Matt Light didn't come to the New England Patriots in 2001 to replace
a legend, much less become one. That's just how it worked out.
His predecessor at left tackle, Bruce Armstrong, started 152 games and played in a club-record 212, along with six Pro Bowls from 1987-2000. Light has started 153 of his 155 games. Only two active Patriots have played more: quarterback Tom Brady and running back Kevin Faulk, 161 each.
So when the Patriots spent the 17th pick of the 2011 draft on 6-8, 319-pound Nate Solder and it appeared the team might have its left tackle of the future and Light might be its left tackle of the past, people noticed.
When the team re-signed Light, 33, in late July to a two-year deal that reportedly guarantees him $7 million but could be worth $12 million, there was relief. Brady expressed it.
"Matt's one of my favorite players that I've ever played with," he said. "He's a great guy, great for this team, great in the community. I just can't say enough about Matt."
Fact is, Light's reliability, three Pro Bowl appearances, Patriots co-captaincies and considerable personal qualities aside, left tackle is a primary football building block. In the hierarchy of NFL salaries, quarterbacks come first, then the defensive ends and outside linebackers who rush them, then the left tackles who protect their blind side from those ends and linebackers.
Light has had Brady's back all of the quarterback's 11 NFL seasons as starter, and come next Sunday, in five Super Bowls. Light prepped for that duty by covering Drew Brees' backside at Purdue from 1998-2000, a run that included the Boilermakers' lone Rose Bowl appearance of the past 44 years.
"Pretty wild," Light assented. "It's been a hell of a run."
Coach Bill Belichick isn't the effusive sort, but he agreed.
"Matt's had a terrific career. He's been a rock for us there," Belichick said, "both physically and mentally as far as assignments and his mental toughness and his consistency. It's almost to the point where, I don't want to say you take it for granted, but when you don't have a lot of problems, you kind of just assume that it's solid."
Among the ends and outside linebackers Light has faced this season are Indianapolis' Dwight Freeney, Philadelphia's Trent Cole, Kansas City's Tamba Hali, San Diego's Antwan Barnes, Washington's Brian Orakpo, Dallas' DeMarcus Ware, Denver's Von Miller, Baltimore's Terrell Suggs and the New York Giants' Jason Pierre-Paul, whom Light will see again in the Super Bowl.
The Giants, in fact, throw ends and outside linebackers at offensive lines in combinations of four and five. It's a matchup that could decide Super Bowl XLVI.
"That's the heart and soul of that defense and you see how they play the game and the impact they have," said Light, a leader on a line that in two playoff games yielded a single sack to the Denver and Baltimore pass rushers. "They can get it done rushing four. They can get it done rushing three in some cases. We've got a lot of film study to do, a lot of practice."
Fact is, Light was more eager to talk about a charitable initiative than the big game. His Light Foundation encourages youth development and features a 400-acre camp named Chenoweth Trails in his hometown, Greenville, Ohio, 24 miles northeast of Richmond, Ind., a 90-minute drive from Indianapolis.
Light hopes to use the Super Bowl to raise $250,000 to enhance the foundation's reach.
"We're giving away two Super Bowl tickets, hotel and airfare, plus some memorabilia and a meet-and-greet," he said. "It's cheap and easy and all the people around Indianapolis will love it. It's $2 a ticket, a minimum order of five, so it's $10. If you want that shot, go to lightraffle.org."
His predecessor at left tackle, Bruce Armstrong, started 152 games and played in a club-record 212, along with six Pro Bowls from 1987-2000. Light has started 153 of his 155 games. Only two active Patriots have played more: quarterback Tom Brady and running back Kevin Faulk, 161 each.
So when the Patriots spent the 17th pick of the 2011 draft on 6-8, 319-pound Nate Solder and it appeared the team might have its left tackle of the future and Light might be its left tackle of the past, people noticed.
When the team re-signed Light, 33, in late July to a two-year deal that reportedly guarantees him $7 million but could be worth $12 million, there was relief. Brady expressed it.
"Matt's one of my favorite players that I've ever played with," he said. "He's a great guy, great for this team, great in the community. I just can't say enough about Matt."
Fact is, Light's reliability, three Pro Bowl appearances, Patriots co-captaincies and considerable personal qualities aside, left tackle is a primary football building block. In the hierarchy of NFL salaries, quarterbacks come first, then the defensive ends and outside linebackers who rush them, then the left tackles who protect their blind side from those ends and linebackers.
Light has had Brady's back all of the quarterback's 11 NFL seasons as starter, and come next Sunday, in five Super Bowls. Light prepped for that duty by covering Drew Brees' backside at Purdue from 1998-2000, a run that included the Boilermakers' lone Rose Bowl appearance of the past 44 years.
"Pretty wild," Light assented. "It's been a hell of a run."
Coach Bill Belichick isn't the effusive sort, but he agreed.
"Matt's had a terrific career. He's been a rock for us there," Belichick said, "both physically and mentally as far as assignments and his mental toughness and his consistency. It's almost to the point where, I don't want to say you take it for granted, but when you don't have a lot of problems, you kind of just assume that it's solid."
Among the ends and outside linebackers Light has faced this season are Indianapolis' Dwight Freeney, Philadelphia's Trent Cole, Kansas City's Tamba Hali, San Diego's Antwan Barnes, Washington's Brian Orakpo, Dallas' DeMarcus Ware, Denver's Von Miller, Baltimore's Terrell Suggs and the New York Giants' Jason Pierre-Paul, whom Light will see again in the Super Bowl.
The Giants, in fact, throw ends and outside linebackers at offensive lines in combinations of four and five. It's a matchup that could decide Super Bowl XLVI.
"That's the heart and soul of that defense and you see how they play the game and the impact they have," said Light, a leader on a line that in two playoff games yielded a single sack to the Denver and Baltimore pass rushers. "They can get it done rushing four. They can get it done rushing three in some cases. We've got a lot of film study to do, a lot of practice."
Fact is, Light was more eager to talk about a charitable initiative than the big game. His Light Foundation encourages youth development and features a 400-acre camp named Chenoweth Trails in his hometown, Greenville, Ohio, 24 miles northeast of Richmond, Ind., a 90-minute drive from Indianapolis.
Light hopes to use the Super Bowl to raise $250,000 to enhance the foundation's reach.
"We're giving away two Super Bowl tickets, hotel and airfare, plus some memorabilia and a meet-and-greet," he said. "It's cheap and easy and all the people around Indianapolis will love it. It's $2 a ticket, a minimum order of five, so it's $10. If you want that shot, go to lightraffle.org."
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