Patriots agree to terms with Leigh Bodden

Hobbs is a good corner. He's not a ball hawk, but his coverage is pretty solid. He's just got to learn not to dance after every half decent play... it got old a long time ago.

NEGoldenAge said:

Hobbs is a good corner. He's not a ball hawk, but his coverage is pretty solid. He's just got to learn not to dance after every half decent play... it got old a long time ago.

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Now that I will agree with. I much preferred Branch's schtick.

Worcester Telegram & Gazette News

Tough on corner
It was rough day for Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs. He was twice in coverage on long Rams pass plays (a 69-yard touchdown to Donnie Avery in the first quarter and a 44-yarder in the third quarter), injured his shoulder breaking up a long pass to Avery in the fourth quarter and was run down by Rams kicker Josh Brown on a 49-yard kickoff return.

No offense to anyone, but I'm sort of stunned to see Ellis Hobbs being defended so much. Seriously, he's far from a #1 corner and barely at the level of a #2. Teams move up and down the field throwing at him. What's even worse is that he gets thrown at a lot and still barely ever makes a big play. I like having him, because he'd be fine as a #3 corner, but that's about it.

E Belichick Unum said:

A couple from last year and the year before. This has nothing at all about not likeing Ellis, it has everytrhing to do with believeing that the Patriots should have better CB's. Ellis just isn't that good. All the excuses about lack of a pass rush and being left alone is bull. If the Patriots are a SB quality team they will need better DB play. If the #1 shouldn't be a #1 you find a number 1. If there are better DB's to be had replacing the old #1 and #2 with newer better players should be the priority of the team. Ellis Hobbs will thrive as a nickle back this year. He will struggle again if he is lined up against the other team's #1 or #2 reciever.

BostonHerald.com - Blogs: The Point After Blog Archive League official rules Hobbs call correct


From 2007

So much for the NFL owing Ellis Hobbs another one. The league’s VP of officiating, Mike Pereira, said on the NFL Network that Hobbs should have been flagged for the 40-yard penalty on Reggie Wayne Sunday.

“I see it as a cutoff,” Pereira said. “It’s one of the six categories of pass interference and I’ll tell you why. When the contact first occurs between the receiver and defender, has the defender turned around and is he making a legitimate play on the ball? No. He’s not until after this contact occurs. Now he does eventually get his head around, but this is pass interference, because this initial contact with Ellis not playing the ball and Reggie playing the ball makes this pass interference on Ellis Hobbs and the correct call.

“You’ve got to look at the first point of initial contact. If at that point the defender has turend around and is making a play on the ball, that’s a clean play. But if he’s playing the receiver, not the ball, that’s a cutoff. If there’s contact, then (the defender) turns and makes a play on the ball, that’s pass interference, and that’s how I see this play.”

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 8th, 2007 at 5:41 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

Last year against the Chargers a 32 yard PI.
Sporting News Today - October 14, 2008

Defensive Pass Interference (Fewest)
DAL - 4
NE - 3
ATL - 3
CHI - 3
TB - 2
The Bucs have a defensive backfield that knows how to stay clean -- they haven't had a PI call since Week 8. Ellis Hobbs has two of New England's three. Anthony Henry has two of Dallas' four -- there's one from a fellow by the name of Pacman, but he's out of the picture.

Smarter Stats: Penalties for Potential Playoff Teams - The League at washingtonpost.com

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It has everything to do with not liking Ellis. Come on, you're pretending that you have some insight into officials not liking his game and giving him penalties as a result. Here's last season:

Penalty leaders - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com

A look at the Patriots penalized most in 2008:

# OLB Mike Vrabel -- 6
# RT Nick Kaczur -- 5
# LT Matt Light -- 4
# RG Stephen Neal -- 3
# WR Sam Aiken -- 3
# CB Ellis Hobbs -- 3
# LG Logan Mankins -- 3
# ILB Jerod Mayo -- 3
# TE Benjamin Watson -- 3

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3 penalties all season as part of an NFL record fewest accepted penalties...... but you keep on pretending that this is anything but you pulling a Nem about Hobbs.

Ryan said:

No offense to anyone, but I'm sort of stunned to see Ellis Hobbs being defended so much. Seriously, he's far from a #1 corner and barely at the level of a #2. Teams move up and down the field throwing at him. What's even worse is that he gets thrown at a lot and still barely ever makes a big play. I like having him, because he'd be fine as a #3 corner, but that's about it.

