Matt Light

When trying to put in perspective the recently concluded career of Patriots left tackle Matt Light , there's really only one place to go: to the players he went against. And when you look at Light's 11 years in the NFL, there are two players who have the most insight into how good he truly was. Both were mentioned by Light during his retirement ceremony as the toughest players he went against. From 2001-11, Dolphins end Jason Taylor ranked first in the NFL with 108.5 sacks.

Matt Light did the Tour de Bristol on Monday, stopping by numerous radio and television programs on the ESPN campus. And the recently retired Patriots offensive lineman said not to expect him to reconsider his decision to walk away from football. "Zero percent," Light said when asked what the chances were of a comeback. "Not in a bad way but when you close the door, it's always good to keep walking. " And while Light's enthusiasm for the game waned, he said he had no doubt that quarterback Tom Brady will play for a long time to come.

The Patriots have announced a press conference for Monday at 10:30 a.m. at the Hall at Patriot Place with Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick, and offensive lineman Matt Light. Light will officially announce his retirement after 11 seasons. A second-round draft pick out of Purdue in 2001, Light started at left tackle for 173 of the 175 games he played in, and the only two non-starts were early in his rookie season. A three-time Pro Bowler, Light was also named to the Patriots' 50th anniversary team.

Matt Light did the Tour de Bristol on Monday, stopping by numerous radio and television programs on the ESPN campus. During "NFL Live," he played a game of "Patriots Percentages" and was asked a variety of questions pertaining to his now-former team. Here are the questions Light was asked, along with his answers: Percentage chance Tom Brady plays for 10 more years… One hundred percent. If you said 20 years, I'd probably give you 100 percent. I mean, they're going to have to cart him off. … He could be playing to 55, maybe even 60. Percentage chance...

FOXBOROUGH - It wasn't what Patriots owner Robert Kraft said Thursday about the future of left tackle Matt Light, it was more how Kraft said it. With a little emotion in his voice, Kraft did nothing to dissuade the feeling around the team that Light, after an 11-year career, will retire this offseason. "Well, [if] Matt Light decides to retire . . . he's somebody who's been with us the whole time," Kraft said. "He's been such an outstanding person, both on and off the field.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Every member of the Patriots (except recent hire Josh McDaniels) was made available to reporters this morning before the team's practice. Now that yesterday's Media Day spectacle is over, players can focus on preparing for Sunday's Super Bowl against the Giants. Don't be surprised if the New York newspapers pounce on Tom Brady again. The Patriots quarterback, asked an innocuous question about the relationship with his family, especially his father, took a not-so-subtle dig at Buffalo.

Matt Light did the Tour de Bristol on Monday, stopping by numerous radio and television programs on the ESPN campus. And the recently retired Patriots offensive lineman said not to expect him to reconsider his decision to walk away from football. "Zero percent," Light said when asked what the chances were of a comeback. "Not in a bad way but when you close the door, it's always good to keep walking. " And while Light's enthusiasm for the game waned, he said he had no doubt that quarterback Tom Brady will play for a long time to come.

FOXBOROUGH - Matt Light wasn't thinking tenure when he turned up here 11 years ago as Purdue's most oversized export. "I never really thought about it," said the Patriots left tackle, who is so entrenched on the premises by now that he could serve as a stadium stanchion. "I always live in the moment. " In a season when the offensive line has used eight different combinations, the 33-year-old Light has been his usual steadfast self, starting all but one game. "Matt has had an outstanding year following up on last year," said coach Bill Belichick.

Sometimes things get taken for granted because they're familiar. You're so used to them being there that there comes a time when it becomes mundane and something new and flashy looks enticing. Same goes with people. Like left tackles that have started for 11 seasons and are 33 years old. When the Patriots drafted Nate Solder with the 17th pick in April, the writing was on the wall that the end was coming for veteran Matt Light. The only question was when. After 2010, it appeared to be coming soon.

