David Garrard says balky knee, not Geno Smith, forced him to think about retiring

FILE - In this May 2, 2013, file photo, New York Jets quarterback David Garrard talks to reporters during a locker room availability at the team's NFL practice facility in Florham Park, N.J. A person familiar with the decision says Garrard plans to retire because of lingering knee issues, leaving the Jets one fewer quarterback in their open competition. The 35-year-old Garrard was signed in March to provide veteran competition for Mark Sanchez. But Garrard, who hadn't played in a regular-season game in the NFL since 2010 because of injuries, plans to step away because of knee troubles. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz, File) (The Associated Press)

New York Jets' Travis Tripucka talks to reporters next to the locker of quarterback David Garrard during a locker room availability at their practice facility in Florham Park, N.J., Thursday, May 16, 2013. Garrard retired late Wednesday night. (AP Photo/Rich Schultz) (The Associated Press)

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – David Garrard says his surgically repaired left knee kept swelling up on him after workouts, and that forced him to realize he couldn't compete for the New York Jets' starting quarterback job.

Garrard tells SiriusXM NFL Radio on Thursday that his decision to consider retirement was a result of his knee not being healthy, not because the Jets drafted Geno Smith in the second round.

Garrard says his knee was "never just allowing me to just go on and just play without worries." The Jets signed him in March, and he was expected to compete with Smith, Mark Sanchez and the team's other quarterbacks for the starting job.

Garrard adds that the Jets offered him "a little bit of an internship" to work with the team's quarterbacks during training camp.