National Football League

Patriots OL Stephen Neal retires

Published Mar. 2, 2011 7:54 p.m. ET

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New England Patriots offensive lineman Stephen Neal, who wrestled in college but didn't play football, is retiring after a 10-year NFL career.

A two-time NCAA wrestling champion at Cal State-Bakersfield, Neal won the Dan Hodge Award that is known as the Heisman Trophy of collegiate wrestling.

He signed with the Patriots as a rookie free agent in 2001 and, after being released, re-signed and injured, finally broke into the starting lineup for good in 2004 when the Patriots won the Super Bowl for the third time in four years.

In 2011, Neal started the first eight games of the season before being placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

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