Tom Brady is sacked by Aaron Schobel in the 2009 regular-season opener. (AP)

A few years ago, Tom Brady was so excited when Jason Taylor left Miami for Washington, he and left tackle Matt Light “cracked a beer” when they heard the news.

Taylor did abuse Light and Brady whenever he faced the Patriots — from 2001 until the end of the 2009 season, Taylor has 10 1/2 sacks, most of those at Light’s expense — but when it came to getting after Brady, it was Buffalo’s Aaron Schobel who was without peer. In 16 career games against Brady, Schobel has 12 sacks, more than Taylor Joey Porter or any of the other veteran pass rushers the Patriots have faced over the years. (Don’t believe us? Check out this Facebook group.)

So this news should make Brady and Light go looking for a six-pack: In an interview with The Associated Press earlier this week, the 32-year-old Schobel, who has 78 career sacks (second in Buffalo history to Bruce Smith), sounded like a man ready for retirement.

“I’m leaning toward not playing [this year], but I don’t want to make a decision and then change my mind,” the 6-foot-4, 243-pound defensive end told The Associated Press in a phone interview from his home in Texas on Thursday. “For the Bills, I’d just tell them to go on without me.

“I’ve had a decent career. I know the wins and losses weren’t all that fine, but looking back, I wouldn’t change anything I’ve done.”

Schobel told The Associated Press he has not spoken with the Bills in about two months and added he has no intention of attending the team’s mandatory minicamp, which opens in less than two weeks. Buffalo GM Buddy Nix said the team’s position regarding Schobel has not changed.

“The ball is in his court,” Nix said then. “If he wants to play, we certainly want him back. If he wants to retire, we wish him the best.”

Schobel’s best seasons against the Patriots came when he had four sacks of Brady in 2001 and three each in 2005 and 2006. If he does call it a career, let the record show he remained a terror to the end — in the 2009 regular-season opener against New England, Schobel had a 10-yard sack and an interception.

“He’s killed us,” New England coach Bill Belichick said of Schobel in 2007. “He’s got a lot of things going for him. He’s got a great motor. He works hard on every play. He’s never out of a play. He’s got several good moves. He can get upfield. He’s got a good up-and-under move. He’s got a good spin move. Even though he’s not the biggest guy, he’s got explosive power. He’s hard to block.

“He’s hard for everybody to block,” Belichick added. “His speed is a problem. His quickness and change of direction are a problem. His explosive power is a problem. They move him a lot so you can’t ever count on him being stationary. … He’s tough. He’s killed us.”