Pats release Leigh Bodden

PATSYLICIOUS said:

See this is the annoying part. Next year will mostl ikely mark the 6th year in a row we've spent at least 1 1st or 2nd rounder on a DB, and our secondary is still far from set, if anything it might be a weakness right now. That's inexcusable. At least start trying to draft something else when it's pretty clear you aren't hitting with the DB's. BB has drafted exactly 1 above average DB in his 12 drafts here, 2 if McCourty regains his 2010 playing level. That's out of maybe 20+ picks spent on DB's. And as I said earlier, alot were 1st/2nd rounders.

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PatsWickedPissah said:

I for one would like to thank and remember Bodden for his Pats career game when I was at Gillette in 2009 against The Sanchize where he made 3 picks destroying the Jets.

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RJB87 said:

The difference between Bill Belichick and 99% of this forum is that this forum falls in love with names, Belichick falls in love with talent.

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Patriot Missile said:

Still trying to figure out what factors went into the decision to release Bodden. Possible factors and thoughts.

1. He wasn't producing for what the Patriots were paying him. Such as not the same player after the injury and BB feels ok with Molden as well as he feels Dowling will be returning soon.

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Deus Irae said:

I checked the stats from Pro-Football-Reference.com, and used their data. They're usually excellent on this. Someone posted links to NFL.com refuting some of that data, and I'll take the NFL.com data as correct. It changes my point a bit on a per-player basis, but it doesn't really matter overall.

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Catching up with former Pats
October, 25, 2011

Part 7 of a weekly series catching up with players who were with the Patriots in 2011 training camp and are now with other clubs, with safety Brandon Meriweather not seeing the field for the second week in a row:

Catching up with former Pats - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

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plk said:

Mike Reiss provides information on this weekly.

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PATSYLICIOUS said:

See this is the annoying part. Next year will mostl ikely mark the 6th year in a row we've spent at least 1 1st or 2nd rounder on a DB, and our secondary is still far from set, if anything it might be a weakness right now. That's inexcusable. At least start trying to draft something else when it's pretty clear you aren't hitting with the DB's. BB has drafted exactly 1 above average DB in his 12 drafts here, 2 if McCourty regains his 2010 playing level. That's out of maybe 20+ picks spent on DB's. And as I said earlier, alot were 1st/2nd rounders.

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Patriot Missile said:

Still trying to figure out what factors went into the decision to release Bodden. Possible factors and thoughts.

1. He wasn't producing for what the Patriots were paying him. Such as not the same player after the injury and BB feels ok with Molden as well as he feels Dowling will be returning soon.

2. Something among the lines of poor attitude, not practicing hard, disturbance in the locker room?

3. They see somebody on the waiver wire that will fit right in.

4. Making room for the pup's coming back. See above 3.

5. Can't see this as a money saving move as there really isn't a whole lot to be saved. See 1.

6.

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patfanken said:

based on the reports of his slippage in play, his reluctance to play the slot corner, his cap number. and the need to create roster spots for people coming off of PUP, this cut is surprising but makes a lot of sense as well.....EXCEPT for the timing. Why now. Especially given the news that Dowling isn't going to play. Why didn't they wait until AFTER the Steeler game to let him go?

The only thing I can think of was that he wasn't completely healthy. IIRC didn't Bedard mention that when he saw him in the locker room he wasn't w halking well? If he isn't hurt than cutting him at THIS moment makes no sense

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PATSYLICIOUS said:

That's out of maybe 20+ picks spent on DB's. And as I said earlier, alot were 1st/2nd rounders.

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Gumby said:

First chance I have had to post on this thread; couldnt when news broke and man it takes forever to read a 15 page thread. So a lot of ground has been covered - without searching out the posts I found silly/objectionable/illogical etc. I'll just randomly answer them here:

1. HOW COME NOBODY SAID THANKYOU???????
Leigh Bodden may have had some injury problems that derailed his time here; but when he came here he did good and filled a big hole. (and to those who said different - Bob Kraft and a $22M extension say hello. If he wasn't good he wouldn't have seen the money) SO; we should all express a few words of thanks to him for his Patriot time. It doesnt seem like this is an acrimonious split (no he-said/she-said to the press); so lets be gentlemanly.

