the money. That’s the blessing that I have. That’s what Hawaii did for me. That’s why I’ll forever be grateful to Hawaii. … I just want to play football."