Leigh Bodden life and biography

Leigh Bodden is an American football cornerback for the New England Patriots of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at Duquesne.

Career Transactions
Leigh Bodden was signed by the Patriots as a free agent on March 11, 2009 ... Originally signed by the Cleveland Browns as a rookie free agent (5/2/03) ... Placed on injured reserve with a pectoral injury (11/9/04) ... Traded by the Browns to the Detroit Lions (3/1/08) in exchange for DT Shaun Rogers ... Released by the Lions (2/9/09) ... Place on injured reserve with a shoulder injury (8/31/10).

Career Highlights
* Bodden joined the Patriots in 2009 as a veteran of six NFL seasons with the Cleveland Browns (2003-07) and Detroit Lions (2008) and finished tied for first on the team with five interceptions.
* Bodden enters 2010 having played in 90 career games with 67 starts and has recorded 341 tackles (258 solo), 18 interceptions for 192 yards, 75 passes defensed, seven forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and 30 special teams tackles.

2010
* Placed on injured reserve on Aug. 31, 2010 with a shoulder injury.

2009 (15/14, 1/1)
* Played in 15 games with 14 starts and finished the season with 54 total tackles, five interceptions, including one that he returned 53 yards for a touchdown, 17 passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
* Missed the season-finale at Houston (1/3) due to injury.
* Was Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for Week 11, following a three-interception performance in the Patriots' 31-14 victory vs. the N.Y. Jets (11/22). The three interceptions tied a Patriots single-game record for interceptions, matching the three set by Asante Samuel in 2006, and set a career high for Bodden. Picked off a Mark Sanchez pass intended for Jerricho Cotchery and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown to give the Patriots a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Nabbed his second interception of the game on a Sanchez pass intended for Braylon Edwards in the second quarter to set up a field goal. Came down with his third pick on a Sanchez pass intended for Cotchery in the fourth quarter.
* Tallied a single-game career high with 10 total tackles at Denver (10/11).
* Made his first appearance in the postseason when he started vs. Baltimore (1/10) in a Wild Card matchup.

2008 (16/15 - Detroit)
* In his lone season with the Detroit Lions, tied for fifth on the team with 80 tackles (68 solo).
* Tied for the team lead with three forced fumbles and also tied the club lead with two fumble recoveries.
* Recorded four solo stops, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, one interception and three passes defensed at Minnesota (10/12).
* Recorded a season-best nine tackles (eight solo) vs. Washington (10/26).
* Posted three tackles, two passes defensed and a forced fumble at Carolina (11/16).
* Notched six tackles (four solo), one pass defensed and a fumble recovery vs. New Orleans (12/21).

2007 Season
* Started every game and led the Browns with a career-high six interceptions and 14 passes defensed.
* Also ranked fourth on the club with a career-high 92 tackles (68 solo).
* Finished fifth among NFL cornerbacks with 88 credited tackles according to NFL.com press box stats, and he was the only NFL player to have at least 88 tackles and six interceptions.
* Tallied three tackles (two solo), one fumble recovery and one interception with 0:20 seconds remaining in the game to secure the Browns' 51-45 victory vs. Cincinnati (9/16).
* Matched a career-high with eight solo tackles, one interception for 12 yards and a pass defense vs. Baltimore (9/30).
* Ranked second on the club with a career-high nine tackles (five solo) and one interception for 26 yards vs. Miami (10/14).
* Recorded his team-leading third interception in the second quarter at the 50-yard line and returned it 26 yards to set up a 24-yard touchdown pass.
* Tied for the team lead with seven solo tackles, and added one interception and one pass defensed at St. Louis (10/28).
* In the fourth quarter, made a key interception at the Cleveland 28-yard line with only 0:38 seconds remaining to preserve a 27-20 road victory.
* Led the team with nine tackles (seven solo) and one fumble recovery vs. Seattle (11/4).
* Totaled seven tackles (five solo), two pass defenses and one fumble recovery vs. Houston (11/25).
* Part of a defensive effort that forced three turnovers, 2.0 sacks and limited Houston to only 77 net yards rushing.
* Added six tackles (five solo) and a pass defense vs. Buffalo (12/16).
* Helped give the Browns their first shutout since 2005 and held the Bills to 232 net yards of offense.
* Added three solo tackles, two interceptions for 42 yards and a pass defense at Cincinnati (12/23). Recorded his first multi-interception game of his career.