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Not according to any stats I've seen. As to getting thrown at a lot, no, not according to the stats.

So much for the NFL owing Ellis Hobbs another one. The league’s VP of officiating, Mike Pereira, said on the NFL Network that Hobbs should have been flagged for the 40-yard penalty on Reggie Wayne Sunday.

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Has Pereira ever come out and said that a call was wrong? I haven't seen him.


That play was clearly a bad call, and even all the colts fans I know agree.

Synovia said:

Not according to any stats I've seen. As to getting thrown at a lot, no, not according to the stats.

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Ok, I guess I'm wrong then.

It certainly seems like he's thrown at and beaten a lot though...

Ryan said:

Ok, I guess I'm wrong then.

It certainly seems like he's thrown at and beaten a lot though...

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That's a corner's job to be thrown at. Every time a WR catches a ball, there's some defender there. They're not all blown plays by the D. The CBs had some bad spots last year, but they shouldn't be blanketly (word?) impugned.

What this all says to me is several things

1. Its highly possible Springs and Bodden could be our starting CB's next season
2. BB will bring be able to being Wheatley and Wilhite on under some experienced guys
3. Hobbs will not be an automatic starter and will play more nickel. He will be KR/PR though
4. Hobbs will go to FA next season with one or both of Wilhite/Wheatley getting towards starting spots. Hopefully Bodden stars and is extended. Remember its 750k now and an uncapped year coming up so he is incentivized to do well and get a longer deal
5. We dont go CB day one in the draft. We go elsewhere (OLB, S and OT/WR)

Its a good deal. Im not a Hobbs hater, he's serviceable but not as good as he thinks he is. I always fear when he gets lined up and isolated versus the best WR's

Deus Irae said:

It has everything to do with not liking Ellis. Come on, you're pretending that you have some insight into officials not liking his game and giving him penalties as a result. Here's last season:

Penalty leaders - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com



3 penalties all season as part of an NFL record fewest accepted penalties...... but you keep on pretending that this is anything but you pulling a Nem about Hobbs.

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Maybe you are right. I have met him a few times and he is kind of an A-hole. But even if I did like him it wouldn't change my opinion of his play. He should not be a starting DB on a Superbowl contender.

E Belichick Unum said:

Maybe you are right. I have met him a few times and he is kind of an A-hole. But even if I did like him it wouldn't change my opinion of his play. He should not be a starting DB on a Superbowl contender.

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18-1.... he started on that team and played at about the same level as Asante Samuel. When you make it personal, you lose all perspective.

Also, for all the crying on this board about the secondary, it was better than Denver's last year, and the Broncos have Champ Bailey. Pass rush makes a world of difference.

JoeShmoe said:

Its a good deal. Im not a Hobbs hater, he's serviceable but not as good as he thinks he is. I always fear when he gets lined up and isolated versus the best WR's

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I will defend Ellis just this once. A DB's job is to be fearless and Ellis really does believe he can cover anybody. I have seen him play BB and he thinks he is the best player on the floor when he plays. I think his height gets him in trouble a lot and he really does get burnt too often, but his attitude is exactly what it should be.

Re: Patriots Agree to Terms with Bodden

NEGoldenAge said:

TY. I feel much better about this signing now. :singing:

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Thought you cousins might all like to see what other posters across the nation say about the Pats and the Bodden signing. We now know he was more than $750 but....
DW Toys

Some GMs are complete idiots

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Today:

Leigh Bodden gets a 1-year, $750,000 deal from the Pats (smart team)

David Bowens gets a 4-year, $7.2 million deal from the Browns (what is this thing people call playoff?)

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The Patriots are the best organization in the NFL when it comes to finding bargains.
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I can't believe all of these NFL general managers didn't bid for Bodden..what a mega steal.
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No way the Pats don't win the East this year...they are simply too good. They have filled a need at corner. 4 draft picks in the first 2 rounds...they are simply going to be dominant.
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I want to know how Colin Cole can get $20 million more than Leigh bodden
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IHow the hell did nobody else bid for Bodden?! Seriously that guy was a very good CB for the Browns before Detroit picked the wrong scheme to play him in. F*** the Pats. ********
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dont have a clue what the Bucs, Titans, Jaguars, Falcons etc. are thinking.
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I wanted Bodden to be a Seahawk.
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One guy on the Jags board mentioned trying to sign Leigh and got shouted down by some of the more opinionated members who thought he was a bum. Pretty stupid to see.
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That's pretty dumb....Bodden's fit in the Tampa 2 was like a square peg in a circle or whatever.
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He is going to make the Pats look like genuises.
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Now, they don't even have to draft a corner, which leaves their needs at: ILB, OLB, S, WR, OL

