The Leigh Bodden era in New England abruptly has ended.
A league source with knowledge of the situation advises PFT that the Patriots have released Bodden, an eight-year veteran.
Bodden was in the second season of a four-year, $22 million contract. Per the source, the player and the team decided that the relationship wasn’t working out as planned, and that it was time to move on. He appeared in five games with one start this season.
Bodden has a base salary of $3.9 million in 2011. Since the trade deadline has passed, he’ll be subject to waivers. If claimed, his new team would absorb the balance, which is $2.064 million. (He’ll be paid by the Patriots for Week Eight, even though he has been cut.) If he’s not claimed, Bodden will be entitled to receive the balance of his salary via the termination pay provision of the CBA.
Coincidentally, PFT posted news of the release on Twitter just as coach Bill Belichick was conducting a press conference. Asked about the report, he reportedly said that the team doesn’t have an announcement to make at this time. But Belichick also said he’ll “skip” a question about how Bodden has been playing.
In other words, “Bon voyage, Bodden.”