With the start of the regular season less than 2 weeks away, today the Patriots defense suffered their second major setback of the preseason when they placed their top cornerback, Leigh Bodden, on season-ended injured reserve with a torn rotator cuff. It was less than 3 weeks ago that starting defensive end Ty Warren was also lost for the season after being placed on IR with a hip injury. Bodden, who would have been entering his 8th NFL season, joined the Pats last year after being signed as a free agent from the Lions. He finished the year with 17 passes defensed, 5 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries and a touchdown. This past offseason Bodden was rewarded for his efforts with a 4-year, $22 million deal ($10 million garunteed) from New England, who had him pegged to be their #1 corner for the foreseeable future. The starting spots will likely now belong to 2nd-year man Darius Butler and rookie 1st round pick Devin McCourty. This also means that veteran corners Jonathan Wilhite, Terrence Wheatley and Kyle Arrington will likely stick on the roster, whereas one of them was likely to be gone prior to the Bodden injury. Clearly this is a bad break for both Bodden and the Pats, though an opportunity now exists for these young corners to step up and prove themselves. Hopefully they will take advantage of it...and hopefully Leigh Bodden can make a quick and full recovery and be back to help the Pats in 2011.
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4 comments:
Sucks for Bodden and the Pats.
This posting made me re-visit the Ty Warren injury also. I am surprised it did not get more attention. I'm not sure if people, even Pats fans, have any idea how valuable #94 is to the defense. Unfortunately I think this may be one of those "you'll miss him when he's gone" situations for Pats fans.
I know this sux; but we will be ok it is one of those things, but as a reserve it does hurt the roster
Both guys will be missed quite a bit. But the Pats are going through a rebuilding stage and still are a contender. This will give some of the younger guys the best lesson, playing time. Luckily they get go go against Sanchez and who ever the Buffalo QG is 2 times this year thats 4 games where they are facing easily defensed QBs. When the Pats drafted Wheatley i said (and im sure its documented in the archives) he was gonna be a real good NFL CB. McCourty will actually have the season that i thought Wheatley would and Wheatley and Wilhite will equal the player i thought Wheatley would be on his own.
Pats will go 12-4 this tear and contend for the Super Bowl.
Huge loss. In a secondary that was mediocre at best he was the least mediocre.
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