"For me, the taste of playoffs and winning, that's something that will be a priority [in any decision],” Bodden told ESPN.com. “But if presented something financially that you can't pass up, that is also a consideration. We aren't going to play this game forever, and you have to look out for your best interests on the financial side."
Regarded as one of the league’s top cover corners in his days in Cleveland, Bodden signed a one-year deal with the Patriots last season for $2.25 million. Knowing that the ongoing labor dispute meant that the 2010 season would likely be one without a salary cap, the formerly undrafted corner elected to re-enter the free-agent waters.
"There was a multiyear deal on the table [last year], but it was something that I didn't feel like was market value," Bodden told ESPN.com.
Bodden and his former agent chose to add a clause in his Pats contract that did not allow the team to place a franchise tag on him, which would limit his mobility in the potentially uncapped year. Without a cap, Bodden would be sure to get his market value from the highest bidder, not just the team that could fit him under its cap.
The Patriots could still be a contender, but Bodden, like all the players with expiring contracts, were told by Belichick that they would hear from the club by early February.
If Bodden is to be believed, he won’t take 80 cents on the dollar from the Pats. Between his solid play in New England and the league’s deep-pocketed owners’ constant quest for help in the secondary, Bodden stands a chance to score the big payday he’s looking for. Even if it’s with a bad team, he might just take it. He’s been there before and it seems like he’s ready to go back again.
