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Springs talks T.O.

Email|Link|Comments (6) Posted by Christopher L. Gasper, Globe Staff March 11, 2009 06:07 PM

The Patriots officially announced the signings of cornerbacks Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden today. Springs did a teleconference with the New England media today, which happens to be his 34th birthday.

Not unexpectedly, a lot of the questions focused on new Buffalo big-play wideout Terrell Owens, whom Springs has enjoyed a healthy rivalry with since entering the league in 1997.

The two have played in the same division every year since 2002, when Springs's first team, the Seattle Seahawks, shifted to the NFC West. In 2004, they both moved to the NFC East and now both have moved to the AFC East.

"Well, I told him to stop following me around," said Springs. "We've been in the NFC West together, the NFC East, and now we're in the AFC together. He is a competitor, and so am I. It's never been about us. We just work hard and try to help our teams win. The media makes it out to be a rivalry. It was just like I play with whatever game plan it was and so did he, and we went out and played football."

Springs, who had agreed to terms of a deal with the Patriots on March 5, before Owens signed in Buffalo last Saturday, said he's not coming to the Patriots as a T.O. stopper.

"You know in New England it's not about one individual player," said Springs, who signed a three-year, $10.5 million deal, with incentives that could push it to $13 million. "It's more of a team thing, regardless of whether it's me or Leigh Bodden, or Ellis Hobbs or [Terrence] Wheatley on him, with the Patriots you're going to play what the defense calls for. T.O. coming to Buffalo made a difference. He is a playmaker, but that's not going to change the way the game is called."

Springs said he didn't ask what his role would be with the Patriots, saying he had too much respect for Patriots coach Bill Belichick to ask, but he said that he can still run and still play at a high level.

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6 comments so far...

It seems odd to hear these new signings talk about how the Patriots do things. I don't think this was out of line, as obviously he was talking about his experience, but I expect BB would prefer that the players say "no comment", or my personal favorite that I've started using on my own, "it is what it is".

Posted by Justin-R March 11, 09 06:52 PM

Sounds like a player we can use.

Posted by Jon Sheldon March 11, 09 09:00 PM

I, personally, hope that the signings of both Springs and Bodden marks the end of Ellis Hobbs as a starting cornerback. He has hurt this team on far too many occasions as a corner. He should have been moved inside to a nickel position 2 years ago.

Posted by Mike Allen March 11, 09 10:34 PM

Mike,

Hard to move him to Nickel when the rest of your cb's blow. The CB's on this team the last few years have been garbage. I hope it works out because they need a serious upgrade. Don't get me wrong Hobbs blows big time and I don't like his attitude. He talks a big game after proving nothing. Now if the pats could get a pass rush it would be 1000 times better.

Ryan

Posted by Ryan March 12, 09 11:36 AM

Look NEM--get off of Hobbs' behind. If he was that big a liability, Coach would have gotten rid of him and shelled out for Asante. But he didn't, did he? I wonder why that is? Could it be that you're wrong?

Posted by Ghost of Lombardi March 13, 09 09:20 AM

Robert Carl Parisien Natick says: The cornerback position should be much better this year with the recent additions.

Posted by Robert Carl Parisien March 13, 09 12:31 PM

DO NOT HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON MORE THAN ONCE!

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Mike Reiss, Christopher L. Gasper and the rest of the Globe team provide regular updates –and a behind-the-scenes look– on the daily happenings of the Patriots.

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