They really only have 5 needs on their entire team which is really sick and could fill every need by the 2nd round.
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They have a ton of picks, so I expect them to get rid of them whether it is re-rolling for the 2010 draft (like they always do) or trading up for some really good talent that falls in the first round such as a Malcolm Jenkins at safety.
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Yeah I think nnc is spot on...god I hate the Pats. So unfair, they are like that little league baseball team that has the great coaches with the talented sons and they just stack their teams with talent and kick ass.
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Yep it's so unfair that they are competent.

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cant blame him... after playing for the browns and the lions he would probably play for a 5-dollar-footlong per day just to win
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Yeah but regardless give credit where credit is due. No matter how you slice it, getting Bodden for 750k is a great job by everyone involved in this deal for the Pats.

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Probably a strategic move on Bodden's part. He was due to make, what, $6mil or so with the Lions? Maybe the other teams bidding for him were offering 2-3 years at $2 - $3 mil. So, he plays for the Pats for a year, looks like a beast (maybe) and gets to hit the market again in 2010 with a much higher price tag.

IDK, is Bodden that smart? Is his agent?

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Anyway, I'm thinking the Pats still maybe draft a CB, but in the 3rd round or later instead of the second. And I think they still may make a play for an experienced LB (who is NOT named Peppers) with a trade before the draft. It's also possible, IMHO, that they bring Jason Taylor and/or Vonnie Holliday into camp next summer (if they're still available) to see what they've still got (or not).

One piece at a time, they appear to be whittling their draft needs down to O-line, WR (maybe), D-line and Safety.

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i think players view it as a honor to come in and play for a super bowl caliber team and will accept less money do to so. I also think the Patriots are just giving him a one year contract to see how good Bodden will be out on an island guarding Owens when they play the bills this year. If he does well I think they sign him to a multi-year contract. Every decent player coming from a losing ball club wants the chance to play for a team like the patriots. I doubt many FA's view it as a honor to play for Mangini or the browns and therefore they have no choice to fork up more money

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I think I might be sick over this Cleveland offseason.

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Mangini makes people uncomfortable for different reasons, bonehead deciscions

It's official:

3/11/09

Patriots sign DBs Shawn Springs & Leigh Bodden New England Patriots

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots signed veteran defensive backs Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden today. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed.

Shawn Springs, 33, is a veteran of 12 NFL seasons with the Seattle Seahawks (1997-2003) and Washington Redskins (2004-08). The 6-foot, 204-pound cornerback has played in 157 career games with 147 starts and has made 662 tackles (568 solo), 8.5 sacks, 32 interceptions for 421 yards and two touchdowns, 137 passes defensed, five forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries for 85 yards and a touchdown. Springs is one of 17 active players with 30 or more career interceptions and has recorded at least one interception in each of his 12 NFL seasons. Springs was named to the Pro Bowl following the 1998 season. He is the only defensive back in NFL history to lead his team in sacks and interceptions in the same season, achieving the feat with the Redskins in 2004. Last season, he played in nine games with seven starts for the Redskins and had 36 tackles (33 solo), one sack, one interception and eight passes defensed.

The Ohio State product was originally selected by the Seahawks in the first round (third overall) of the 1997 NFL Draft and played in 93 games with 88 starts over seven seasons in Seattle (1997-2003). After starting 10 games as a rookie in 1997, he had a breakout year in 1998 when he started every game and recorded a career-high seven interceptions. He scored three touchdowns in 1998, including two interception returns for touchdowns and a fumble return for a touchdown. He started every game again in 1999 and led the Seahawks with five interceptions. In 2000, he started every game for the third straight season and had a career-high 85 tackles along with a pair of interceptions.

Springs was signed by the Redskins as an unrestricted free agent on March 4, 2004 and played in 64 games with 52 starts over five seasons in Washington (2004-08). In his debut season with the Redskins, Springs led the team in sacks (6) and interceptions (5), becoming the first defensive back in NFL history to achieve the feat. He is one of just five players in league history to do it, joining Junior Seau (San Diego, 1997), Joey Porter (Pittsburgh, 2002), Adalius Thomas (Baltimore, 2005) and Jason Taylor (Miami, 2006). Springs’ six sacks in 2004 led all NFL defensive backs. In 2005, he started all 15 games in which he appeared and recorded 51 tackles and an interception. In 2006, he played in nine games with eight starts and was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury (12/26/06). He played in all 16 games in 2007 and made 14 starts while finishing second on the team with four interceptions and fourth on the club with 72 tackles.

