New England Patriots cornerback Leigh Bodden said he's "firing on all cylinders" and ready to get back on the field after his 2010 season was wiped out due to torn rotator cuff surgery.
After six seasons with the Cleveland Browns and Detroit Lions, Leigh Bodden is anxious to get back on the field with the playoff-caliber Patriots. (Elise Amendola/Associated Press)"I can’t wait to get out there," Bodden told the Boston Herald in a story for Sunday's editions. "Whenever everything is said and done, I’ll be ready."
With the shoulder injury he suffered last preseason behind him, the seven-year veteran has been working out in Los Angeles during the NFL lockout.
Bodden signed a four-year, $22 million contract with the Patriots last year, only to see the team invest a first-round pick on cornerback Devin McCourty in 2010 and a second-rounder on Ras-I Dowling this past month.
Bodden isn't threatened by coach Bill Belichick's decision to stock up on defensive backs in an increasingly pass-happy league.
"Me going down this past year. Then (Jonathan) Wilhite went down. I remember those guys telling me, in some of those games, we dressed only three corners. That’s something you just can’t have. You need depth at that position.
"Bill knows what he’s doing with his draft picks. He knows what he wants. You never can have too many cornerbacks in this league. Teams have three, four legit wide receivers, so you have to be prepared for that. Having an extra cornerback is not wrong in my opinion."
Bodden spent five seasons with the Cleveland Browns and one with the Detroit Lions before joining the Patriots in 2009. He started 14 games for New England that season and registered 55 tackles and five interceptions.
