Dan Connolly Retires

Talk about a guy who has squeezed every bit of talent out of his body, had an excellent career and has things in the right perspective.

"It's important to me to leave the game healthy," Connolly said. "I'm able to be here for my kids and walk away on my own terms. I feel like I got everything I could out of football in playing 10 years, winning a Super Bowl, and playing alongside some truly great players."

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I'll never forget his run back vs GB in 2010.


http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-england-patriots/

A workman, a guy who stabilized a few positions on the line over the years, and who grew from a forum whipping boy to a solid veteran and team captain. I'm glad he found a good time to leave on his own terms. Thanks for the memories Dan!

As important to SB49 as anyone on the team. He was the stabilizing force on the OL early on in the season when all looked lost on the OL.

He really is the type of guy that is fun to watch. Underdog slowly works his way up to team captain and SB champion.

Oh and that KR was something to never forget.

Thanks for doing your job, being a class act and a winner at the end.

Good for him, he's been a true Patriot for a long time. I'm not surprised because the lack of any news about him resigning with us or going elsewhere indicated that he might not actually be looking to play next year. Thanks Dan, enjoy your your future.

Thread is useless without a GIF...



Good luck post-football, Danny Boy!

KontradictioN said:

Thread is useless without a GIF...

Good luck post-football, Danny Boy!

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I just love that you can see the exact moment where his brain goes from, "Crap, whatever you do just DO NOT fumble this ball." to "OPEN SPACE, I'MMA TAKE THIS TO THE HOUSE!"

Job well done, Dan!

Truly someone who worked hard and became an important part of the team for several seasons.

The ring does not occur last year without him moving to the left guard spot and plugging the hole in the line.

May he have a healthy and happy life with his family!

Love his text book cut at around the 40 yard line you cannot teach that best run back of all time. Future Returners should take notes from old Dan.

I'm not surprised, otherwise he would have been back with the Patriots. I'm guessing he was mulling it since the end of the season, and spent the offseason looking for someone to make him an offer he couldn't refuse.

Connolly was a solid player his entire career for us, and a big reason the offensive line went form putrid to workable by midseason this past season. He went out on top!

Congrats on the career, not many people who play the game of pro football have a 10 year career and get to retire a champion.

Sicilian said:

I just love that you can see the exact moment where his brain goes from, "Crap, whatever you do just DO NOT fumble this ball." to "OPEN SPACE, I'MMA TAKE THIS TO THE HOUSE!"

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The Packers kick coverage unit should have just tossed the fat man a bone and let him take it to the house once he crossed the 10 yard line. They shattered his dreams of scoring a touchdown as a fat boy in the pros.

The Pats need to honor him with a retirement ceremony if only to play that KO return on the Jumbotron one more time.

Dan is a real patriot, not the Revises, Thomases, Galloways, etc. This guy listened to everything the coaches told him to do and did his best without complaining. Even though he won't be a patriot HOFer, he'll forever be in our hearts.

The Gr8est said:

The Pats need to honor him with a retirement ceremony if only to play that KO return on the Jumbotron one more time.

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Doing something at 1/2 time is very possible. He deserves it.

Not only did he keep the train running in 2010 when Mankins held out, in 2011 he stepped in for Koppen and played a very, very good center position.

Congratulations, Dan. You played 10 years, enough for a decent pension, probably have enough socked away to be able to do something you can enjoy for the rest of your life, and now can spend time with your family. Well done!

KontradictioN said:

The Packers kick coverage unit should have just tossed the fat man a bone and let him take it to the house once he crossed the 10 yard line. They shattered his dreams of scoring a touchdown as a fat boy in the pros.

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The two guys who took him down at the 5 yard line should be on the Pats Fans All Hate Team.

But at least he got to retire as the Pats all time leading KO returner*




*based on average, no minimum # of returns required, but why quibble?

Happy for him. Goes out a champion. He is a player I always rooted for and really enjoyed when he succeeded.

Good luck, 63!

primetime said:

I'm not surprised, otherwise he would have been back with the Patriots. I'm guessing he was mulling it since the end of the season, and spent the offseason looking for someone to make him an offer he couldn't refuse.

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Yup, Mike Reiss was discreetly hinting as much a few weeks ago in his mailbag when he noted that Connolly look very much slimmer at the ring ceremony in June.

This is not unexpected. Good Luck, Dan and thank you for being the consumate Patriot..