2a. ALL these complaints on the guys cut now starting for other teams. Been mostly covered - I think the biggest part of it is being used differently in a different system. particularly I think BBs system calls for DBs to be a lot less free-lance and more regimented to stick to their responsibilities than many other coordinators. That led to Asante's demise here and could be w/ Bodden.

2b. But no one mentioned one other factor: Some of these guys could have had their COMPLACENCY SHOCKED OUT OF THEM BY THE CUT. Maybe they weren't working as hard here as they should; and when they went to their new team they started putting in the effort they should have w/ the Pats.

3. ok I will cover some old ground - the PUP OR IR CHOICE is a HUGE DRIVING FACTOR. Faulk and Deadrick etc could be HUGE additions to the team on Sunday. A disaffected, non-ST playing #5 DB (former #2) how has some nicks and dings is possibly not gonna help you that much more than a couple of 4th round thru-UFA, 8-year younger guys who have taken coaching more readily. Whereas adding the clutch playmaker or the guy who is going to get your DL rested and able to continue pressuring rapistberger is a definitive addition to the team.

4. one last point - the hole issue of slot/#3 CB seems to be the big elephant in the room. BB has showed the league the benefits of TEs to break down defenses and most of the league is trying to copy -it seems there is a lot more teams who key on TE receiving play now. Welker is showing them what a quick-cutting slot guy can do. Some are going to copy that too (or already have) and that requires a CB w/ less straight speed (outside DBs) and more cutting short burst speed. MAYBE THESE YOUNGER GUYS HAVE THOSE SKILLS?

5. Remmber when Meriweather bit the dust and then quietly a week later the Boston police report the arrest of someone for RAPE at Merri's house. Pats didn't bad mouth him when they let him go; but I guarantee that had a WHOLE BUNCH to do with it. So they may not say anything bad about Bodden right now either; but stay tuned - I would totally NOT BE SURPRISED to hear in two to three weeks about some issue that could result in league disciplinary action at worst or just makes the franchise look bad.

BOTTOM LINE: Sign me up as koolaid slurping member of the IN BB WE TRUST club. He has seen the practices, knows the guys and how he wants to use them. Obviously he thinks the drop off is not as much as to be gained from getting other guys on the roster. WE SHALL SEE.

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plk said:

Mike Reiss provides information on this weekly.

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AndyJohnson said:

I have to believe its an attitude/effort issue guessing that it revolves around complaining about playing time. If that is the case why would you want him here for the next game?

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fair catch fryar said:

I am just as surprised by this move as anyone. I actually like Bodden and had high expectations, but something that a lot of people tend to overlook on this defense compared to the pre-2005 defense was the leaders. From Bruschi to Harrison, I think what they brought as far as creating a nucleus and forcing players to play better because it was about the team has not been replaced and really shows how important that chemistry is. I think the LB group minus Vrabel and Bruschi is a shell of it's former self and the same can be said for the secondary minus Harrison's toughness, smarts, and leadership. He made guys like Poole and Wilson play much better. This could be what BB is looking for and is hoping that Chung and/or McCourty will step up or some other unknown that can make up in leadership what they don't possess in physical tools. IDK, I may be reaching, but it's another perspective to consider. If there's one thing this defense lacks is mental toughness and sometimes that's all it takes.

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fair catch fryar said:

I am just as surprised by this move as anyone. I actually like Bodden and had high expectations, but something that a lot of people tend to overlook on this defense compared to the pre-2005 defense was the leaders. From Bruschi to Harrison, I think what they brought as far as creating a nucleus and forcing players to play better because it was about the team has not been replaced and really shows how important that chemistry is. I think the LB group minus Vrabel and Bruschi is a shell of it's former self and the same can be said for the secondary minus Harrison's toughness, smarts, and leadership. He made guys like Poole and Wilson play much better. This could be what BB is looking for and is hoping that Chung and/or McCourty will step up or some other unknown that can make up in leadership what they don't possess in physical tools. IDK, I may be reaching, but it's another perspective to consider. If there's one thing this defense lacks is mental toughness and sometimes that's all it takes.

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