Samuel already projected as HOT CB FA!

[JR4]

" Asante Samuel UFA New England Patriots
Samuel has shown growth over the course of his three-plus years of experience, and at only 25 years of age, he’ll be a hot commodity. If the Patriots don’t sign him to an extension, suitors will be lining up to try and acquire the talented cornerback. His coverage skills have developed and some are even talking about a possible Pro Bowl invite. This season is quickly becoming a breakout year, and it could lead to a nice payday for Samuel, which doesn’t bode well for the Patriots; but, expect the Patriots to try hard to lock up the UCF product with an extension."

http://www.footballsfuture.com/2007/nfl/freeagentsDB.html

Will PATS pay?

One factor in this. PATs have two #1s and there will a few worthy CBs
from what I read.

 

[satz]

He was on WEEI and said he would love to stay and also finished off saying it is what it is .
So it looks good.

 

[Patriots4Ever]

I sure hope the pay,we really need to get this guy resigned.I have always been on the Asante Samuel Bandwagon since he was drafted,Ive felt he would come into his own.Im to the point and have been since late last year where I feel confident that that half of the field will be shut down more often than in years past.He's no Ty Law,But he is sure developing into something special..

 

[zippo59]

The media has such a short attention span. All it takes is one great game and they start wetting themselves. I like Samuel a lot, but where was this talk before the Bears game?

 

[mgcolby]

He was outplayed by Hobbs at the end of last season and probably would be this year to if it wasn't for the cast. I hope he stays but when both are healthy Hobbs is better in coverage.

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

I've always liked him as a #2, but it wasn't until this season that he established himself as a #1. Every game he is improving, and he now seems like an established #1, although it took me a while to get over some of his inconsistency in the past. But he looks better and better, and hopefully he can keep playing at this level. We need it!

I think that the Pats will see his value and attempt to get him re-upped, but all this media hype ain't going to help!

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

He's not getting the PI calls against him this year that he did last year which is odd. Maybe he's gaining his respect and Hobbs doesn't have his yet.

 

[smg93]

He was on WEEI and said he would love to stay and also finished off saying it is what it is .
So it looks good.

Sounds like Deion Branch doesn't it...

 

[kptmorgan04]

Sounds like Deion Branch doesn't it...

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

[zippo59]

Sounds like Deion Branch doesn't it...

At least Samuel is playing out his contract.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

I've always liked him as a #2, but it wasn't until this season that he established himself as a #1. Every game he is improving, and he now seems like an established #1, although it took me a while to get over some of his inconsistency in the past. But he looks better and better, and hopefully he can keep playing at this level. We need it!

I think that the Pats will see his value and attempt to get him re-upped, but all this media hype ain't going to help!

Sigh, which game tape shows Asante as the #1 CB? I agree he is improving in terms of his big play ability, but he is more likely to give up the big play than Hobbs. I hope to see him re-signed, not only because he is an improving player, but also because he understands the defense and that has been a four year process for him.

 

[edgecy]

It is what it is and what it is is that Samuel won't be here after this season. You can take that to the bank.

 

[ATippett56]

Sounds like Deion Branch doesn't it...

You beat me to the punch!

 

[ATippett56]

At least Samuel is playing out his contract.

Meanwhile, Deion Branch was a Super Bowl MVP and Tom Brady's favorite wide receiver.

 

[ATippett56]

Sigh, which game tape shows Asante as the #1 CB? I agree he is improving in terms of his big play ability, but he is more likely to give up the big play than Hobbs. I hope to see him re-signed, not only because he is an improving player, but also because he understands the defense and that has been a four year process for him.

Personally, if the Buffalo Bills do not franchise Nate Clements, I would rather acquire Clements than re-sign Samuel if the contracts are somewhat similar.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Defense wins superbowls. Not necessarily Deion branch.

I'd like to see Samuel signed. He has stepped up big time. This defense needs playmakers.

 

[Miguel]

Personally, if the Buffalo Bills do not franchise Nate Clements

The Bills can not franchise Clements. They gave up that right as part of their agreement with Clements this year.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

At least Samuel is playing out his contract.

He had no choice but to after the way he played for most of 2005. Even Rosenhaus would have been hard pressed to get him anything more than an incentive and option laden deal with little bonus money. So they rolled the dice with an eye toward 2007.

Asante is a ballhawk. That's fine when you can make the pick. Until this season he struggled with his hands. And the QB's he has amassed his 6 picks against in just 3 games are not exactly the creme de la creme of the league even when they aren't struggling (Culpepper (2), Losman (1), Grossman (3)). When this front 7 doesn't mount an exceptional pass rush, or we face elite tandems, Asante is often still lost in the shuffle. Early on in Sunday's game he gave up a 47 yard completion to the NE 7. When the game was still scoreless and our offense was scuffling to sustain a drive. He was in position to break up the pass, but he played for the INT and missed. Luckily for him Grossman fumbled a botched handoff on 3rd and 5 and Seymour recovered it. Otherwise we might have been down 3 or even 7 and the entire tenor of the game could have changed dramatically. And the talking heads who saw this marquee game might not be touting a member of this heretofor much maligned secondary quite so loudly.

I hope he stays, but I doubt he will. I think he likes us and all, but he wants his biggest possibly payday more. It's a free country and he's well within his rights, but coming off a season in which his value plummeted and heading into a contract season, he chose not to participate in the off season program here this spring because his wife was expecting their second child. We do have some pretty nice hospitals in the greater Boston area. I think if he gets a big offer from a team closer to home and hearth he is gone. I think BB would be winning to give him a pretty nice deal with lots of incentives, but it will be the guaranteed money than makes his decision.

 

[5 Rings for Brady!!]

Sigh, which game tape shows Asante as the #1 CB? I agree he is improving in terms of his big play ability, but he is more likely to give up the big play than Hobbs. I hope to see him re-signed, not only because he is an improving player, but also because he understands the defense and that has been a four year process for him.

Well, I've been calling him an inconsistent #2 for a long time, amid some protests. When I say he looks like an established #1, I mean in very recent history, which is why I emphasized that he has improved and also needs to keep up the level of play. In other words I am personally not all that sold on the fact that he will maintain a high level of play until I see it through the playoffs. Perhaps I should have emphasized that point but then somebody would accuse me of busting on him. That's how it goes around here.

Maybe it sounds like I'm giving him too much credit for a good game, but I certainly don't mean to imply that I see him as a shut down corner or pro bowl player. Just serviceable, if you will. In our system, we don't often seem to have shut down corners, except for the Ty Law years. And perhaps Hobbs will fill that role, size limitations and all. He is a gamer.

I have always said that Asante will likely be gone in free agency for greener pay days, and I don't feel any differently about that.

 

[SoonerPatriot]

I'd like to see him return, however let some other team throw a mountain of money at him and then find out he's basically a glorified nickle back.