Cornerback

The statements sting, no matter how many ways Ty Law says them. You look at the words glaring from the page -- "I no longer want to be a New England Patriot" -- and wonder if Law somehow misspoke. Then he says it four or five more times. He already holds the Patriots' record with seven interceptions returned for touchdowns. The best cornerback in the NFL just set a record for asking out of town in every way possible. He said he wants a divorce and he's wanted one for a while.

The Atlanta Falcons on Friday placed the franchise tag on cornerback Brent Grimes, assuring he will receive more than $10 million if he signs the tender. Grimes, who led the team with 17 passes defensed in 2011, is one of the most important names in an unusually large class of 17 unrestricted free agents. He had a combined 11 interceptions in 2009 and 2010 and was an alternate Pro Bowl pick in 2010. Grimes' agent, Ben Dogra, said the decision by Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff was expected.

FOXBOROUGH -- It has been one heck of a year for Duane Starks, thanks to a list of milestone achievements. When in the span of a few months you fulfill a promise to your mother by getting your college degree and you get married, your biography can declare a year as special. And before those accomplishments, Starks was paroled from the lowly Arizona Cardinals and relocated to New England, which had won consecutive Super Bowls. But the past two months have not been very good for Starks, and yesterday he hit a low point, as he was placed on injured reserve by the Patriots, bringing his 2005 season to...

ABOUT ARRINGTON: When the season started, Arrington (5 feet 10 inches, 196 pounds) was the fourth cornerback behind Devin McCourty, Leigh Bodden, and second-round pick Ras-I Dowling. It didn't take long for Arrington to become the team's only dependable cornerback after Bodden and Dowling were injured and McCourty proved incapable of playing man coverage. Arrington led the NFL with seven interceptions and had 12 passes defended through 11 games. In the final seven games, including the playoffs, he has zero interceptions and two passes defended.

The Patriots and Ty Law are talking about a new contract for the Pro Bowl cornerback. But they're not speaking the same language. Law is entering his 10th season and the penultimate year of the landmark seven-year, estimated $51 million agreement he signed in 1999. He is due to earn more than $6 million in base salary next season and count more than $10 million toward the salary cap. Law, who earned his fourth Pro Bowl selection in 2003, feels he outperformed his contract and deserves a new deal.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Having once claimed to be insulted, lied to, and slapped in the face by the Patriots in contract dealings, Ty Law is now delighted he is no longer affiliated with the organization for which he has played his entire NFL career. The Patriots released the cornerback, a 10-year veteran, yesterday -- per his request -- clearing $12.5 million in cap space and saving more than $9 million in salary and roster bonuses. Law, who said he didn't want to speak directly with the media, said through his agent, Carl Poston, who was at the NFL Combine, that though he wanted to finish his...

ABOUT ARRINGTON: When the season started, Arrington (5 feet 10 inches, 196 pounds) was the fourth cornerback behind Devin McCourty, Leigh Bodden, and second-round pick Ras-I Dowling. It didn't take long for Arrington to become the team's only dependable cornerback after Bodden and Dowling were injured and McCourty proved incapable of playing man coverage. Arrington led the NFL with seven interceptions and had 12 passes defended through 11 games. In the final seven games, including the playoffs, he has zero interceptions and two passes defended.

Tennessee defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth's suspension from the NFL ends Sunday after the Titans play the Baltimore Ravens. Team officials might not be ready to welcome him back. "Our front office will be discussing the issue over the next couple of days," coach Jeff Fisher said yesterday. "That's all I can comment on. " The NFL punished Haynesworth Oct. 2 with the league's longest suspension for on-field behavior, a five-game suspension for swiping his right foot on the face of Dallas center Andre Gurode . Sanders hopeful The...

The NFL confirmed yesterday that suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones can join the Dallas Cowboys Monday and that he can play Dec. 7 against Pittsburgh - but only if he stays on his best behavior. Commissioner Roger Goodell issued a brief statement confirming the details of Jones's return, noting that it can only happen "if he avoids any further incidents and fully complies with each and every condition that has been established for him. " Those conditions were not outlined, although it's believed that he must keep up with the aftercare of the alcohol rehabilitation...

FOXBOROUGH -- Patriots right cornerback Randall Gay realizes he has been the opposition's No. 1 target, and will remain so in Sunday night's game against Buffalo. "Personally, being that I am a rookie with not a lot of experience," Gay said yesterday, "I would pick on me, too. I have to expect that every play is coming at me. I have to be ready because the ball could be coming at me every play. But that's what you play the game for. " The Patriots confronted what could have been a crisis when Ty Law broke his foot in the first quarter of a 34-20 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers Oct....

