Matt Light to retire?

[Gronkandez]

The Boston Herald reports LT Matt Light is considering retirement, and that the "expectation" is he won't be back with the Patriots in 2012.

Light hasn't commented on his future since the Patriots' Super Bowl loss, and as far as we know, he never publicly broached the idea of retirement during the 2011 season. Including the playoffs, he allowed just 2.5 sacks in 18 starts last season. Were Light to retire, Nate Solder would be his logical replacement on the blindside.

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mod edit: the above link only brings you to the home page of Rotoworld; here is the link to the blog entry in the Boston Herald: Looking into the future of LT Matt Light and where he'll be in 2012...

 

[tatepatsfan]

This would be a big loss IMO. Clearly long term the goal is to have Vollmer and Solder be the starters, but having 3 starting caliber OTs was huge last year (given Vollmer's injury). I certainly didn't see it coming (perhaps the coaches/organization have been somewhat aware?).

Just a rumor at this point though.

 

[Gronkandez]

Is Solder ready to start at LT or would a healthy Vollmer move over? Apparently Cannon would be considered the backup RT which I find a little surprising. I didn't think he had the footwork to play Tackle.

The Boston Herald reports G/T Marcus Cannon will be considered a tackle going forward.


Cannon is capable of playing both guard and tackle, but the Patriots apparently like his 6-foot-5, 358 pound size better at tackle. With LT Matt Light reportedly considering retirement and RT Sebastian Vollmer growing increasingly injury prone, Cannon could be in line for a much bigger role next season after cancer treatments limited him to seven games as a rookie.

Fantasy football news and analysis, injuries, depth charts, draft guide - Rotoworld.com

mod edit: the above link only brings you to the football section of Rotoworld, with no current reference to this story; here is the link to the blog entry in the Boston Herald: Looking into the future of LT Matt Light and where he'll be in 2012...

 

[Steve102]

I can't say I find this rumor surprising. I seem to remember rumblings last year.

 

[Spiral]

Sometimes when a veteran says he's thinking about retirement, he's thinking about retirement. Other times, he may be thinking about skipping the first month or so of off-season workouts. I might put Waters in that same category.

 

[Deus Irae]

Son of a........

 

[Gronkandez]

Does anyone know his salary details? All I could find was he was guaranteed $7M but I don't know the breakout between bonus and '11+'12 Salary.

 

[ivanvamp]

Does anyone know his salary details? All I could find was he was guaranteed $7M but I don't know the breakout between bonus and '11+'12 Salary.

If Light and Waters retire and Koppen and Connolly go elsewhere, they're going to have a LOT of work to do to rebuild this line. Solder, Mankins, Connon, Vollmer....that's not a bad group, but it needs to get a lot better and deeper.

 

[Deus Irae]

Does anyone know his salary details? All I could find was he was guaranteed $7M but I don't know the breakout between bonus and '11+'12 Salary.

August 11, 2011 update ESPN.Com's Mike Reiss blogged that "Matt Light -- As previously reported by the Associated Press, the veteran left tackle has a two-year, $12 million pact. It includes a $6 million signing bonus, $1 million base salary in 2011; $3.4 million base salary in 2012 and a $100,000 workout bonus in 2012."

Miguel's UNOFFICIAL 2011 Patriots Salary Cap Footnotes and Documentation Page

 

[bucky]

Is Solder ready to start at LT or would a healthy Vollmer move over? Apparently Cannon would be considered the backup RT which I find a little surprising. I didn't think he had the footwork to play Tackle.

The Boston Herald reports G/T Marcus Cannon will be considered a tackle going forward.


Cannon is capable of playing both guard and tackle, but the Patriots apparently like his 6-foot-5, 358 pound size better at tackle. With LT Matt Light reportedly considering retirement and RT Sebastian Vollmer growing increasingly injury prone, Cannon could be in line for a much bigger role next season after cancer treatments limited him to seven games as a rookie.

Fantasy football news and analysis, injuries, depth charts, draft guide - Rotoworld.com

Solder should improve with a full offseason in the system. My main concern with Solder is that he had 2 concussion-related issues last year. Those just compound over time.

As for Cannon, he would have been a 1st round pick at OT if it wasn't for the cancer. If he's 100%, he should be a starting caliber OT. But as BB has said on many occasions, the 5 best OL are going to be in there.

 

[Deus Irae]

One thing the Herald article tells us is that this team isn't set at guard, after all.

 

[Ivan]

Hopefully this isn't true because Light could contribute significantly even if Solder won the starting LT spot. If true and the report that Cannon is going to be a Tackle going forward then it does change the equation at OG and they will have to make sure Waters returns and they draft for the future. Much as I don't want them using a first on an OG right now this draft has some great guards available early and it would have to be considered given the importance of keeping an interior rush off of Brady. If they saqw another Mankins available then they should do it, perennial All Pro's is always worth it, no matter the immediate need.

 

[Gronkandez]

Solder should improve with a full offseason in the system. My main concern with Solder is that he had 2 concussion-related issues last year. Those just compound over time.

As for Cannon, he would have been a 1st round pick at OT if it wasn't for the cancer. If he's 100%, he should be a starting caliber OT. But as BB has said on many occasions, the 5 best OL are going to be in there.

My impression was he's a Road Grader (ie big and strong but not that nimble) and that he has relatively short arms. I could be wrong though.

 

[JackBauer]

Well that would suck, if true. Light had one of the best seasons of his career last year, IMO.

On the other hand, it's a good thing BB drafted Solder and Cannon so at least we have some potential candidates already on the roster to potentially mitigate the loss.

 

[satz]

Cannon can play tackle in ab it more run based offense. In space against fast edge rushers in shot gun he will struggle a bit as every big guy does.

He can be an excellent gaurd though.

Vollmer and Solderare always down with some injury...funny how matt light who takes crap for being average is suddenly cannot be replaced.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

funny how matt light who takes crap for being average is suddenly cannot be replaced.

Sometimes that is how it works, but at the end of the day, Light had a fantastic year and shows little sign of decline.

Even if all the OT's are healthy in camp next year, none can beat out Light for the starting job.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Well that would suck, but would it free up 4-5 million in cap?

 

[Sciz]

Well that would suck, but would it free up 4-5 million in cap?

$3.5 million

 

[Ivan]

Sometimes that is how it works, but at the end of the day, Light had a fantastic year and shows little sign of decline.

Even if all the OT's are healthy in camp next year, none can beat out Light for the starting job.

As much as I like and respect Light, I think he's a really good LT, I believe he knows Solder is going to be the starter next season and his decision would likely be because of that and the likelihood of the Patriots asking for a pay cut if he is a back-up. Light was on the radio a great deal this season and his respect for Solder's abilities was clear.

 

[Ivan]

One thing the Herald article tells us is that this team isn't set at guard, after all.

Not "set" but in good shape overall as Waters will most likely be back and Connolly can play OG if Koppen returns, as well as Cannon being available if needed. They have decisions and signings coming but they should be fine on the whole.