Based on your heading, I thought you were going to have a quote from Bodden about the Steelers free agency moves (or lack thereof).

I agree that Bodden was a decent signing by the Patriots but let’s not pretend they have all the answers about player acquisition, whether it’s through free agency, trading or the draft. They make their share of mistakes in all areas (ie, $35 million over seven years for Stallworth; $35 million over five years for Adalius Thomas). They’re aggressive in the draft but they often have to sign expensive FAs to make up for the mistakes they make. They drafted 10 guys in 2006 and the only one who made a regular contribution last year was the kicker, Gostkowski. If their high second-rounder that year, WR Chad Jackson, hadn’t been a total bust they might not have had any interest the following off-season in Stallworth and Moss. If Stallworth hadn’t been a total waste of money they wouldn’t have had to settle for Gaffney last year or traded for Lewis this year. If last year’s second-round CB Terrence Wheatley had shown anything, they wouldn’t have had to sign Shawn Springs and Bodden this year. And Bodden would not have been an upgrade over McFadden for the Steelers. A good acquisition yes; a guaranteed starter, no. This has been a quieter than normal FA season even by Steelers’ standards but it’s not over yet and as mentioned by BMF, it looks like available money is limited or targeted for bigger fish such as James Harrison.

In general I wish the Steelers were a little more aggressive at the draft, but the overall conservative approach to player acquisition works just as well for us as being aggressive works for the Pats, and is probably more conducive to long-term success.

First of all, I dont understand why everyone is hating on our team. This happens every freakin offseason.

WE WON THE SUPERBOWL

Ok now onto Mr. Bodden.

Firstly, his early years were not much to write home about. Special teams rookie year, missed 5 games the next year. Missed 3 and 7 the years after that.

Now, his last two years, he HAS completed all his games. But only one pick in Detroit doesnt say much. One INT? When your defense is constantly on the field in Detroit you’d like to think you could snag a few more.

Honestly his stats are not super impressive, and he played for Detroit and Cleveland which might as well be College teams. Plus, lets not forget his difficulty with the law in cleveland, failing to pullover and being a general ass to the po-lice.

I dont miss him at all

Well, I would disagree that McFadden hasn’t proven himself as a starting calibre CB. He hasn’t proven he can stay healthy, but he was the starting CB for the best defense (and the best pass defense) in the league and was playing at a very high level before he got hurt. Money isn’t everything but the marketplace just determined that McFadden is twice as valuable as Bodden, and injuries might have been just as much a factor in McFadden’s discounted deal with Arizona as the timing of Bodden’s release from the Lions was in lowering market interest in him. The reality is they are pretty close but I’d rather have McFadden.

But that’s another problem with signing a relatively young guy to a one-year contract. The Pats signed Bodden to a bargain basement deal. He’s a solid CB. So who exactly is he playing for in 09, the Patriots or himself? Is he going to be a happy camper as the nickel or dime back, with every successful play by Springs or Ellis Hobbs or even one of last year’s rookie cornerbacks lowering his potential value as a starting calibre free agent in 2010? Yes he is going to like playing for a winning team as opposed to the Lions or Browns, let’s see how long he stays happy if things aren’t working out for his own self-interests. He might be much happier starting for a Patriots team that struggles, rather than playing nickel back for a Patriots team that is winning. I don’t mind signing older veterans who are at the end of their careers and can still contribute, but bringing in a new, relatively young guy on a one-year deal who is motivated mostly to get his share of the sugar a year from now can create problems. I don’t think it’s going out on a limb to suggest the Steelers’ unified locker room was a key element of them getting to and winning the Super Bowl. Perhaps the revolving door of free agents in New England has been a contributing factor to them not winning a Super Bowl since 2004.