"In March 2010, the Patriots re-signed Leigh Bodden to a four-year deal that was to pay him $22 million, hailing the veteran as a mainstay in the secondary. Not even two years later, it was clear Bodden wasn't staying very long.

Coach Bill Belichick released Bodden yesterday, the biggest in-season surprise yet for 2011. The 30-year-old was expected to be the third cornerback.

Instead, he represented another expensive misstep in the defensive backfield, with Bodden receiving $10 million guaranteed to play just five games this season after missing all of last season with an injury.

Sources said Bodden was cut because he did not embrace the slot cornerback — or "star" — role the team had planned for him. Once that was clear, Bodden appeared to go through the motions and Belichick apparently decided the situation was not going to improve.

One source said it wasn't a situation of open defiance or being a disruption. Just a "mutual decision" that it wouldn't work out anymore."