Losing players to free agency and retirement is just part of being a fan of an NFL team. Guys you enjoy, root for, appreciate, they move on. Guys you have never heard of or spent a fair amount of time rooting against are suddenly on your team and your new best friend. It’s a cycle that repeats itself each and every March and will continue on for as long as there’s a league.
And a big part of that reality is that some losses sting more than others. Certain players entrench themselves in our collective hearts and become part of something much bigger than the odd season or two.