Bodden has season-ending back surgery

[Mike the Brit]

Well, there you go. Seems BB knew a bit more about the situation than everyone here. Shocking, I know.

Could someone explain, please, why in that case he wasn't put on injured reserve?

 

[NEP4Life]

I assume given Bodden's age, his absence all of last season due to injury, and the significance of this season's injury, that BB decided Bodden was all but done and decided to part company.

 

[Mountain_Commando]

What it doesn't explain is if the team knew Bodden's injury was going to end his season prematurely BEFORE the trade deadline, then why didn't the team go all out trying desperately for a trade partner to find an adequate veteran replacement knowing we were going to have pieces of trash like Brown,Molden,Barrett as vital parts of an already porous secondary?

Wouldn't a prospective trading partner perform exhaustive physical exams which would have uncovered his back problem?

Dowling was considered solid before going on IR.

 

[Tunescribe]

No impending surgery for Sanders, Page?

No, but not many tackles, interceptions or defended passes, either.

Could someone explain, please, why in that case he wasn't put on injured reserve?

Because he had an attitude problem. He didn't want to defend the slot. This was reported a while ago.

 

[JMarr]

Really sorry to hear this. Was he a distraction, or was that media spin in the vacuum of actual information to report on?

This news makes the supposed attitude issue less likely, although we'll probably never know.

There was never any evidence whatsoever that Bodden was a distraction or lockerroom cancer--only theories on the part of some posters and mediots regarding excessive tweeting, mailing it in after getting paid, etc., and my personal favorite: that Butler's failure to develop was somehow due to Bodden's influence )

In spite of his injury history, I still think it was a great signing on BB's part after what Bodden showed in 2009. Our secondary might be a completely different beast right now had he been able to get back to full strength.

 

[goheels22002]

Bodden was a vested veteran so his salary was guaranteed in week 1. Once your guaranteed money is gone (his was $10M) makes no difference whether you're healthy or not, a team can release you any time. They are on the hook for nothing more going forward beyond the balance of his signing bonus amortization against the cap ($3M dead cap hit in 2012, money he was already paid) because his signing bonus was $6M... They will save $8M in total salary against their 2012-2013 caps. Bodden has a history. He plays in contract seasons. Maybe we can sign him to another prove it deal in 2012... Only a fool would sign him to anything else...

Would this have been different, i.e., would the Patriots owe Bodden any money of they simply put him on IR and waited until after his physical therapy to see if they should have him in camp in 2012?

 

[RayClay]

My question is how was this information kept secret so well

A new fan...:welcome:

 

[RayClay]

What it doesn't explain is if the team knew Bodden's injury was going to end his season prematurely BEFORE the trade deadline, then why didn't the team go all out trying desperately for a trade partner to find an adequate veteran replacement knowing we were going to have pieces of trash like Brown,Molden,Barrett as vital parts of an already porous secondary?

We have enough draft picks in the next year or two to have made SOME team give up a decent player,who may not be a star but a solid addition,but we didn't.

I can see Belichick panicking and acting desperately, in an alternate universe. What team is going to trade a decent CB mid season?

 

[DarrylS]

Knew that there was more to this than we knew, and it was not just an arbitrary decision...

 

[PATSNUTme]

Could someone explain, please, why in that case he wasn't put on injured reserve?

I had the same question in my head. But I think Mo's post explains it in part or in whole.

 

[JDot]

Damn, feel bad for Bodden.

 

[JDot]

So I guess by cutting him this year, the Pats are only on the hook for this years money. And instead of IR'ing Bodden, the Pats basically ripped up his contract?

How is that legal?

 

[strngplyr]

So I guess by cutting him this year, the Pats are only on the hook for this years money. And instead of IR'ing Bodden, the Pats basically ripped up his contract?

How is that legal?

Are you saying any player cut by any team before their contract is up should be paid the entire thing if another team doesn't pick them up? Man I'd love to sign a contract and get myself cut for being a ****bag. Probably be set for life.

 

[JDot]

Are you saying any player cut by any team before their contract is up should be paid the entire thing if another team doesn't pick them up? Man I'd love to sign a contract and get myself cut for being a ****bag. Probably be set for life.

WTF? Wow, calm down dude. I was only asking a question. Bodden cleared waivers so the Pats are on the hook for this years money, I believe? But Bodden's years remaining they are not, right? If the Pats new about Bodden's injury is that legal?

This ? ,means question.

And no to your question..

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Wouldn't a prospective trading partner perform exhaustive physical exams which would have uncovered his back problem?

Dowling was considered solid before going on IR.

I didn't mean trade talk for Bodden....trade talks for a CB for draft picks

 

[strngplyr]

WTF? Wow, calm down dude. I was only asking a question. Bodden cleared waivers so the Pats are on the hook for this years money, I believe? But Bodden's years remaining they are not, right? If the Pats new about Bodden's injury is that legal?

This ? ,means question.

And no to your question..

...what part of my post came off as me being angry and needing to calm down? I don't see it.

From what I understand you need to be on the team at the start of a season for the team to be on the hook for your salary.

 

[YearbookCurfew]

Meriweather, bodden, the list goes on and on. BB knows what is the right decision and makes it.

 

[VJCPatriot]

He had a herniated disk, per his agent on Twitter. It would've ended his season had he been on a team. He suffered the injury against the Dolphins week 1, and may have affected him on the field since then. Keels is calling it not a career ender, but it's hard to see too much interest in a 30-year-old who will have played in just 5 games in the last two seasons.

So, this is where everybody suddenly stops complaining about his release...

https://twitter.com/AlvinKeels/status/134775938784296960

Yeah that definitely explains a lot. It's too bad our CBs are made of glass. Bodden was pretty good when healthy. He just hasn't been able to stay that way.

 

[jmt57]

So I guess by cutting him this year, the Pats are only on the hook for this years money. And instead of IR'ing Bodden, the Pats basically ripped up his contract?

How is that legal?

That was my initial thought too, but that's not the case; it works out the same. He gets the same amount of money this year whether he's on IR or on the 53-man roster. NFL contracts (i.e., annual salaries) are not guaranteed; the Pats did not pull a fast one by cutting him rather than IR'ing him. All 32 NFL teams 'rip up' a contract with dozens of players every year. If players are cut due to an injury there is an avenue for them to get an injury settlement.

If Bodden, his agent or anyone else has an issue with how annual salaries are not guaranteed then they need to take that up with their team rep, DeMaurice Smith, and the NFLPA for agreeing to those terms in the CBA. In the last round of negotiations there was a lot of debate on many issues, but I don't recall any players insisting that contracts be fully guaranteed the way they are in baseball.

 

[SammyBlueCat]

I have a similar injury but will not go for surgery so I hope he is OK.
(I am going for decompression therapy instead)