Leigh Bodden, 27, is a veteran of six NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns (2003-07) and Detroit Lions (2008). The 6-foot-1-inch, 193-pound cornerback has played in 75 career games with 53 starts and has recorded 287 tackles (212 solo), 13 interceptions for 132 yards, 56 passes defensed, six forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and 30 special teams tackles. Last season with Detroit, Bodden played in 16 games with 15 starts and tied for fifth on the team with 80 tackles (68 solo). Additionally, he tied for the team lead with three forced fumbles and also tied the club best with two fumble recoveries. Bodden was acquired by the Lions from the Browns on March 1, 2008 along with a 2008 third-round draft pick in exchange for defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. Bodden was released by the Lions on Feb. 9, 2009.

The Hyattsville, Md. native spent the first five years of his career with Cleveland after being signed by the Browns as an undrafted rookie free agent from Duquense on May 2, 2003. In his first two NFL seasons, Bodden appeared in 21 games with two starts, recording a total of 21 tackles, one interception and 29 special teams tackles. In 2005, he earned a spot as a full-time starter, playing in 13 games with 11 starts and had 59 tackles while tying for the team lead with three interceptions and pacing the club with 20 passes defened. He was limited to nine starts in 2006 due to an ankle injury, but still recorded 35 tackles, two interceptions and 11 passes defensed. In 2007, he started every game and led the Browns with a career-high six interceptions and also set a personal best with 92 tackles.

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Leigh Bodden -Scouting Report

Assets -Great cover corner. Tall enough to handle big receivers but can run with smaller one. Turns and cuts well. Knows the game and is solid in zone coverage. Catches the ball well and tackles well.

Flaws -Rarely plays a full season. Always dealing with injuries. Will gamble and lose at times.

Career potential -Excellent starter when healthy.

Re: Patriots Agree to Terms with Bodden

E Belichick Unum said:

One more thing, what's with all the man love for Ellis? Ellis, is that you? God of wrath, how about target of coaches wrath?

I said he could be a good nickleback, that is better than some of the things I called him during the season last year. He is just OK, maybe a little more than OK, but as a #1 or #2 he just sucks.

This forum is to post. And I agree, only a Jets fan would suck up to Ellis like you do.

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up till now, i've been willing to put up with your stupid remarks about Hobbs, BUT DON'T EVER REFER TO ME AS A JETS FAN

I like Hobbs. Yes, he needs to stop dancing around like an idiot, but thats where i stop agreeing with you. You clearly are not watching enough football to know what the hell you're talking about. :banned:

nice signing; now our secondary looks better

Re: Patriots Agree to Terms with Bodden

nashvillepatsfan said:

up till now, i've been willing to put up with your stupid remarks about Hobbs, BUT DON'T EVER REFER TO ME AS A JETS FAN

I like Hobbs. Yes, he needs to stop dancing around like an idiot, but thats where i stop agreeing with you. You clearly are not watching enough football to know what the hell you're talking about. :banned:

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You know what they say about opinions.


I wasn't accusing you of anything

You are wrong about Ellis. Someday he will make a fine nickle back, until that day comes he will forever be a below average starting corner. People here like to make excuses about why he gets toasted as ofetn as he does, but the fact of the matter is the coaches haven't done him any favors, it isn't his fault he can't play the position.The coaches tried to replace him last year and they have made it their mission to replace him this year. His future in the NFL is as a kick returner/nickle back.

Re: Patriots Agree to Terms with Bodden

E Belichick Unum said:

You know what they say about opinions.


I wasn't accusing you of anything

You are wrong about Ellis. Someday he will make a fine nickle back, until that day comes he will forever be a below average starting corner. People here like to make excuses about why he gets toasted as ofetn as he does, but the fact of the matter is the coaches haven't done him any favors, it isn't his fault he can't play the position.The coaches tried to replace him last year and they have made it their mission to replace him this year. His future in the NFL is as a kick returner/nickle back.

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who is it that they tried to replace him with?

and yes, i know you were calling the other guy a jets fan, but i like Hobbs to, so that wouldve made me a **** fan as well.....I simply couldnt let that go