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According to a League Source, the Patriots have agreed to terms with cornerback Leigh Bodden.   Bodden visited team headquarters on February 27, the first day of free agency but has remained unsigned until today.  Terms of the deal are undisclosed but the Boston Globe has indicated that the contract is for one year only.

Leigh Bodden excells in man coverage and has a lot of experience with New England’s 3-4 defense, having spent five years with the Browns under Romeo Crennel.   Bodden spent last season with the Detroit Lions as part of the Shaun Rogers deal.

Bodden will bring a lot to the table and will improve this defense.  He should tandem well with fellow veteran cornerback Shawn Springs who was signed earlier in the week.  Both transactions figure to be direct counter-moves to the Bills’ Owens signing that occured 3 days ago.

Back in Trouble

Matt Jones was arrested in Washington County, Arkansas Monday at 6:21PM Monday.   The former Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Matt Jones is in Washington County Jail after admitting that he had been drinking alcohol, a direct violation of the Drug Court Program he has been participating in.

This comes less than a year after Jones was charged with felony cocaine possession in the same county.  Jones appearantly failed a random drug test that was administered back in February.

After hearing Jones’ admissions, the Court gave the wide receiver the option of serving a week in jail or entering a six week residential drug program.  Jones could be facing at least an eight-game ban after the latest arrest, whether the charges are dismissed or not.

 

The Star in Buffalo

Terrell Owens is heading over to Buffalo to lace them up for the Bills. Owens has agreed to a one-year, $6.5 Million Deal according to a team spokesman. The Bills announced the signing at 6:15pm on Saturday. Sources are reporting that the entire contract is guaranteed.

Owens ranks 2nd all-time with 139 TD Receptions, trailing only Jerry Rice in the category. The real question is how will Owens workout with his new quarterback and offense.

The Bills are committed to a solid ground attack but 3rd year signal caller, Trent Edwards, has shown some ability and solid arm strength. The Bills have two receivers who should compliment Owens nicely in Lee Evans & James Hardy. If Marshawn Lynch can stay out of jail, Buffalo’s offense looks to be MUCH improved.

 

Dawkins leads the multiple veterans being added to the Broncos' defense.

The Denver Broncos have embarked on a string of signings that haven’t necessarily been the best moves.  It’s time  to break down these transactions and how they’re going to help the team, hurt the franchise, or go down in history as one of the worst off-seasons in the team’s history.

First off the new management is making their presence felt with a flurry of moves, as they have dominated the free agency news bytes.  This is a player-by-player analysis of the Broncos Off-Season moves thus far.

Chris Simms, QB- He has a chance to factor in as a backup and get some very valuable reps in training camp this season.  Simms has respectable arm strength, average mobility, and is a veteran presence.  It remains to be seen as to what the Broncos will do at quarterback but Simms should be looked at as a decent addition as far as depth is concerned.

Lamont Jordan, RB- Jordan is a bigger back that should get a lot of work in short yardage and goal-line situations.  He has had brief moments of success with the Jets, Raiders, and Pats but he’s certainly not starter material.  His presence almost assures a runningback by committee situation on the horizon.

Correll Buckhalter, RB- Buckhalter has a lot of experience in Andy Reid’s west-coast offense.  He is another veteran presence that will add to the RB corps.  He might compliment Torain, Jordan, and Hillis well.

J.J. Arrington, RB – His only real value is his experience returning kicks and ability to catch out of the backfield.  He is the jack of all trades but master of none.  He does not factor into the rotation unless the injury bug hits as bad as last year.

Jabar Gaffney, WR- This is an obvious decision, as Little Joshie McCheese works to obtain players familiar with his system.  Gaffney should help the existing receivers with all of the terminology, play sets, and formations used in New England.

Darrell Reid, DT – This move still puzzles me.  Reid comes from the Colts’ cover-2 one gap system.  This means he can’t play the nose tackle position for Denver and will require him to make his contributions from the defensive end position, which Reid has yet to prove that he can do.

Ronald Fields, DT – This is move is another transaction made in respects to experience with Mike Nolan’s 3-4 system.  He has good strength and can hold the line of scrimmage.  Fields spent his first 4 season with the San Francisco 49ers under Nolan.

Andra Davis, LB – Davis has been playing in the 3-4 scheme for years and was being phased out in Cleveland.  He is very limited in coverage and he is at the end of his career.  I can only hope that his contributions will be more on the practice field as opposed to on game day.

Andre Goodman, CB- Goodman will contribute right away and he’s another veteran player who has experience in the 3-4.  He will replace Dre Bly opposite Champ Bailey.  The former Miami Dolphin may have lost some speed over the years but he is coming off his best season yet and he can still make plays.

Reynaldo Hill, FS- Hill will be a welcomed addition to the secondary and should pair well with weapon-x as a good center fielder.  He has some athletic limitations but Hill is a playmaker who also has a lot of experience with the 3-4.  I hope you’re noticing a trend here.

Brian Dawkins, SS- Weapon-X will be changing uniforms for the first time in 13 years.  Dawkins will turn 36 in October but he is a very intense competitor, who will help set the tone for the Broncos’ defense.  Dawkins should prove to be a coach on the field and he will help ease the transition to the new defensive system.  A great community presence, Dawkins will bring a LOT to Denver.

Once again, the common thread of these signings has been to add veterans with experience in the 3-4 scheme.  The offensive transactions have been more puzzling than anything else but it’s to be hoped that the majority of these moves will be help ease the transition of these coaching & management changes.  There will be a ton of new faces playing for the orange & blue and it remains to be seen how it will help the team.  Stay tuned for more turmoil in the mile high city.