Was letting Asante walk a mistake?

[marcus]

Does anyone disagree with this?
Shut down corners are not easy to find.
AS has played really well for the eagles (I have watched all of their games).

The Patriots simply could NOT replace him and his ability to get turnovers.

Every JAG they have brought in has not come close to his production level.

I am not saying they would be super bowl contenders, but maybe in either the game with the Colts or teh Jets he could have made a difference.


Also, I still think they should have offered Ty Law a defined role... for the veteran minimum this was a no brainer

 

[upstater1]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

Yeah I disagree with it. He's not even playing right now. But the money committed to him is stupid. I fully expect one of our young guys to take that position and hold it dow n well. Committing Randy Moss money to Samuel would be ridiculous.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

I disagree.
- First, Asante was not a "shutdown corner" by definition - he was a ballhawk who would give up a big play for the chance to make a big play.
- Second, O'Neal was meant to be a veteran stopgap until Wheatley was ready, injuries happen.
- Third, the money Asante got was used to bring in a pool of young talent who are developing well; he may be the man in Philly, but they will be picking before NE in the draft.

Ty Law was offered O'Neal's job, he didn't want it - recall also that when they singled him up against Gaffney, Cassel still went to Gaffney to move the team up the field - Ty Law is no longer Ty 'effing' Law, arthritis happens too.

 

[WhiZa]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

The Patriots front seven will always be where there money is spent. Samuel is a great story, but the Patriots aren't going to put money over a multiple years into that position.

 

[xmarkd400x]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

Samuel got paid way too much for what, here in NE, seems to be a scheme position more than anything else. Other positions, like the DL, are where the true bruisers are needed.

Sure, you need talent everywhere, but this kind of defense needs it the most on the D-Line. Imagine if we had a 3-4 defense and each player could be blocked by one OLineman? It would be the 2002 4-game losing streak all over again.

 

[Pats726]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

I disagree.
- First, Asante was not a "shutdown corner" by definition - he was a ballhawk who would give up a big play for the chance to make a big play.
- Second, O'Neal was meant to be a veteran stopgap until Wheatley was ready, injuries happen.
- Third, the money Asante got was used to bring in a pool of young talent who are developing well; he may be the man in Philly, but they will be picking before NE in the draft.

Ty Law was offered O'Neal's job, he didn't want it - recall also that when they singled him up against Gaffney, Cassel still went to Gaffney to move the team up the field - Ty Law is no longer Ty 'effing' Law, arthritis happens too.

I agree here totally...he wasn't worth the money..plain and simple. So look at where the Eagles are? What BIG contribution has Asante made?? Waiting...waiting... He wanted way too much money..the FO made a good decision..

 

[j00fek]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

i always wanted to see rodney go but it looks like we don't have the replacement that i thought we had in meriweather/sanders. his coaching skills are badly missed at this point and it is evident.

 

[dhamz]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

Letting Asante go wasn't a mistake, paying him would have been a mistake.

The question is did they make mistakes in how they repalced him.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

i always wanted to see rodney go but it looks like we don't have the replacement that i thought we had in meriweather/sanders. his coaching skills are badly missed at this point and it is evident.

Rodney had played in how many seasons when he was signed here? I know it's fashionable to bag on Sanders, but think back to 2006 and Eugene Wilson taking Rodney's leadership role in the secondary - Sanders is in a similar situation and this secondary is by no means as inept as that one. I got to watch yesterday's game off the DVR after learning the Pats lost, so I was analyzing it while watching and Sanders was rock solid out there from my TV camera angle - O'Neal was the guy being picked on. Meriweather is a young pup, give him a little more time.

 

[DarrylS]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

I agree here totally...he wasn't worth the money..plain and simple. So look at where the Eagles are? What BIG contribution has Asante made?? Waiting...waiting... He wanted way too much money..the FO made a good decision..

They usually do...

 

[fgssand]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

Does anyone disagree with this?

Marcus, you must be a very rich man because you can see into the future.

You knew that letting Asante walk would not work out because you knew our #1 draft choice would be lost for the season, our two of our experienced safeties (Wiliams & Rodney) would be lost for the season and you also knew Samuael could not possibly have played very well for the Eagles, so he should have stayed??

