Leigh Bodden Has Surgery

by Richard Hill on Nov 10, 2011 7:03 PM EST in New England Patriots News

Mystery solved, gang. Last week, Patriots cornerback Leigh Bodden was released to much confusion. Quickly, reports surfaced that he had expressed his unhappiness with his decreased role on the Patriots defense. After Bodden missed last season due to injury, The Patriots started the season with rookie Ras-I Dowling playing across from sophomore Devin McCourty, and with Leigh Bodden as the #3 cornerback. However, when Dowling went down with an injury, Bodden never ascended to the #2 spot as Kyle Arrington leapfrogged into the starting line-up. Bodden's agent has a reason:

Leigh Bodden had successful surgery this morning to correct a herniated disk in his lower back that he injured week 1 against the Dolphins

Bodden had been hampered by an injury all season and was unable to play to his fullest potential. When the Patriots released him, there were large question marks as to why he was not claimed off of waivers. This injury is clearly the reason. The Patriots must have been unhappy with his attitude and realizing that Bodden was injured for the full season, instead of IRing Bodden for a second season, they determined that the release of the cornerback was the best route for the team to take.

So that's some basic relief- Bodden wouldn't have been much help for the rest of the season due to his injury. It's just unfortunate that it had to happen at the same time that Dowling was placed on the IR. Hopefully Bodden will have a speedy recovery, but at least now more light has been placed upon the situation. Bodden was unhappy, injured, and the Patriots did not think it was worth their time to have Bodden on the IR for two seasons so, if and when he returned, he would have not played football for two seasons.

Makes sense.

Tweet Comment 18 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

so what is the difference between releasing him and IRing him?

Don’t they pay him either way?

by furiousd on Nov 10, 2011 7:21 PM EST reply actions

They aren't on the hook for as much (I would imagine) of his future salaries.

Best to just cut the chord sometimes and move on.

by wildcat61 on Nov 10, 2011 7:52 PM EST up reply actions

He cleared waiver though..

..He still gets payed by the Pats I believe, for this year. If the Pats IR him he is still on his 4 year deal, or whatever it is. So basically the Pats cut his contract short.

How this is legal I have no idea. But I guess this way if the Pats want him back they can sign him to a lesser contract.

"There is an old saying about the strength of the wolf is the pack, and I think there is a lot of truth to that. On a football team, it's not the strength of the individual players, but it is the strength of the unit and how they all function together." - Bill Belichick

by JDot on Nov 10, 2011 10:22 PM EST up reply actions

If they IR him they continue to be on the hook for his salary next year/roster bonus etc

Either that or he’d be able to demand a larger “injury settlement”
Weather or not the front office knew about his injury is different story, either way he gets his remaining salary for this season plus they will have to negotiate an injury settlement if he is unable to recover from a disectomy and con tinue playing football when he’s 31-32yo

GFY

by TFBismywingman on Nov 11, 2011 8:19 AM EST up reply actions

I don’t think so. They can IR him then cut him before next season and be on hook for virtually nothing.

They still pay him this year if he is not claimed. No savings. Even injured, Bodden played slot well enough.

Bodden was definitely going to be cut irregardless of his injury by next season due to high salary anyway.

Lots of players play injured. If he could still play injured then IRing him was a bad decision.

Maybe medical staff made decision and not BB. If it was decided by medical people he needed surgery then BB releasing him makes sense given the high cost of the salary and better for Bodden also.

by prioris on Nov 11, 2011 4:51 PM EST up reply actions

If you are going to release him anyway...

then why would you IR him? At least by releasing him you enter in the possibility he will be claimed on waivers and the team would then save some money.

by Oughat on Nov 12, 2011 3:33 AM EST up reply actions

Although Bodden is clearly a better player, I've got to say I've been impressed with Adams.

In his two games in the “spotlight,” I think he’s done fairly well. This week will be a test against the Jets, as Kerley has been playing well, but so far I’ve seen an eager guy who has played physical defense and never leaves a guy open. Sometimes he gets caught and doesn’t tackle well, but overall I’m actually pretty fine with Adams out there. For all the negativity out there about our defense, I’m pretty fine/happy with it as long as Chung and Spikes are healthy. Of course, having Bodden and (more so) Dowling would’ve been nice, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised.

by wildcat61 on Nov 10, 2011 7:54 PM EST reply actions

Bodden and his Agent are liars

basically they both said he was healthy to play. Score a point for BB. Hayensworth, this is all I gotta say, two gap, three gap, four gap pr whatever gap in ascending order. Your 6’5" and 400lbs F***********ck u for even getting pushed back once. happy time ine Tampa you c**nt!

by richardlight86 on Nov 10, 2011 8:27 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

So it all makes sense now.

Proud supporter of a New York baseball team and a Boston football team. Yeah, deal with it!
"We don’t listen to the hype. I don’t think we ever have. We really take after our coach and he says ‘When you win, say little. When you lose, say less.'"--Tom Brady
The 2011 New York Mets: I don't know what to describe them as...
Staunch Parishioner Of The First United Church of R.A. Dickey

by R_Adragna on Nov 10, 2011 9:31 PM EST reply actions

That really sucks..

..Man, injuries are killing us this year..

by JDot on Nov 10, 2011 10:19 PM EST reply actions

Giants got it worse I think

And the home of the .... JETS!!!
Now lets get a G-D snack!!!
"You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f**k it, I don't care what you think."-Roy McDonald

by Noble_Lance on Nov 10, 2011 11:50 PM EST up reply actions

Hoodie deserves an apology...

C’mon now, all the people who trashed BB for cutting Bodden speak up. You know who you are.

It's your thing, do what you wanna do, I can't tell you, who to sock it to. The Isley Brothers

by sweetjesusihatethejets on Nov 11, 2011 8:22 AM EST reply actions

and what's up with his agent?

Tweeting that Bodden was 100% healthy, after his release from the Patriots. A bit of a scam if you ask me.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Nov 11, 2011 11:06 AM EST up reply actions

Leigh Bodden is 100% healthy after his release from the Patriots*.

- That is except for a herniated disc in his lower back lights his feet on fire every time he walks.

Just got to read the fine print.

The more you know, the more you know that you don't know.
Some people can learn from the mistakes of others, while some people need to pee on the electric fence themselves.
Belichick is looking for a new name for his boat: VI Rings sounds pretty good.

by SlotMachinePlayer on Nov 11, 2011 2:08 PM EST up reply actions