Rod Hood Resurfaces: Chicago Bears Cut Hood Days After Signing Him

by John Morgan on Sep 4, 2009 2:52 PM PDT

That's enough cuts in a short enough amount of time to wonder if Roderick Hood is a Porsche 914: A good name masking a bad product. The Chicago Bears become the latest team to sign then cut Hood. He was an up and comer, the overachiever made veteran made minor-star when he played for the Philadelphia Eagles, but that seems like a long time ago. Given his recent employment tumult, he is sure to sign to or near the veteran minimum and he's sure to be supremely motivated to reestablish himself.

As I said half a week ago:

He's not a great corner. Hood has spent his career as a flashy backup that wins the hearts of fans with his ball skills, and frustrates coaches with his lack of discipline. The Eagles got good value out of him. He was an inexpensive nickelback that could sub in a crunch. Their attacking system and Brian Dawkins compensated for his weaknesses and created opportunities for him to show his ball skills.

That's what Jim Mora and Gus Bradley want to accomplish in Seattle. Much has been made about the Seahawks new attacking style, its emphasis on defensive backs playing the ball, and its zone heavy secondary. Hood could thrive in a reduced role. He's a better open field tackler than Kelly Jennings, better at playing the ball than Jennings, and probably a better fit for this system than Jennings, too. Hood is 27, nearing 28. Cut so late into the preseason, he will most likely have to accept a veteran minimum contact and hope he reestablishes himself. If Seattle is concerned about their depth or thinks it can upgrade its dime packages, Hood could be the player to do that.

Assuming there's not a VW four-banger hiding under the hood, the reasoning still stands.

Tweet Comment 9 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Rod Hood = Quintin Richardson without a guaranteed contract

Brett Favre is the Kenny Powers of football.

by ninjasocks on Sep 4, 2009 2:56 PM PDT reply actions

He'd be good depth signing and he's not that bad on ST

Give him a shot.

Beverly Hills 90210.......Denver Broncos 7.

by SSreporters on Sep 4, 2009 2:59 PM PDT reply actions

The 914 was a bad car?

It might have been an expensive rookie that the media took a set against, but its now an inexpensive veteran that slays everything making even three times the salary.
Dont even get me started on the 914 with an all aluminum SBC stuffed in it that I saw once.

by Strictnine on Sep 4, 2009 3:26 PM PDT reply actions

You can mod it

but factory it’s anything but a Porsche.

by John Morgan on Sep 4, 2009 3:41 PM PDT up reply actions

When you compare him to Jennings, is this in comparison to 2008 Jennings?

Or a mixture of 2008 and 2007 and the flashes of decent play this preseason Jennings?

by LantermanC on Sep 4, 2009 3:32 PM PDT reply actions

The whole of Jennings, good and bad.

by John Morgan on Sep 4, 2009 3:42 PM PDT up reply actions

You could do worse than a 914.

Considering that the ‘Hawks have just showed the world that they have the ’86 Chevy Sprint of defensive backfields (I bet Kurt Warner is salivating into his grey beard after last night’s performance), maybe a 914 would be a nice upgrade. Especially at or near league minimum.

by Furious Blue on Sep 4, 2009 3:54 PM PDT reply actions

"Under the hood"

I see what you’ve done there.

Andrew Raycroft for backup? Does not compute.

by Woodinville_12thMan on Sep 4, 2009 4:14 PM PDT reply actions

Check out the big brain on Woodinville_12thMan!

You a smart mofo, dats right.

Early prospect watch: RB C.J. Spiller, QB Jevan Snead, OT Ciron Black, DT Gerald McCoy, S Eric Berry, DT Ndamukong Suh, CB Ras-I Dowling 6'2, 200, RB Jonathan Dwyer

by Misfit74 on Sep 4, 2009 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions