So few athletes get to walk out on their own terms, and that's why offensive lineman Matt Light decided to call it a career after 11 memorable seasons with the New England Patriots at a press conference at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts on Monday morning.

"Also health reasons, just wanting to leave this game upright and feeling good. To be quite honest with you, I really had this sense of being grateful for the experience. I remember 2011, this past season there was a different mindset, maybe that's why I enjoyed some success out there. I really just felt like I am blessed to be a part of this. It made this season so memorable, so fun, for me, when I finally closed this chapter, I am truly grateful. Especially this young talent, I saw how talented they were and how they were in good hands. With (offensive line coach) Dante (Scarnecchia) in the room, there's going to be high expectations." (via WEEI)

Light also cited his family as one of the main reasons he is deciding to hang 'em up.

"I've got a daughter that's 10, I've got two boys who are knuckleheads and they need a lot of guidance a lot more time," said Light. "I think that one of things that was ever apparent over the last couple seasons, it takes a lot longer to recover the older you get. Really during that six, seven, eight months of that football season, it really becomes very difficult to give much outside of a 'hi' or 'Good night' or 'Good morning.' That's always been really important." (via WEEI)

Light finished his career as a four-time Pro Bowler and a three-time Super Bowl champ.

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