Retired Light going from one successful job to next

BY SAM HOLLINGSWORTH

After 11 incredible seasons in New England, All-Pro offensive tackle Matt Light has decided to retire. He will formally announce it at a press conference in Foxborough, Mass., Monday morning at 10:30 a.m.

Light has been nothing short of stellar throughout his career with the Patriots. He's guarded quarterback Tom Brady's blind side since Brady became a starter — a big component in what is guaranteed to be a Hall of Fame career for the QB, which certainly helps Light's case to join him in Canton, Ohio.

With Light's future on the field in doubt since the end of the season, many players and coaches have been asked to describe what playing with or against Light is like. And while it has been tough to draw comments out of big names in New England on Light's situation lately, many have offered great compliments on the five-time Pro Bowler over the years. Brady's words carry obvious weight.

"He has been a staple for this team in a lot of huge wins. He is a very dependable, consistent, tough, disciplined player," Brady told the Maine-based Sun Journal newspaper in the days leading up to this year's Super Bowl. "I think he has a ton of real strong points. That left tackle position is so important to the passing game to protect the backside of the quarterback and there's nobody I'd rather have back there than Matt."

Most players and coaches describe Light's work ethic as not just outstanding, but also contagious.

And the former second-round draft pick out of Purdue is hardly done working his butt off. As discussed in Peter King's "Monday Morning Quarterback" column on the same morning Light would eventually announce his formal exit from the NFL, Light's career as a football player may be over, but his next thing is already thriving.

Patriots' second-year tackle Solder poised to step up

Photo: Beth Hart, Flickr 

BY SAM HOLLINGSWORTH

Despite the departure of now-retired offensive tackle Matt Light, a five-time Pro Bowler, the Patriots are going on as business as usual.

Insert second-year tackle Nate Solder.

Solder, who played in all 19 games in the 2011 season (including postseason), proved himself in more ways than one throughout his rookie year. When starting right tackle Sebastian Vollmer was unable to go, Solder filled in for him — and impressively. He let up only three sacks and four quarterback pressures throughout his first regular season, and he’s gravely committed to improving. And when Vollmer and Light were both healthy, Solder was often used as an eligible tackle/tight end.

The 6-foot-8 Solder is also committed to gaining weight.

“I’d like to get bigger, stronger, maybe taller," Solder told ESPNBoston.com, joking about his height. “I've been trying to gain weight since I was a freshman in college. I can tell you that has been a struggle for me. So, I continue to try to gain weight.”

Currently, Solder weighs in at 310 pounds — 80 more than he was listed at during his redshirt-freshman season at Colorado. And he’s eating five meals a day in hopes to increase that number by another 20 pounds this offseason.

Patriots' longtime left tackle Light officially retires

BY DAN BEGNOCHE

After 11 years, 153 starts, three Pro Bowls and three Super Bowl rings, Patriots’ veteran left tackle Matt Light has officially hung ’em up.

The 33-year-old declined to specify last week on whether or not he would leave the game, but according to ESPN Boston, New England placed the lineman on the reserve/retired list Tuesday, making his retirement official.

A second-round pick out of the 2001 draft, Light played his entire career with the Pats. His departure frees up $5 million worth of cap room for New England and a roster spot on the newly expanded 90-man limit.

Pats' Light reportedly retiring, yet to declare publicly

Photo: Jack Newton, Flickr 

BY NICK ST. DENIS

Patriots offensive tackle Matt Light isn't showing his hand on whether he'll retire, but a source tells ProFootballTalk that Light has already decided to hang up the cleats.

Light, 33, has started on the left end of New England's offensive line for the past decade.

"No, not really. Although my wife has a pretty good idea on what is going to happen with me," Light told reporters Wednesday at a charity event when asked if he has a timetable for his decision, according to ESPN Boston. "She keeps me pretty busy."

New England recently re-signed two of its interior linemen in Dan Connolly and Dan Koppen, not to mention it still has guard Logan Mankins and recently-signed guard Robert Gallery to join tackles Nate Solder and Sebastian Vollmer on a crowded offensive line. Also, Brian Waters is still under contract for a year, though he's on the cusp of retiring, as well.