By Chad Finn, Boston.com Staff

I probably should have had my thoughts in order for this since it was the worst-kept secret in Foxborough this offseason, but Matt Light's hilarious and introspective retirement announcement Monday left me with some mixed feelings.

It would be weirdly selfish, particularly in light of recent events, to suggest a player should not walk away from the game on his own volition just because it's apparent that he can still play. Light is going to do extraordinarily well after football -- the NFL Network and ESPN should be wooing him right now, because he is articulate and witty and would be a star analyst immediately -- and he's one of the lucky ones in that he departs on his own terms and right of mind.

But from a less significant standpoint -- the football-related one -- his retirement is the first real blow to the Patriots in an offseason that has delivered almost entirely positive personnel news, from the drafting of Chandler Jones and Dont'a Hightower to the savvy signing of Jabar Gaffney and several other quality depth pieces.