Tom Brady tried to persuade Matt Light to return for another season by offering him a year's supply of his favorite candy bar. Offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia reminded Light that he's still in the prime of his career. But Light, one of a handful of NFL players to have started in five Super Bowls, said on Monday he is retiring from the league at the age of 33 to have a chance "to leave this game upright and feeling good. " "When it's your time, you just know," the New England Patriots offensive lineman said Monday in a retirement ceremony at the team's Hall of Fame.

When trying to put in perspective the recently concluded career of Patriots left tackle Matt Light , there's really only one place to go: to the players he went against. And when you look at Light's 11 years in the NFL, there are two players who have the most insight into how good he truly was. Both were mentioned by Light during his retirement ceremony as the toughest players he went against. From 2001-11, Dolphins end Jason Taylor ranked first in the NFL with 108.5 sacks.

FOXBOROUGH - With a chance to reflect at Matt Light's retirement celebration Monday, Bill Belichick thought about the moment 11 years ago when he rocked back in his chair in the Patriots' draft-day war room and told one of his assistants to pull the trigger on Light. First, he had to make it clear whom he was talking about. "That's the offensive lineman," Belichick said. Then, Belichick had to make sure they called him an "offensive lineman" and not an "offensive tackle.

Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia talked about Matt Light's retirement today. The two had an interesting, often stormy relationship, which I wrote about before the Super Bowl . Scarnecchia's comments: You said at the Super Bowl that you and Light had gotten to a good place, was that because you knew his career was coming to an end? "I know we're all kind of winding down as you get older, but I don't think any of us knew at that point that he was going to retire.

FOXBOROUGH -- Matt Light had pranked Bill Belichick so many times, on so many levels, that Belichick figured Light's retirement ceremony on Monday was the last chance he had at payback. Belichick took his share of verbal jabs at the offensive lineman, who bid farewell to football after 11 seasons, all with the Patriots. Light was the one who once went into Belichick's office and replaced the mouse that was originally attached the coach's computer with one that jolted 400 volts of electricity into the poor soul who touched it. "For whatever reason,"...

The Patriots have announced a press conference for Monday at 10:30 a.m. at the Hall at Patriot Place with Robert Kraft, Bill Belichick, and offensive lineman Matt Light. Light will officially announce his retirement after 11 seasons. A second-round draft pick out of Purdue in 2001, Light started at left tackle for 173 of the 175 games he played in, and the only two non-starts were early in his rookie season. A three-time Pro Bowler, Light was also named to the Patriots' 50th anniversary team.

FOXBOROUGH - It didn't take Jonathan Fanene long to feel he was in the right place at the right time. The 30-year-old defensive end finally had bolted from his home base with the Cincinnati Bengals after a seven-year career that had established him as a solid if not spectacular player. He also played a position where almost every NFL team is on a constant search for depth. "I guess they saw a need and felt I could fill it," said the new Patriot with a smile Tuesday after a workout that has been part of his routine since agreeing in March to a three-year, $12 million...

FOXBOROUGH - The Patriots entered the offseason prepared to move on without center Dan Koppen and left tackle Matt Light, with retirement likely for the latter. Koppen is still a free agent after the Patriots signed Dan Connolly to starter's money at center, and owner Robert Kraft said nothing Thursday to dissuade the thinking that Light is likely to retire at some point. Kraft, following a Patriots Charitable Foundation event celebrating Camp Sunshine in Maine, became a little emotional when asked about prospect of moving forward without long-time Patriots in Light and Koppen.

FOXBOROUGH - With a chance to reflect at Matt Light's retirement celebration Monday, Bill Belichick thought about the moment 11 years ago when he rocked back in his chair in the Patriots' draft-day war room and told one of his assistants to pull the trigger on Light. First, he had to make it clear whom he was talking about. "That's the offensive lineman," Belichick said. Then, Belichick had to make sure they called him an "offensive lineman" and not an "offensive tackle.