If you resigns a player at the end of the season and then he retires, do you get the bonus money back, at least in cap space or is it accelerated just like if you cut the player? Thanks

Retirement acts the same as a cut or trade as far as the cap goes.

I am ok with this, but why are guys asking for a new 4 year deal and then retiring after 1. Shouldn't they ask for a shorter deal when they are close to retirement?

They're lying to rip you of a big bonus ;)

How do you know when a player wants to retire? Do owners get forewarned so it doesn't screw up their cap for 2/3 years in the future?

It's a probability based on their age and position, but in general once they get to their 10th season there begins a small chance that they will retire. In general they will start to decline in their ratings before they retire, so while it's possible for a player to ask for a long term deal and then immediately retire that should be the exception. (A player's contract request length is tied to their rating at their best position)

Thank you-

I have had players retire before the 10th season. He was still in the 80's and had not declined, at least not much.

Each position has its own "optimal" age (based on the player's birthdate, although all players should be basically the same age for each rookie season). Once the player passes that age they start to decline and the probability for them to retire is non-zero. The further past that age, the more likely they will decline (they still may increase or hold, it's just less likely) and the more likely they will retire. If you get a bad dice roll, you can still have a player retire at the first season his probability is non-zero.

When do retirements happen? At the end of the season, before the season is flipped? Or does it happen during Training camp or what? is it one specific time, or?

Most of my leagues right now are in the offseason, or very close to it, (ie in the playoffs)
I looked for this in the Getting Started Guide before asking, (basically spammed ctrl f and the word retire, but found nothing) for what it's worth.

Thanks in advance.