Patriots Player Departure Matt Light has retired

[PATSYLICIOUS]

So how much cap space does this free up?
Sad news but the Solder/Vollmer era was bound to start soon. Hope Vollmer's back issues are gone soon.
Wish Matt all the best post-football, thanks for 11 great seasons!

 

[State]

I'll remember a lot about Matt Light. But perhaps his senior year at Purdue in 1999 where he was Drew Brees's LT is most vivid.

Nick Saban was Michigan State's coach. Purdue won a great victory on a last-second bomb by Brees.

The whole game Light absolutely dominated Robaire Smith, who himself has had a long NFL career. Back then Smith was an All-American DE in the 4-3 with size, athleticism, and speed. But he couldn't even get a sniff at Brees.

In the fourth quarter Saban started going nuts on the sidelines, yelling at Smith--who had been flagged for a terrible late hit on the QB on third down--who I think had just given up.

That kind of total domination by one future long-term NFLer against another long-term NFLer tells you all you need to know about Light's skill, determination, and heart.

 

[Lamanai]

So how much cap space does this free up?
Sad news but the Solder/Vollmer era was bound to start soon. Hope Vollmer's back issues are gone soon.
Wish Matt all the best post-football, thanks for 11 great seasons!

I believe it saves $3.5M cap space in 2012...

 

[PATSNUTme]

He got a lot of wrath from Pats fans over the years,but he truly was the leader on the OL for over a decade and he will certainly be in the Pats HOF very soon.

A Very Solid Player
&
A Very Good Person

You are right about that. He seemed to be one of the favorite whipping boys in the OL for some fans. But he has been a very solid OLT for this teams great run and he will be missed.

The old saying is, you don't know what you've got until its' gone. some of those fans may be finding out. Let's hope that BB's draft strategy now pays off.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

I believe it saves $3.5M cap space in 2012...

Thanks bud

 

[ausbacker]

That opens up a roster position for resident prankster. Thanks to Light for his service, he was a super player for the Patriots.

 

[captain insano]

who is going to take over the post game locker room huddle?

 

[Spergon Wynn]

I have to admit that I was tough on Light in the past but there's no doubting the great job last year.

I won't really be convinced until I see an official statement or press conference. Either way, I think this could be a situation where he would be opening to a return should the Patriots be in a bind and Bill comes calling.

I'm interested to see where this leaves the tackle position. For some reason, I remember Solder doing better at RT than LT but that was probably due to lack of reps at that position. I'm not sure what's going on with Vollmer (he's been either injury plagued or inconsistent) but I could see a future for Cannon at RT.

 

[DarrylS]

Very good man..
Great Patriot..
Wish him well...

 

[Aßßynormal]

LOL

Has he actually retired yet? No?

He probably will but he's walking away from a lot of money. He'd look good in an Eagle uniform. Let's wait until June on this [or a formal retirement].

 

[Tunescribe]

Seems to me he would/could have a couple more solid years if he wanted to keep playing. I wonder what his reasoning is for retiring now.

 

[Reckedtrek]

If it's true, then so be it. Best of luck in your post NFL life, Matt! I take back some of the things I said about you.

 

[DaBruinz]

Maybe a lower pick. We do have three remaining.

We have 5 remaining. Besides Solder, Vollmer and Cannon, the Pats have Kyle Hix and Matt Kopa. Two guys who spent the entire year under Dante's tutelage.

Also, Donald Thomas and Robert Gallery could play there in a pinch..

 

[DaBruinz]

Agreed but now if one of the top OT's fall to #27 I think BB will fire on him

That is wishful thinking on your part.. Actually, it's delusional thinking, in all honesty.. Not with Vollmer, Solder, and Cannon as the top 3 already...

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I believe it saves $3.5M cap space in 2012...

It frees up either $5M or $8M (or possibly $6.5M) depending on whether or not the team requests he repay half of his signing bonus due to retirement. His 2012 salary was $3.4M + $100K in workout money and apparently a roster bonus of some sort of $1.5M which likely wasn't due until later than the standard beginning of the league year (unless it was but half of the signing bonus was deferred and now won't be paid).

The total deal was for 2 years and $12M.

 

[IcyPatriot]

***an Doors soon to become Light Doors :confused3:

 

[DaBruinz]

in all likelihood, Light is retiring, but i'm gonna toss this out there for consideration:

Could the silence about retirement be a way of getting the team to pony up more $$$ for this season? Maybe there is a bit of a showdown behind the scenes. I know his cap hit is about $6M, but he's only getting about $3.5M in cash on 2012. (forgive me for characterizing it as 'only', but based on market rates for LTs...)

Could Light be asking/expecting the team to extend him, with more guaranteed $$$...?

Light's cap hit is actually 8 Million. Yes, he'd making 3.5 million, but that's because he received a significant signing bonus last year when he signed his 2 year deal. He also has 1.5 million in LTBE. The Pats could convert that to a Roster bonus if they wanted to and Light would be at 5 million for the season. But, again, he got a big signing bonus last year.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Seems to me he would/could have a couple more solid years if he wanted to keep playing. I wonder what his reasoning is for retiring now.

Probably wants to enjoy raising his kids and not risking any further injury that could land him in a situation where his kids might be saddled with caring for him by the time he's 50...

 

[DaBruinz]

I believe it saves $3.5M cap space in 2012...

It actually saves 5 million in cap space. There is the 3.4 million in salary, 100K in roster bonus and 1.5 million in LTBE bonuses.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Matt Light! Thanks for your contributions to the Pats franchise! Light was a very solid player and a key cog on our offensive line over the years. Hopefully Solder and Vollmer are ready to step up to fill the void.

It actually saves 5 million in cap space. There is the 3.4 million in salary, 100K in roster bonus and 1.5 million in LTBE bonuses.

5m more in cap space is significant money freed up for the Pats. The question is who to spend it on?