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In an unexpected development, two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Derrick Mason is officially announced his retirement from the NFL on the web site JOCKlife.com, a site that NBC and Rotoworld.com's Gregg Rosenthal reports is owned by Mason's agents Peter Schaffer and Lamont Smith.

"I have had a tremendous career and I played for two great teams, I had fun. In my career, I have been able to do everything but win a Super Bowl. I've had the opportunity to play on great teams and with great players. After 12 years, I have seen it all and done it all," Mason stated. "Right now, I am content with the decision I am making."

For the record, the 35-year-old receiver has not yet filed his official retirement papers with the league office. Still, it certainly sounds like his mind is made up.

"All good things come to an end and I am ready to see what else life has to offer," Mason said in his statement.

The two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver had his labrum and scapula surgically repaired during the offseason, but Profootballtalk.com staffer and Carroll County Times Ravens beat writer Aaron Wilson reports this isn't believed to be an injury-related decision.

"I have been thinking about this since season ended," Mason said in his statement. "Emotionally I am just not that enthused. I have not been that enthused to get up and work out. ... It was getting to that point."

Mason had lobbied the Ravens for a contract extension after last season. Team officials had indicated that they were amenable to that request, but nothing was imminent.

"This decision has nothing to do with the contract situation," Mason said. "I have made enough money, more than enough money. Emotionally there are things that are more important. "It's time right now."

Worth noting, Mason was a close friend of former Titans and Ravens quarterback Steve McNair, who was tragically shot to death on Jul. 4. Mason was a speaker at McNair's funeral service.

Last season, Mason battled the shoulder injury and still caught 80 passes for 1,037 yards and five touchdowns. For his career, he caught 790 passes for 10,061 yards and 52 touchdowns.

With Mason retiring, Wilson believes the Ravens will likely have to go with Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams as their top wide receivers.

Marcus Smith, Justin Harper and recent free-agent addition Kelley Washington move up in the rotation, too.

The Ravens explored a trade for Anquan Boldin during the offseason, but ultimately passed due to high trade compensation demands as well as Boldin's asking price. They were linked to Brandon Marshall, but never seriously got involved in a bid for the Denver Broncos' trouble-prone wideout.

It's not clear if the team's interest in Marshall will increase in the wake of Mason's announcement.

They probably should.

While Clayton gained some momentum late last season, a first-round pick in the 2005 NFL Draft (who was ultimately forced into the starting lineup as a rookie), struggled to regain the form demonstrated in 2006, when he had career highs with 67 catches for 939 yards.

Clayton finished 2008 with 41 receptions for 471 yards and three touchdowns. Despite an impressive 17-yards per catch average, he was clearly a hit or miss Fantasy prospect.

He had four catches for 87 yards and a touchdown against the Browns, five catches for 164 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals and four catches for 128 yards against the Jaguars. The Ravens won each game.

He had receptions of 70, 48, and 53 over the course of the year.

The obvious concern is failure to maintain that explosive level of play on a regular basis. Given that, Fantasy owners should watch closely for indications he'll do so before assessing his final value.

Mason's absence will help, but don't forget that Clayton has yet to start more than 13 games through four seasons. Williams is a major question mark, too. He has appeared in 32 games (with five starts) over his first three seasons as a pro.

Reasons for optimism?

Mason thinks they can get the job done.

"Mark Clayton is a younger version of me and Williams can be a true player," Mason said in his announcement. "He can be in the elite class. ..."

Maybe so.

But Fantasy owners shouldn't get too carried away with Mason's assessment. I'll go ahead and recommend a wait-and-see approach keeping a close eye out for any transactions that might have an impact on the two men before making any crazy draft-day commitments.