The Patriots have released cornerback Phillip Adams, according to a league source, the Globe's Shalise Manza Young reports. Update 4:50 p.m.: The Patriots have confirmed Adams has been released. Adams, who is in his second NFL season, has eight tackles this season and has been filling in at corner at various points throughout the season. Adams was signed and released by the Patriots a few times this season, most recently he was signed on Oct. 18. He has played as a sub in each of the last five games.

FOXBOROUGH - The Patriots, who have made more than their share of surprising roster moves under Bill Belichick, made yet another yesterday, releasing cornerback Leigh Bodden. The 30-year-old, nine-year veteran, who came to New England as a free agent in 2009, had played in five of six games this season, recording 17 tackles and four pass breakups. The news that Bodden had been released broke moments before Belichick stepped to the podium for his final news conference before tomorrow's game in Pittsburgh, but he was not talking about the cornerback, saying at the...

A teammate's injury has accelerated rookie Patrick Peterson's ascent into the Arizona Cardinals' starting lineup. The fifth overall draft pick will start at cornerback when the Cardinals open the season Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. Coach Ken Whisenhunt likes to bring rookies along more slowly but a season-ending knee injury to starter Greg Toler forced his hand. Peterson will start alongside second-year pro A.J. Jefferson, who was on Arizona's practice squad last year, giving the Cardinals an exceedingly young pair of cornerbacks.

The Oakland Raiders will be without projected starting cornerback Chris Johnson for their preseason game against the 49ers on Saturday night and might also play without center Samson Satele. Coach Hue Jackson revealed Wednesday that Johnson underwent a medical procedure that will keep him sidelined against San Francisco. Jackson declined to discuss details of the procedure but added that he expects Johnson to be back in time for the Raiders' regular-season opener at Denver on Sept.

The San Francisco 49ers signed free agent cornerback Carlos Rogers and safety Madieu Williams to one-year contracts. The team made two other moves Wednesday, adding former Saints center Jonathan Goodwin and linebacker Blake Costanzo. Rogers spent the past six seasons in Washington and had 43 tackles and two interceptions in 2010. The ninth player taken overall in the 2005 draft, the 30-year-old Rogers is likely to replace Nate Clements, who was released by the 49ers in a cost-cutting move last week.

FOXBOROUGH — Cornerback Kyle Arrington placed his organizer on the chair in front of his locker. He adjusted his fleece jacket and then stiffened his posture as the crowd of cameras and reporters surged toward him on Wednesday. He gave his thoughts on Sunday’s opponents, the Bills. Shared a little humor about offensive lineman Dan Connolly being selected AFC special teams player of the week. And explained how he and his Patriots teammates stay focused during the holidays. This time last year, the 24-year-old Arrington was hidden among the many contributors on special teams.

FOXBOROUGH - Whether the jersey number had symbolic significance or was merely a coincidence, it did not go unnoticed. Yesterday, the first day of Patriots rookie minicamp, there was cornerback Terrence Wheatley running around the Dana-Farber Field House wearing No. 22, last seen on Asante Samuel. It's too early to tell if Wheatley, the Patriots' second-round pick out of the University of Colorado, can fill Samuel's left cornerback spot. But the team wasted no time giving him Samuel's number.

FOXBOROUGH -- He made the proclamation a year and a half ago, but it wasn't until yesterday that his wish came true. Officially, Ty Law is no longer a Patriot. Law signed a multiyear contract with the New York Jets yesterday, placing the former Patriot Pro Bowl cornerback on New England's foremost division rival, the only other AFC East team to make the playoffs last season. Though Law turned down a four-year, $24 million offer from New England last year, the Patriots hadn't ruled out re-signing the cornerback, coach Bill Belichick said.

FOXBOROUGH — The man from Cincinnati needed advice on 18th-century colonial weaponry. “Does anyone know if i need gun powder to shoot the musket when i score this sunday?’’, Chad Ochocinco asked his Twitter entourage last week. Not that the rapid-firing Bengals receiver is planning on becoming a one-man militia this afternoon when he and his striped playmates take on the Patriots in the season opener at Gillette Stadium. Nothing revolutionary intended. Ochocinco just wanted to shake the local citizenry out of its late-summer snooze.