November 2022 — MHCE Newsletter
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22 | <strong>MHCE</strong> - News www.mhce.us NOVEMBER <strong>2022</strong> EDITION<br />
“We had a number of conversations and I have<br />
a ton of respect for Malcolm and the decision<br />
he made,” Belichick said. “I’m sure he’ll be<br />
a great teammate and a great Marine and I’m<br />
glad he’s defending us and he’s on our side.”<br />
Record-setting career<br />
Former Navy Football Star Malcolm<br />
Perry Retires from the NFL to<br />
Resume Military Career<br />
Perry was a four-year varsity standout at<br />
Navy, making his collegiate debut in the<br />
most sensational of ways. Starter Tago Smith<br />
got injured during the season opener against<br />
Fordham and Perry was literally pulled out of<br />
the stands at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial<br />
Stadium.<br />
After missing three days of practice due to<br />
illness then playing in the junior varsity game<br />
on Friday, Perry did not dress for the opener<br />
and thus sat in full uniform among the Brigade<br />
of Midshipmen.<br />
Malcolm Perry was on the verge of beginning<br />
a third season in the National Football League<br />
when he made a decision that surprised many.<br />
Just days before the start of <strong>2022</strong> training<br />
camp, the New England Patriots wide receiver<br />
announced he was retiring from professional<br />
football with the intent of resuming his<br />
military career as soon as possible.<br />
Perry, a 2020 graduate of the Naval Academy,<br />
had been contemplating the move for some<br />
time and was at peace with the decision.<br />
“I kind of felt my time in the NFL was coming<br />
to an end, just mentally and physically,” Perry<br />
told The Capital Gazette last Friday afternoon<br />
at the Guinness Brewery in Halethorpe.<br />
The Naval Academy and Notre Dame alumni<br />
associations held a joint luncheon to celebrate<br />
the 95th meeting between the two institutions,<br />
which was held Saturday at M&T Bank<br />
Stadium in Baltimore.<br />
A pair of former Navy and Notre Dame players<br />
were the guests of honor at the event. Perry<br />
represented the Midshipmen, while Baltimore<br />
Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley<br />
represented the Fighting Irish.<br />
Perry, who had previously declined media<br />
requests to discuss his sudden retirement,<br />
explained the reasoning behind his decision.<br />
“I still had a burning desire to go serve and<br />
fulfill the commitment I signed up for when<br />
I went to the Naval Academy,” Perry said. “I<br />
kind of came to the conclusion that I was ready<br />
to call it quits and go do something that means<br />
a lot to me, my family and my country.”<br />
Just three days earlier, legendary New<br />
England coach Bill Belichick praised Perry’s<br />
commitment to service while reflecting on the<br />
upcoming Veterans Day. Belichick, who grew<br />
up in Annapolis and has deep ties to the Naval<br />
Academy, did not try to dissuade Perry when<br />
informed he was ready to trade his football<br />
cleats for a pair of combat boots.<br />
When Will Worth took over for the fallen<br />
Smith, Navy was suddenly without a backup<br />
quarterback because third-stringer Zach Abey<br />
was suspended for the game. With Navy<br />
comfortably ahead, Perry came off the bench<br />
and made several nice runs while leading a<br />
90-yard drive that produced a field goal.<br />
So the legend began.