Who would you have removed from the squad to pay for his contract?

Since you are so far ahead of us all, can you not see the defense getting younger and faster in front of your eyes?? Do you think this can be done in one season?? Fact is as they "retool" they are still winning.

 

[ScottieC]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

Does anyone disagree with this?
Shut down corners are not easy to find.
AS has played really well for the eagles (I have watched all of their games).

The Patriots simply could NOT replace him and his ability to get turnovers.

Every JAG they have brought in has not come close to his production level.

I am not saying they would be super bowl contenders, but maybe in either the game with the Colts or teh Jets he could have made a difference.


Also, I still think they should have offered Ty Law a defined role... for the veteran minimum this was a no brainer

Shut down corner? Please.

Shut Down corners are as rare a player as Tom Brady is a QB.

CB's like to say they are a "Shutdown" Corners. But the last Corner that I saw play that was Shutdown was Dieon Sanders.

 

[PatsDeb]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

I don't think it was a mistake. He's been injury prone in Philly and wanted too much money. If he would have taken less to stay then it was a mistake to let him go, but I recall he was looking for the biggest payday available and had no special allegiance to the Pats.

Just a bummer (rather than a mistake) that he wanted a lot of $$ and we couldn't find an adequate replacement.

 

[Jimke]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

Asante was obviously overpaid by the Eagles. The mistake by the

Patriots was not planning ahead for his departure. Signing a lot of

castoffs to one year minimum contracts has not provided an adequate

replacement. Wheatley and Wilhite may or may not be the answer.

Looking to the future, the Patriots have to expend a day one pick on

a cornerback. I'd also like to see them up the ante for a proven

veteran cornerback. There is no way the Patriots will go after

Asomugha. Perhaps they would consider a cornerback just below

him.

 

[fumbrunner]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

The secondary looks worse than it probably is due to the fact that the Pats are getting ZERO pressure on the QB. They miss AD in there and Vrabel has done nothing all year. THAT is our big problem.

 

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

FYI-the Eagles are in LAST place in the NFCE and WON'T MAKE THE PLAYOFFS!!!! So whether he's playing good or bad for them, he's been a BAD investment overall!

 

[WhiZa]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

FYI-the Eagles are in LAST place in the NFCE and WON'T MAKE THE PLAYOFFS!!!! So whether he's playing good or bad for them, he's been a BAD investment overall!

They signed him after they were last in turnovers last season. Now they are in the top 10 even with him missing 3 games, so it was a good investment in that regard. The problem is that he's taking up money that could have been spent in other places to shore up the rest of the team. Which is what would have happened to the Pats if they tried to outbid the Eagles.

 

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

They signed him after they were last in turnovers last season. Now they are in the top 10 even with him missing 3 games, so it was a good investment in that regard. The problem is that he's taking up money that could have been spent in other places to shore up the rest of the team. Which is what would have happened to the Pats if they tried to outbid the Eagles.

I know-but pt being that if you're going to make an investment like this, it BETTER pay dividends by winning alot of football games.

Alot like when the Vikings traded a couple of high picks for Jared Allen-sure, they're surging and are atop of the NFCN thanks to a much improved pass rush, but they're only 7-5, not all that great, and will likely be one and done in the playoffs. In the long run, those 1st and 3rd picks they won't have next year could very well come back to haunt them, as they have some glaring holes to fill.

The same could be said for the Jets acquiring an ageing Brett Favre, especially if they continue to play like they did yesterday.

Overall-this is the big downside into betting the house on only one player.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

Alot like when the Vikings traded a couple of high picks for Jared Allen-sure, they're surging and are atop of the NFCN thanks to a much improved pass rush, but they're only 7-5, not all that great, and will likely be one and done in the playoffs. In the long run, those 1st and 3rd picks they won't have next year could very well come back to haunt them, as they have some glaring holes to fill.

That trade was for 2008 draft picks, not 2009.

 

[DisgruntledTunaFan]

Re: It looks like letting Asante walk may have actually been a mistake

That trade was for 2008 draft picks, not 2009.

Yeah, that's what I meant-but either way, especially if they don't go far this year, even those lost picks could come back to haunt them.