New England Patriots: CB Kyle Arrington Retained for 2011 Season

This article debuted on SportsHaze.com/Boston

The Boston Herald's Ian Rapoport tweeted on Monday that the New England Patriots extended an exclusive rights free agent tender to cornerback Kyle Arrington.

The deal is reportedly worth the league minimum of $480,000 for a one-year contract, but the kicker is the team now retains Arrington heading into an increasingly murky CBA situation.

After completing only his second season in 2010, the 24-year-old still has two seasons remaining until he's eligible for restricted free agency in 2012.

Arrington is two years removed from playing in the NCAA's Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA) for Hofstra University, which officially ended its football program last month.

Undrafted in 2008, Arrington bounced from practice squad to practice squad, eventually signing with New England in 2009. He played predominantly on the special teams unit in his first year on an active NFL roster and earned a roster spot the following season with his play.

The 2010 season brought about a promotion for Arrington, as he moved from special teams to starting cornerback alongside rookie Devin McCourty. With injuries and demotions ravaging the Patriots secondary, the young corner ended up starting 14 games.

Arrington took over the starting job in Week 3 and posted 71 tackles, an INT and a touchdown return, playing well above his expected potential, to say the least. There were times where opposing quarterbacks targeted him as he wasn't always in great position, but his play progressed by leaps and bounds in the 2010 campaign.

It's impossible to say whether we've seen the height of his potential or not. He's still very young but has a ton of talented players and great coaching surrounding him. The guy has made his way from a now defunct football program from the NCAA's subdivision to a starting NFL cornerback in three short years.

If his progression continues, there's room in the Patriots secondary, which includes the still unproven duo of Darius Butler and Jonathan Wilhite. Devin McCourty put on a pick clinic in 2010 and will joined by veteran Leigh Bodden, who missed last season after leading the team in interceptions in 2009.

Depending on New England's plans for free agency and the draft, there should be an opportunity for Arrington to continue proving what he's capable of. He's most likely to see time in the nickelback role for the upcoming season.