Detroit Lions: Why Cutting Leigh Bodden Is the Wrong Move

Rumors are rampant that the Lions are about to cut starting cornerback Leigh Bodden. This is outrageous. This is self-destructive insanity. This is the Lions for you.

If you're wondering what the Lions were thinking, here's my prognosis. Leigh Bodden only had one interception all of last season and he's being paid $8.6 million a season. He looked out of place nearly all season long.

Yes, of course he did. The Lions played a cover-two defense. Bodden is used to man-to-man coverage.

OK, a great cornerback should probably be able to adapt to any defensive scheme and not complain about it either. Bodden shot his mouth off several times and voiced his displeasure over the style of defense that Detroit employed.

If you are a Lions fan, you probably saw Bodden's point. In Cleveland, Bodden played man coverage and had six interceptions with 15 deflected passes. Those numbers dwindled down to almost nothing in Detroit's cover-two defense.

In Cleveland, Bodden developed a reputation as being one of the best shutdown corners in the league. Chad Johnson called him the best cornerback he'd ever faced.

Now, after one lousy year, in a defense that obviously doesn't suit Bodden's talents, the Lions are probably going to cut him. This makes no sense. How often do you see teams cut talented players in their prime? This never happens!

Now, if you have an issue with Bodden's high salary, I'm with you there. Honestly though, the Lions are going to have to live with overpaying Bodden, and hope that he lives up to earning that much.

Why? Well, for starters, who replaces him? Travis Fisher?

Fisher sure isn't starting cornerback material. So if the Lions are serious about cutting Bodden, they'd first better make damn sure they have a star free agent corner ready to come in and replace him OR draft a cornerback in the first round of the draft.

I just shake my head at this move. It's reckless as anything I've seen from this team.
The Lions have already released Mike Furrey, one of their hardest working players on offense, and now they're going to cut arguably their most talented defensive player as well.

I would strongly propose that Bodden at least be allowed to show what he can do in Schwartz and Cunningham's defensive scheme.

If Bodden is cut now, Detroit is dooming themselves to again watch another former Lion go on to greener pastures elsewhere and rebound with a dominating year. That, and they would also be taking nearly a 100 percent loss on the Shaun Rogers trade.

Don't do it Detroit. Listen to reason, just this once! Please?