The clock killer has retired.

Dillon is one of my favorites of all-time for a variety of reasons, a Hall of Fame candidate (I doubt he'll get in), a fierce runner, and a man proud enough to photocopy pages of his career accomplishments from the media guide to pass out to reporters. I'm not surprised he's not a Patriot in 2007, but I am surprised he's hanging 'em up. Good for him.

The Patriots would not have won the Super Bowl without him in 2004, a season he was overworked enough to hasten the end of his career.

‘‘I can go to sleep and wake up knowing I was a baller,’’ Dillon said.