To remedy the problem, Patriots coach Bill Belichick brought in veteran cornerbacks Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs to replace Deltha O’Neal and Ellis Hobbs. He also used a second-round pick on Darius Butler, a year after he used second- and fourth-round picks on corners Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite, respectively.
The new-look secondary has bonded fast on and off the field, but knows what it is up against in Owens, who leads the NFL in touchdown receptions since 2000 with 109, and Evans, who is the only player to average more than 15 yards per reception in each of the last five seasons.
“It’s definitely a big challenge, and I think everybody is up for it,’’ said Bodden, who has taken over the right cornerback spot. “It’s always great to play against great receivers. It really shows you what kind of secondary you are. It’s good that it’s the first game, get it out the way and just move on.’’
Perhaps aware of the presence in his division of the 6-foot-3-inch, 224-pound Owens, who trails only Jerry Rice in career touchdown receptions, Belichick brought in bigger corners in the 6-1, 193-pound Bodden and the 6-foot, 204-pound Springs.
“Shawn is one of those big, physical corners, one of the best in the league,’’ said Owens, who has been in the same division with Springs since 2002. “If I have to think of good to great corners across the league, he’s definitely one of those guys. Obviously, he’s following me across the league.
“I think Belichick knew with me coming to the Bills that he had to find somebody to check me, and he went out and acquired him.’’
Bodden doesn’t have a history with Owens - he faced T.O. once in Cleveland when he was still primarily a special teams player - but with the Browns, he was matched up against players such as Randy Moss and Chad Ochocinco and held his own.