2006 (9/9 - Cleveland)
* Was limited due to ankle injuries throughout the year and started nine contests compiling 35 tackles (22 solo), two interceptions for 48 yards, one forced fumble and 11 pass defenses.
* Started at left cornerback and matched a then career-high eight tackles (six solo), and two pass defenses vs. New Orleans (9/10).
* Finished with four tackles (three solo), two pass defenses and recorded an interception for 35 yards in the fourth quarter at Cincinnati (9/17).
* Part of a defensive effort that limited the Jets to only 193 net yards of total offense, including 88 net yards rushing, and forced three turnovers vs. N.Y. Jets (10/29).
* Started and recorded five tackles (two solo) and forced a fumble in the second quarter vs. Pittsburgh (12/7).
* Started notching two tackles (one solo), one pass defensed and one interception for 13 yards in the second quarter to stop a potential scoring drive at Baltimore (12/17).

2005 (13/11 - Cleveland)
* Made a then career-high 59 tackles (36 solo), three interceptions, 20 pass defenses and two forced fumbles.
* Led the team in passes defensed and tied for the team lead with three interceptions.
* Scored a touchdown on a 59-yard blocked field goal return at Pittsburgh (11/13).
* Started at right cornerback in the season opener vs. Cincinnati (9/11), and totaled five tackles, one forced fumble and one interception in the end zone, the second pick of his career.
* Started at Houston (10/30) and totaled a then career-high eight tackles (five solo), one interception and three pass defenses. Made his second interception of the year in the first quarter.
* Started at Pittsburgh (11/13), and matched a then career-high with eight tackles (five solo), and one pass defensed.
* In the fourth quarter, scooped up a blocked field goal attempt (44 yards) at the Cleveland 41-yard line and returned it 59 yards for a touchdown.
* Started at Oakland (12/18), and totaled six tackles, one tackle for loss, one interception for six yards and a career-high four pass defenses. Recorded his team-leading third interception of the year in the third quarter.

2004 (8/1 - Cleveland)
* Played in eight games and totaled nine tackles (eight solo).
* Was a standout on special teams and finished the season tied for the team lead with 18 special teams tackles and a forced fumble, despite missing half the season with a pectoral injury.
* Opened the season vs. Baltimore (9/12), and played corner in the nickel defensive package with two solo tackles and a team-high five special teams tackles.
* Added a team-high three special teams tackles at Dallas (9/19).
* Started for the injured Daylon McCutcheon, making his second career start, at N.Y. Giants (9/26), and recorded five tackles (four solo).
* Played on special teams at Pittsburgh (10/10), with a team-high four special teams tackles.
* Placed on Injured Reserve (11/9) with a pectoral injury.

2003 (13/1 - Cleveland)
* Earned a spot on the roster as an undrafted rookie free agent and played in 13 games and totaled 12 tackles (10 solo), one interception, three pass defenses and contributed 11 tackles on special teams.
* Made his NFL debut on special teams vs. Indianapolis (9/7), with one special teams tackle.
* Added his first career interception vs. Arizona (11/16), in the fourth quarter.
* Made his first career start at Seattle (11/30) and marked a season-high seven tackles (six solo) and one pass defense.
* In the regular season finale at Cincinnati (12/28), recorded five tackles (four solo), a season-high two pass defenses and added two special teams tackles.

College

* Two-time consensus All-American helped Duquesne to four consecutive Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Football League titles (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002).
* Duquesne went 37-8 overall and 27-1 in MAAC play during his four-year career.
* Finished his career tied for second on the all-time NCAA I-AA interception list with 28.
* Holds every Duquesne interception record.
* As a senior, finished the season with seven interceptions for 71 yards, 23 tackles and a team-high four fumble recoveries.
* As a junior, tied his own school record with nine interceptions for 51 yards and one touchdown.
* Established a school record as a sophomore with nine interceptions in 11 games.
* As a freshman, had four interceptions.
* Was a three-year member of the Duquesne track team and scored a total of 12 points for the Dukes at the 2002 Atlantic 10 outdoor championship.
* Won the Atlantic 10 long jump with a career-best 23'-0" leap. In the process became Duquesneís first outdoor menís track conference champion.
* Also finished seventh in the 100-meter dash with a career-best time of 11:08 and was also part of the 4x100 relay team.

Personal

* Leigh Edmond Bodden was born on Sept. 24, 1981 in Hyattsville, Md.
* Attended Northwestern High School in Hyattsville, Md.
* Hometown is Upper Marlborough, Md.
* Earned his degree in business management.

Extra
* While in college at Duquesne, Leigh won the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship in the long jump with a career-best leap of 23í-0î.
* Leigh had 28 interceptions at Duquesne, tying what was then the all-time Division I-AA career record.

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