Bodden bets on himself

Cornerbacks must be unnaturally confident to be great.  New Patriot corner Leigh Bodden has no shortage of self-belief, and is willing to put his money where his mouth is.

Profootballtalk.com reported this week that Bodden passed up a four-year, $16 million contract with the Patriots before signing a one-year, $2.25 million contract.  Bodden has since confirmed the story without giving contract specifics.  He's betting on himself.

Two years ago, Bodden was seen as one of the five-to-ten best young cornerbacks in football.  His star fell after a trade to Detroit, where he he struggled to learn a Cover Two scheme.

But Bodden is only 27 years old, and is willing to forgo long-term security because he knows how good he is.  He knows he can turn his career around on a dime in New England, then cash in big next off-season.  It's a savvy move that most players wouldn't have the stones for. 

Bodden's acquisition was one of my favorite value moves of the off-season, but it was an even better move for Bodden.