Future Patriots Team Hall of Famer James White Retires

This news is the absolute Wikipedia definition of “bitter sweet.” Pun not intended, but it stays in the blog since we’re talking about James “Sweet Feet” White. This is without a doubt one of those situations where are you are sorry to see a guy go. Glad to see him go out more or less on his own terms. Sorry that injuries forced him to go out on his own terms. But more than anything grateful that you got to see his entire career happened in New England. More than anything, amazed at the way this middle round draft pick turned himself into one of the most indispensable figures in the second half of the dynasty era.

 I think we all had high hopes for one last victory lap season. It seemed for all the world that he was going to sign with Miami last year after a horrible tragedy struck his family down in Florida. But he resigned in New England. And was arguably the best player they had through the first few weeks until he was carried off the field and what turned out to be his final snap as a football player. This should’ve been that victory tour, but running backs, particularly smaller, pass catching, third-down facts don’t age like other people. Sad. But such is the business he chose. 

Maybe some other time, I will get into the numbers and how critical he was to the system he fit so perfectly into. But for now, I’ll just acknowledge that he was a multiple Super Bowl winner for a reason. And should have been the MVP of Super Bowl LI. That’s not just my opinion. That’s the opinion of the MVP of Super Bowl LI. His performance in that game was one for the ages. And this is one of those cases where it’s not doing them in a disservice to boil his whole career down to just one game. Or just one play.

So for now, don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened. See you in the Patriots Hall in five years.