drakesta101

It is great news that he has finally reported and in camp - yet it is still unclear whether or not they Patriots have conceded their right to tag him again in 2008. Will you be disappointed if the Patriots have chosen this route?

QuiGon

I don't think that's "unclear" at all... AFAIK, there is no reason to believe that they made that promise.

drakesta101

Of course it's unclear, Asante's agent declined to answer whether or not they had made such concessions.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=090...o&confirm=true

Toby and Samuel's agent, Alonzo Shavers, declined to say whether the Patriots had gotten Samuel to report by promising they would not apply the franchise tag to him again next year.

PATSNUTme

Could we wait until after the SB, before we tackle this?

Oswlek

Do you think he would have declined if NE had conceeded the issue? Even if so, don't you think that Asante's camp would have leaked that info through some other channel?

Read between the lines and it is pretty clear that NE has the rigths to tag him next year.

__________________
"They have one objective," said Washington cornerback Shawn Springs. "They whoop people's [backsides]. If you understand that, it answers all your questions. They might not lose [this year]."

patsox23

NO. OF COURSE IT'S CLEAR since Asante's agent declinded to answer whether or not they had made such concessions. Wouldn't he have trumpeted this news all over the place? Or are you suggesting that they've all agreed to some super-secret double-probation gag order? I don't think so - the Patriots had absolutely NO REASON to cave on that.

As for the question initially posed, I think the Patriots tag him again and deal Asante for a #1 pick.

patriot lifer

if they struck that deal, the disappointment would be fleeting. Soon we'll forget there was even an offseason. There will only be the regular and postseason. And there will be bliss

drakesta101

It's something that will be revealed very soon I would imagine - and it would be typical of the Patriots to not want this sort of information to be publicized. It would be a distraction all year

Oswlek

What?

__________________
"They have one objective," said Washington cornerback Shawn Springs. "They whoop people's [backsides]. If you understand that, it answers all your questions. They might not lose [this year]."

Jimke

It is likely that Asante would have reported to training camp on

time had the Pats agreed in writing to let him go after 2007.