Gunnails

I know the Pats have lots of cap, I was wondering if the tag would adversely affect the Pats somehow (hope).

DaBruinz

Why would it adversely affect the Patriots? Tagging Samuel lets him know that they think very highly of him and that they want to reach a long term deal that is mutally agreeable. It also says that Samuel is free to find another offer if he feels he can't reach a deal with the Pats.

BelichickFan

Almost $8M of our available $26M or so. Everything hurts but we have lots of $$$ available with or without Samuel.

MoLewisrocks

Actually once they add in the LTBE's and make any other adjustments which hadn't been made yet last week, it will be more like $7.8M of our $30M+. And I still think it will cost $0M since we will trade him pre draft.

Which is better than what the Colts are facing with Freeney. His exclusive tag and prior amortization will take about $10.5M off their $15M or so. And reports on Indy Star last night were that NFLN is claiming he wants $9M per AND a $30M signing bonus in a long term deal. They should have let him shop himself for some nice inexpensive cap friendly picks.

PatsFanInVa

In other words, $7.9M if he plays the season under the franchised tag. Everything else depends on how greedy he gets/how cheap the Pats are (depending on point of view.) The reality is, everything else depends on whether his expectations and the Pats' valuation are a match.

PFnV

BradyManny

This might go without saying, but unless we can get a Thomas or a Fletcher, it makes just as much sense to pay Asante the 8 mill to play this year, as we won't be able to spend the $ elsewhere. I think best case scenario is we do trade Asante for picks and are able to spend that 8 mill elsewhere, namely the LB position.

signbabybrady

I think Best case scenario is keep a$ante and spend the rest of the money elsewhere namely LB. not sure how youcan say best case includes losing A$ante.

__________________

MoLewisrocks

All I know is they offered him $7.5M in signing bonus in November after which talks broke off. He wanted $10M+ AT THAT POINT, and will likely want and possibly command more, maybe as much as $12-15M in signing bonus as a FA.

I listened to BB talk about Asante on WEEI the week after the AFCC, and while he values/appreciates him and feels he has talent and has worked hard to get to this point, he also clearly feels he is a player who benefits from top coaching and playing around similarly well coached players in this scheme. That indicates to me that we are simply not going to overpay for the player, and almost $8M for one year is an overpay for this player. That $7.5M was an indication they believed he was a $5M+/- player in November, and while they may feel he's more now, I don't think it's $3M more.

And as for getting a long term deal done, once he's heard what his agent is hearing as he shops the player, and sees the offers Clements is mulling, no way he signs a long term deal here IMO. In fact I wouldn't be surprised to hear the talk shift to potential to hold out within the next month as a prelude to a trade.

patsfanofNC12

Asante is worth the money, and we still have lots more. Plus so far we kept him out of the hands of the jets, dolphins, and

Jimke

Before we re-sign and trade Asante, who the hell is going to

play cornerback for us if he leaves?