Patriots: Seeing the Light, from both sides

Thursday, August 04, 2011

John Rooke, GoLocalProv Sports Editor

Perhaps the best thing that can be said about Patriots offensive tackle Matt Light, is that he’s consistent.

And when your job is to protect the star quarterback’s blind side, consistent is good. It means you usually keep your job.

Since being drafted by the Patriots out of Purdue in the second round of the 2001 Draft, Light has certainly been consistent, if not outstanding, for much of his time on the field. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, including 2010 when he lined up and started all 16 games, Light entered free agency during the past off season. 33 years old, with 11 seasons in the NFL under his belt, you had to wonder how attractive he might be to other teams on the open market.

Add to the equation the labor dispute that resulted in a lockout of the players, and the fact that Light served as the Patriots’ player representative to the NFLPA…well, let’s just say his return to New England might not have been the highest priority on the off-season shopping list…especially after the Patriots drafted tackle Nate Solder from Colorado in April.

Funny thing about all of that writing on the wall, however. It spelled out not only an eventual return to the Patriots’ sideline, but a two-year contract for Light as well. His veteran presence on that sideline, and in the locker room, was welcomed back. And the feeling is mutual.

“At the end of the day, it's more this organization,” Light said Wednesday night, prior to the teams’ Gillette Stadium practice. “I shared with the Kraft family what it meant for me to be a part of this over the last decade - the caliber of player they bring in, the work ethic, the expectations, everything all wrapped into one, there's a reason we've been successful. There's a reason guys want to play here. I'm just happy to be a part of it for another year or two.”

Light will officially return to the practice field Thursday, as the new league calendar year gets started. And it certainly sounds as if he’s ready to suit up and get it going. “I’m excited. I’m excited for all these guys that are out here, for all the work that both sides did to get this deal done,” Light said, referring to the labor agreement with ownership. “This is a heck of a time. I mean we’ve been sitting around waiting for this moment and for me personally, my family and everybody else, we’re really excited to be back here in New England.

“There’s always doubt unfortunately because it’s a business,” he added. “I think throughout the whole process we were hopeful that this would be the outcome. Like I said, we’re happy to be here.”
And as Light gets ready to return to the field, he’ll do so knowing that eventually, his potential replacement is right around the corner in rookie Nate Solder, who has yet to sign his contract and practice with the team. Light will even be asked to tutor his young protégé, and then someday, step aside. “You know, competition is the name of the game. There’s always going to be guys pushing everybody at every level when you have a coach like Bill (Belichick) and the rest of the staff,” Light explained. “I think it’s a good thing, it drives all of us -- that’s why we’re out here, we’re out here to compete, compete against each other, and compete against the opponent. Drafting a guy to come and fill in for these old bones -- it was inevitable, so hopefully we’ll have some fun teaching him a thing or two out here.”

Training Camp Notes

Light added that he never thought that his role as team player rep might change his job status with the Patriots. “My role from day one as a player rep has always been to help inform my guys as to what’s happening, what they can expect from their union, what their benefits are -- all of those little things that a young guy and even some cases, older guys don’t fully understand. And that’s the extent of it. I don’t get involved with all the politics and all the behind the scenes stuff. My role, and what I think they expect from me, is to be able to look at things and speak on their behalf on certain issues and then go to them when they need help. That’s it. It doesn’t cross any more lines than that.”

The Patriots also officially announced the signing of restricted free agent RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, as well as unrestricted free agent center Chris Morris, veteran free agent OL Jonathan Compas and rookie free agent RB Richard Medlin. Terms of the contracts were not announced. In addition, the Patriots released veteran RB Thomas Clayton and rookie free agent OL Mike Berry from Auburn. Green-Ellis met briefly with the media prior to practice, and should be on the field Thursday. Morris played five seasons with the Oakland Raiders, and last season played with Carolina...

Wednesday night’s practice inside of Gillette Stadium was a ticketed event for season ticket holders, as well as residents of Foxboro. The attendance figure was announced at 18,334, the highest number achieved for the annual pre-season practice in the past five years. The team ran drills in helmets, shells and shorts without any full contact, and worked primarily in the areas of situational (red zone, two-minute drill) football. Perhaps the biggest cheer of the night came as the quarterbacks were competing against each other by throwing the ball from 20 yards away into a barrel placed in the far corner of the end zone. Rookie Ryan Mallett managed to nail two of his throws, with Brian Hoyer hitting one. Tom Brady? Zilch. But he was serenaded with “happy birthday” (he turned 34 Wednesday) by several hundred fans...rookie RB Shane Vereen left practice early after suffering what appeared to be a hamstring injury...

Three NFL officials attended practice to assist in passing and special teams drills, and prior to the start of practice, they explained some of the rules changes for 2011. Of note, players cannot “launch” head first into a defenseless opponent, but a player can launch himself into an opponent as long as he leads with his shoulder, and hits the opposing player on the side or in the shoulder. Hits to the head of a passer by an opponent’s hands, arms or other parts of the body will not be fouls, unless they are ruled “forcible” blows. And any scoring play will automatically be initiated and reviewed by the replay official...

According to several published reports, the Patriots have worked out free agent defensive lineman Raheem Brock, and defensive end/linebacker Matt Roth this week...and if you’re one of those who pays attention to such things, updated Super Bowl odds are out, and bodog.com has the Pats now as 13-2 favorites, with defending champ Green Bay next at 7-1...

Thursday Camp Schedule (tentative)
3:00 PM – 6:30 PM Patriots Experience
4:30 PM – 7:30 PM Practice open to the public
This schedule assumes the new league year begins at 4:00 PM Thursday, If the new CBA is ratified by the players earlier, practice could begin at 1:30 PM. Check http://www.patriots.com for updated information.