LYNCH TO RETIRE

Former Bucs and Broncos safety John Lynch, a nine-time Pro Bowler who likely will someday land in Canton, has advised multiple members of the media (so far, Jay Glazer of FOX and Adam Schefter of NFLN are reporting it) that he’ll officially retire from the NFL on Monday. The announcement will be made in Tampa. [UPDATE: The Buccaneers have announced that a press conference will be held on Monday at 3:00 p.m. EST. Also, Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that the Broncos will send a contingent to Tampa after Sunday’s game at Atlanta; apparently, Lynch intends to retire both as a Buccaneer and as a Bronco.] Lynch, who played baseball and football at Stanford and quarterback in high school, left the Broncos during training camp, in what was sold as a mutual parting of the ways. (It’s still unclear whether Lynch wanted out, or whether he sensed that the team wanted to move on.) He landed with the Patriots, but was cut at the end of training camp. Despite speculation that the Pats would re-sign him, they never did. In all, Lynch spent 11 years with Tampa and four with the Broncos. He won one Super Bowl title with the Bucs, in 2002. Though other players have retired and then unretired, we have a feeling that Lynch means it. Unless the Lions are looking for any more quarterbacks . . . .