Lions Tell Bodden He Won't Be Back

The Detroit Lions have informer Corner Back Leigh Bodden who they aquired last season in the Shaun Rogers trade will not be returning to the team for the 2009 season, according to Bodden's agent Alvin Keels.

"I spoke to (general manager) Martin (Mayhew) a couple days ago and they decided they're not going to exercise the option," Keels said. "I don't understand exactly what they're doing, but I guess it'll be better for us, anyway, because he'll be an unrestricted free agent now. Martin's reason was, though they like Leigh, the amount of money they'd be paying him next year -- they could use that elsewhere in free agency. So we'll see what happens."

The release is due in part to the 4-year contract extension that Bodden signed last summer which includes an $8.6 million bonus due at the beginning of March. The Lions don't feel that Bodden earned that bonus with his sub-par season in 2008 where he notched just 1 interception, a year after grabbing 6 in Cleveland. Players can't be officially released until Feb. 9, the first day NFL teams can make waiver requests.

Bodden blamed the Tampa-Two zone scheme and play calling for his and the teams struggles in '08 but realizes things may be different with a new staff and is open to returning.

"If it was a coaching staff that really appreciated me and really liked what I did as a player, then, of course," Bodden said Dec. 28, the day after the regular season ended. "That's really what I didn't get here, and it's hard to play for somebody like that. If they bring somebody in that respects the way I play -- because I'm one of the best in the league, and if a coaching staff can respect that -- then I'll be happy anywhere."

Although his agent thinks otherwise, Keels was asked Wednesday if he and his client had completely closed the door on Detroit. "I would probably say so," Keels said. "I would never say never. But I would say it's unlikely that he would end up back in Detroit."