Leigh Bodden returns an interception against the Jets last season (AP photo)
Updated: March 9, Bodden signed a 4 year, 22 million contract today with $10 million guaranteed.
The linked article from nbcsports.com states "on the surface, Bodden's deal identical to the one signed by Jabari Greer last season, with the same guaranteed money and four-year total."
Note my comments below this article from a two days ago where I referenced Greer's deal as being the likely benchmark.
Mike Reiss also estimated $5 million per year in his reports which turned out to be very accurate.
I also added Bodden to the table below for future reference.
The original article appears below.
Mark Berman of Fox 26 Sports in Houston reported this morning that Patriots unrestricted free agent cornerback Leigh Bodden will meet with the Texans.
Update: Mark Berman caught up with Bodden at Hobby aiport Sunday night . Check out the interview here. Bodden indicates he has other trips scheduled but he can be had if the price is right.
Bodden is considered the top free agent cornerback available now that Dunta Robinson's has signed with the Falcons. Some would argue that he's as good or better than Robinson.
There's been conflicting reports on the Texans' interest in Bodden.
Yesterday on his Twitter feed, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle wrote "There's a report the Texans are one of three teams competing for Bodden. Not true. They won't be signing Bodden."
While the Texans might not end up signing Bodden, I'd say they're in the middle of the competition based on the fact they're flying him in today. And of course there's always the chance he might be using the visit to leverage the Pats into more money.
NFL Network discusses Bodden visit
Great timing - as I was writing this, the NFL Network broke into a Bears-Vikings "NFL RePlay" to discuss the latest free agent news.
Jason LaCanfora repeated what others have been saying - that the Patriots are still trying to keep Bodden - but he added "it's down to the Texans and Patriots." Lindsay Soto asked LaCanfora whether the Seahawks or Steelers were in the running, to which LaCanfora responded "I'd be surprised if it's not the Patriots or Texans."
While I don't always buy what LaCanfora sells, he repeated several times yesterday that the Texans were "very interested," so on this one I'll listen to him a while longer.
LaCanfora went on to say that Bodden is "going to stay (in Houston) through the night and meet with coaches and management tomorrow." He added, "if the money wasn't already in the ball park he would have never gotten on that plane."
Michael Lombardi said that Bodden "had a better season than Dunta Robinson" last year. Lombardi called Bodden a "solid starting corner, but not a Pro Bowler."
So what's the right price for Bodden?
While the Texans won't be offering 'Dunta Robinson money,' they can probably come up with a competitive offer that could edge out the Pats.
Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com suggested that Bodden would command a deal in the $5 million per season range (potential contract value, i.e., 4 years, 20 million).
Bodden (6-1, 193) is 28 years old and is entering his 8th season. He spent his first five seasons with the Browns, then played only one year of a 4 year, $27 million contract with the Lions. The Pats signed him to a one year, $2.25 million deal in March 2009.
I pulled in the table below from an article I wrote a year ago about Dunta Robinson (I updated it with Robinson's new info). You all can tell me where you think Bodden should fit in. Do you think the Pats are ready to go $5 million per on Bodden after paying him $2 million last season?
|
Date
|
Player
|
Team
|
Terms
|
|
2/09
|
Nnamdi Asomugha
|
Raiders
|
3 years, $45-$50 million. First two years ($28.5 million) guaranteed
|
|
11/08
|
Chris Gamble
|
Panthers
|
6 years, $53 million, $23 million guaranteed
|
| 3/10 | Dunta Robinson | Falcons | 6 years, $57 million, $22.5 million guaranteed |
|
2/09
|
DeAngelo Hall
|
Redskins
|
6 years, $54 million, $22.5 million guaranteed
|
|
2/09
|
Kelvin Hayden
|
Cots
|
5 years, $43 million, $22.5 million guaranteed
|
|
3/07
|
Nate Clements
|
49ers
|
8 years, $80 million, $22 million guaranteed
|
|
3/08
|
Marcus Trufant
|
Seahawks
|
6 years, $50.2 million, $20 million guaranteed
|
|
12/08
|
Corey Webster
|
Giants
|
5 years, $43 million, $20 million guaranteed
|
|
3/08
|
Asante Samuel
|
Eagles
|
6 years, $57 million, $20 million guaranteed
|
|
2/09
|
Domonique Foxworth
|
Ravens
|
4 years, $27.2 million, $16.5 million guaranteed
|
|
3/09
|
Ron Bartell
|
Rams
|
4 years, $28 million, $13.6 million guaranteed
|
|
3/09
|
Jabari Greer
|
Saints
|
4 years, $23 million, $10 million guaranteed
|
| 3/10 | Leigh Bodden | Patriots | 4 years, $22 million, $10 million guaranteed |
|
3/08
|
Jacques Reeves
|
Texans
|
5 years, $20 million, $8 million guaranteed
|
|
3/09
|
Philip Buchanon
|
Lions
|
2 years, $8.5 million
|
|
3/09
|
Drayton Florence
|
Bills
|
2 years, $6.6 - $7.3 million
|
Comments
5 years 30 mil or how about 5 years 25 mil or maybe somewhere in between? That's just going off the assumption of ESPNBoston saying he might want somewhere in the range of 5 mil a season. If so, maybe in the range of 10-15 mil guarenteed? I guess first thing is how many years do you want to sign him for if you were to sign him? 4 years or 5? Then go from there. If it were me, I'm not gonna overpay because I'd probably still draft a CB in the first 3 rounds even if I were to sign Bodden. But just my 2 cents.
Jonathan, I'd expect the absolute top end to be like Jabari Greer's deal in the table above. He's going to be 29 this year so you're going to get maybe 2-3 good years out him max? A Greer deal would still be a relative bargain when compared with Dunta and it's not that much more than what they gave Reeves two years ago. Structure it so that most of the guaranteed money is paid out in the first two years so it won't be as much of an impact on the cap when/if the cap returns in '11 and he's cut after the '12 season.
I think that the Patriots may have money issues. They just resigned Tully Banta-Cain and gave Vince Wilfork a 5 year $40 million deal. Also Tom Brady's contract is up at the end of this season and we all know that they aren't going to let him leave. A new deal for Brady is going to be in the $100 million range with at least $40 million guaranteed.
I think that they would like to have Bodden back but a deal averaging $5 million a season might be more than they want to spend.
If the Texans feel Bodden is worth $5 million a season they can probably get him for that number. The issue will be how many years and how much they need to guarantee. 5 years for $25 million and $8 million to $10 million guaranteed will get it done. Will the Texans go that high? Who knows.
We gave Jacques Reeves a 4 million a year contract and I think Bodden is going to get either a 5 or 6 million a year contract. I doubt it will be for more than 7 million a year and I don't think it will be for less than 4 million a year either. Bodden is a solid starter in the league, he doesn't command Asomugha-type money.
@Chess, I don't think anyone commands Nnamdi money. Let's think Jabari Greer instead.
btw, Derelle Revis is still playing under a 5 million per year contract. Signed in 2007 ... six years, $30 million with $11 million guaranteed. Don't you know he's getting itchy when he sees guys like Dunta rolling in $22.5 gtd.
He would be a nice addition. Let's hope he's not just using us for leverage.
Orlando Pace...
John McClain saying nothing will get done tonight with Bodden or Smith and still trying to sign both of them. Smith suppose to visit with AZ tonight and/or tomorrow.
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