John Frank told his mother, Beverly, on Wednesday evening that he was rethinking his decision to end his professional football career before it had even started, but he wouldn't tell his family where he was calling from or precisely why he told the Philadelphia Eagles he was retiring.
"He just had to get away, he has so much going on," said Beverly Frank of why her son did not say where he was on Wednesday. The family is still as puzzled and surprised as everyone else over John Frank's sudden decision over the weekend to leave the game. His mother used the word "devastated" to describe her initial reaction.
Beverly Frank said her 26-year-old son knew he would have to act fast if he did change his mind and decide to play at Philadelphia, where it looked a few days ago like he might be the first backup. The Eagles have already signed a fill-in player.
An optimistic mother said, "I think it will probably happen," on Thursday morning as she was waiting to hear again from her son.
John Frank told his mother in a Wednesday phone conversation, "My time is running out," she said, and she added that he is now worrying about how his decisions will affect others. She told him to think foremost of himself and said she, her husband, Alan, and John have "a fabulous relationship."
The Frank family has long performed together as the Beverly Brothers band at a Salt Lake nightspot.
John phoned his father at work in the afternoon and left a voicemail message at his parents' home saying he was OK and would call and talk later to his mother when she returned home. He called her twice Wednesday evening.
Frank's agent, Ethan Lock of Phoenix, told the Deseret News Wednesday afternoon that his client was probably flying home to Salt Lake City then, but Beverly Frank said that had changed and he was not in Salt Lake. Lock told the Deseret News that he was still Frank's agent but had not yet been asked by Frank to re-open negotiations with the Eagles, though Lock had told the Frank family that would be possible if done within about 24 hours.
Beverly Frank said that by Wednesday evening, John was seriously rethinking his move.
"Ethan feels the door would be open," Beverly Frank said.
Frank, the Salt Lake native who was Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year, a record-setting defensive end from the University of Utah and a sixth-round pick by the Eagles in April's NFL Draft, reported to a preliminary Philadelphia team meeting Saturday but did not appear at a Sunday practice. On Tuesday, it was announced by the Eagles that Frank had retired for personal reasons. The move could cost him upwards of $900,000, but his mother said, "He is the least money-driven kid you'll ever meet in your life."
He had been enthusiastic about his chances of making the team following last month's mini-camp and threw even more energy into his workouts at the U.
"He's been working out like a madman," said Utah defensive coordinator Kyle Whittingham, as shocked as everyone else.
"Working out every day," said Beverly Frank, "he was high as can be. I don't think we've heard the end of this."
Beverly Frank said she was devastated when John called home on the weekend to say that people would be calling the Frank parents' home in Salt Lake City soon and that, "I don't know if I'm going to be playing any more ball," she said.
She said John would not be specific then or on Wednesday night about his reasons for retiring, but she told the Deseret News that there is absolutely nothing to rumors that John, his mother or other family members were injured or ill. His favorite uncle passed away from cancer in April, and she said that hit John hard, but since then, she said, "no one has any terminal disease; he is well."
Beverly Frank assumes that a number of emotions caught up with John, but she doesn't know for certain. He was married on short notice to his longtime girlfriend on July 12, just a few days before reporting to Philadelphia directly from their honeymoon. "Marriage was a huge decision for him," Beverly Frank indicated.
Alan Frank told the Associated Press, "He's just had some mixed emotions is all."
Beverly Frank and Whittingham both said they did not know if any training-camp incident had soured John. Both said if John felt uncomfortable, he might simply say he didn't need the aggravation, though, "he's not a quitter," Beverly said. He was one of the Utes' hardest-working, best-conditioned athletes.
"He marches to his own drummer," Whittingham said. "If there is a kid who would just say enough is enough, he'd go ahead and act on it."
Said his mother, searching her mind for answers, "His reasons, I'm sure, are valid. I think it's a combination of things."
E-mail: lham@desnews.comz