The Sports Xchange

With the retirements of Justin Blalock and Mike Pollak, the market for free-agent guards thinned out Monday.

The 31-year-old Blalock, a longtime Atlanta Falcon who was released earlier this offseason, announced his retirement via Twitter.

Pollak, 30, joined him later in the day, according to NJ.com.

Blalock, who started 125 games for the Falcons since 2007, said, “I’d like to sincerely thank the Atlanta Falcons, all my teammates and especially the fans,” he said via Twitter. “I’ve had an unbelievable eight years and only wish I could have helped bring a championship to the ATL.”

Pollak, a second-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in 2008, played in 81 games (52 starts) for the Colts, Carolina Panthers and Cincinnati Bengals.

With those two veterans retiring, the market for veteran guards is led by Evan Mathis, Rob Sims and Dan Connolly.