News has come out that this will be Willie McGinest's last season.  He was with us for our three super bowl wins, and he was a great player.  I'll never forget when he stuffed Indy on 4th and goal at the 1.  Unless we come up against them, I'll be routing for the Browns this year in his honor.

Here is a list of his Patriot highlights:

Career GP/GS: 171/146 (18/16):

McGinest begins the 2005 season ranked fourth among the Patriots all-time sack leaders with 72.0 career sacks. He needs one more sack to pass Tony McGee (72.5) for third place on the Patriots all-time sack list.

McGinest's 72.0 career sacks rank second among all active NFL linebackers entering the 2005 season. He trails only new teammate Chad Brown's mark of 78.0 career sacks.

McGinest led the team and finished tied for seventh in the AFC with 9.5 sacks in 2004. His 9.5 sacks last season were his most since 1996 when he registered the same amount.

McGinest has recorded 11.5 career postseason sacks, ranking him third on the NFL's career postseason sacks list, behind only Bruce Smith (14.5) and Reggie White (12.0).

McGinest has played in 155 games during his 11- year career with New England, ranking second in games played among active Patriots players (Troy Brown, 162).

McGinest was named to his second Pro Bowl following the 2003 season after recording 79 tackles (58 solo), his highest tackle total since 1999.

McGinest set a Patriots record and led the NFL with 5.0 sacks in the 2003 postseason. His total included 3.0 sacks in the divisional playoff against Tennessee (01/10), where he set a Patriots record and tied for the third-most sacks in a playoff game in NFL history. ? McGinest earned the NFL's Levitra Play of the Week honors by providing one of the most memorable plays of the Patriots' 2003 season when he stuffed Indianapolis' Edgerrin James on the goal line with 11 seconds remaining to preserve New England's 38-34 win over the Colts (11/30).

McGinest finished tied for the Patriots lead with 5.5 sacks in 2002 along with Richard Seymour. It marks the fifth time in his career that he either led the team or was tied for the team lead in sacks.

McGinest led the team in sacks in 1995 (11), 1996 (9.5), 1999 (9), 2000 (6) and 2004 (9.5). His 11 sacks in 1995 were the most by a Patriot since Andre Tippett's 12.5 sacks in 1987.

McGinest earned back-to-back Miller Lite Player of the Game honors following his two-sack performances against Denver (10/28/01) and Atlanta (11/4/01). He became the first Patriot to record multiple sacks in consecutive weeks since Chris Slade accomplished the feat on 09/12/93 and 09/19/93. He has recorded multiple sacks in 17 games during his career (including playoffs), including three games in 2003.

McGinest led the Patriots with two sacks during the 2001 postseason, including a 16-yard sack of Kurt Warner in Super Bowl XXXVI.

The Patriots have qualified for the playoffs in seven of McGinest's 11 NFL seasons. He has played in a team-record 16 postseason games with New England, including 14 starts and has totaled 72 tackles (51 solos), including 11.5 sacks for 78 yards.

McGinest was voted defensive co-captain for the 2000 season by his teammates.

Earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors in the 1999 season opener at the N.Y. Jets (09/12/99) when he was credited with two sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He recovered the fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in a 30-28 victory over the Jets.

He was voted to his first Pro Bowl in 1996, after his first season playing defensive end.

In 1996, he earned AFC Defensive Player of the Month for his performances during the month of October when he combined for 21 tackles, including four sacks, one interception and three passes defensed to help the Patriots complete a 3-1 record during the month.

Earned AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance vs. Buffalo (10/27/96) when he posted seven tackles (5 solo), including a sack, had two passes defensed and returned his first career interception 46 yards for a touchdown.

Closed out the 1995 season in Pro Bowl form, recording 15 solo tackles and five sacks in the final three games of the season, including multiple-sack performances vs. the Jets (12/10/95) and at Indianapolis (12/23/95).