Leigh

Bodden

Bodden was Cleveland’s best special teams player all year, winning a game ball multiple times. The Browns season may be on the line at home versus the Steelers next week.

Bodden won the job over Daylon McCutcheon when McCutcheon went down, but he’s now the No. 1 corner with Gary Baxter also mending.

Rookie Ras-I Dowling is now the first-team right cornerback. The Pats were in their nickel package for virtually the entire game, so Bodden spent the night mostly covering Davone Bess in the slot. Dowling held up well on the outside. Bodden was at least partially to blame for Bess’ 92 yards on five catches.

“I’ve just been working out my back, seeing if it can be able to withstand 16 games,” said Bodden, “if I can come back or not.” The 30-year-old would like more shot to continue his career, but he won’t serious consider it until he knows his back is healthy.

Chiefs GM Scott Pioli had already left New England before Bodden signed on there, but there is a connection with DC Romeo Crennel, who coached Bodden in Cleveland. The Chiefs have solid starters in Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr, so Bodden would be a third corner at best if he signs.

His release was a “mutual decision.” Bodden missed all of 2010 with injury, and ended up playing only five games after signing a four-year, $22 million extension in March 2010 that included $10 million in guaranteed money. The Patriots are going forward with Devin McCourty, Ras-I Dowling and Kyle Arrington at cornerback. Dowling, however, is listed as doubtful for Week 8.

The Pats and Bodden reached a mutual decision to part ways last week. Teams have until 4pm ET today to make a waiver claim on Bodden, who can still help as a nickel back at age 30. King suggests that Niners, Bengals, Bucs, Chiefs, Bills and Jets as teams that could put a claim in.

No team was willing to pick up the remainder of Bodden’s $3.9M salary. He will likely catch on elsewhere before the season is up. The 30-year-old is better suited to outside corner than the slot, where the Pats tried to play him.

The injury escaped the notice of the Patriots staff, and Bodden concedes that he didn’t know the extent of it, either. “But I knew something was wrong,” said Bodden. "... I got home and noticed one leg was smaller than the other. The muscle had atrophied. They measured my leg, and I had lost three inches.”

Bodden sustained the injury in Week 1 against the Dolphins. Credit goes to the Boston Globe’s Greg Bedard for opining upon Bodden’s release two weeks that he appeared to be slow and gimpy this season. The surgery is considered “routine” and not career threatening, though Bodden’s season is over. He’ll have to prove he’s healthy to draw significant free agent interest in March.