By now, we’ve read all about how this is a wonderful deal for the Patriots. They traded a guy – Richard Seymour – who appears to be entering the downside of what has been, thus far, a great career.He has been an anchor on a defensive line that has won three Super Bowls in the 2000s. He’s played hurt lots of times (and probably very often to his detriment). He has been judged good enough at what he does to have been selected to multiple Pro Bowls.Seymour might not have been as gregarious as Tedy Bruschi. He might not have been as quick with the bon mots as Tom Brady, or Rodney Harrison, or some of the other Patriot locker room standard-bearers. But Seymour has always been a stand-up guy who took responsibility for his mistakes ? as infrequently as they might have occurred.He had his moments. He held out for a new contract after the 2004-2005 season ? something that obviously never sits well with the brass, no matter what organization you’re talking about.He also had that unfortunate incident a few years back when it took him too long (in the eyes of his coach) to come back from his grandmother’s funeral. So in that sense, there’s been friction between Seymour and Bill Belichick.One supposes that, from a business perspective, this trade makes sense. By getting themselves a 2011 draft pick, the Patriots have the luxury of working – they hope – under a new collective bargaining agreement that reins in some of these exorbitant rookie salaries. Also, it was a safe bet either Seymour or Wilfork would have walked after this season, and it’s obvious – now – that the Patriots would rather see their wide-body nose tackle stay rather than deal with a player who might be a year away from having seen his better days.So it all adds up.Except from a human being standpoint, this is about as bloodless as it gets. This makes you realize that for all Belichick’s choked-up emotion about Bruschi, he’s still a cold, calculating coach who thinks in terms of bottom line and productivity first ? and everything else second.And that’s fine. Hyman Roth had a line in Godfather II that should be written on every wall of every franchise, firm, car dealership, newspaper ? sanitation company ? anywhere: This is the business we’ve chosen.Hyman Roth and Michael Corleone would have understood. This was strictly business. It wasn’t personal. There’s no room for emotions in pro football because it has nothing to do with business.Seymour chose pro football, and he had to go into it with his eyes open. He even supposedly hinted to his linemates that his time may be coming. The NFL Players’ Association upped the ante so much by demanding more and more money that it helped create this situation, so nobody should be surprised that it’s come to pass.Still, having said all that, it’s a rather bloodless, dispassionate way of saying farewell to someone who has done an awful lot for you. The Patriots practically threw a party for Bruschi ? yet they quietly usher Seymour out the back door with a prepared statement? That doesn’t seem quite right.Perhaps all those who speculate that Bruschi was given a choice to either retire or be cut are correct. And perhaps Bruschi, who has very obviously seen better days as a pro, went along because he knew – in his heart – the Patriots were right in their assessment of him.But even if you look at this whole thing as “simply business,” it’s a stark reminder of what a cold business it really is.Steve Krause is sports editor of The Item.