The Gr8est

This was mentioned in the thread discussing what Randy Moss' number will be. The following numbers are retired on the Pats:

http://www.nfl.com/history/retired-numbers

Bruce Armstrong 78
Gino Cappelletti 20
Mike Haynes 40
Steve Nelson 57
John Hannah 73
Jim Lee Hunt 79
Bob Dee 89

Am I the only one who doesn't like retiring numbers? It is a great honor for the player and recognizes great careers, but it really hamstrings teams in the future when assigning available numbers. In 50 years when Tom Brady, Richard Seymour, Troy Brown, Lawrence Maroney, Brandon Meriweather and James Laurinaitis' ( okay maybe a bit optomistic with a couple of these guys) all have their numbers retired, I guess the criteria will be the standard numbering scheme + 100...i.e. WRs can have numbers in the 80s or 180s.

I don't want to see players with numbers in the 100s.

There has to be a better way to honor players than to remove their numbers from further use.

pats1

I doubt Seymour or Brown get their numbers retired.

Kdo5

Maroney gets his number retired? Meriweather gets his number retired? Cmon...one is a 1 year pro and the other is a rookie...

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The Gr8est

C'mon, I was just having a little fun there. The point is that retiring numbers is a sentimental gesture which causes longterm problem with finding available numbers. There has to be a better way to pay homage to players who had exceptional careers, there are only so many two-digit numbers.

kurtinelson

I agree 100%. I don't think any football players should have their numbers retired. There is just not enough numbers to go around given the NFL's positional numbering system, which I am also very much in favor of.

I know lots of people would like to see players wear any number they choose, but I think the numbering system helps the viewer to decifer alingments (especially defensive).

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Sean Pa Patriot

The only number that should be retired, will number 12 when he hangs it up..

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We going to take it one game at a time

SoCal Bong

Its only a matter of time (hopefully a long time) before the league expands the roster # which will only add to the problem.

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solman

The league should allow numbers up to 199, and then add a rule that only veterans with one year of experience and first day draft picks can wear numbers under 100.

That way nearly all the players on the field would have two digit numbers (or at least be eligible for one), but there would be none of the crowding that currently exists.

primetime

The Patriots have retired 7 numbers. Players may pick from 99 numbers in total. For Patriots players, that means there are 92 numbers left (91 since #56 is not issued). There are only 53 players on a team, which leaves 39 (38) numbers without an owner/retiree. Give me a break.

pats1

Yes, but that doesn't take into account NFL number restrictions.