Asante playing for a contract...

[Dank Franklin]

I've never really bought too much into the old "playing for a contract prior
to a free agent year". However, watching the incredibly mediocre Asante Samuel this year, my opinion has changed. As bad as the Pats' cornerbacks have been for the past couple years, Asante has never proved himself a top ten, or even top twenty cornerback. Yet here he is leading the league in picks the year before he becomes a free agent. Watching his selfish play today, taking a sure pick away from his fellow defender in hopes of padding his stats really pissed me off. What could have been a major turning point in the game, turned into a "could have been pick" for good ol' Asante. I guess what really bothers me is that some idiot team will pay Asante top five cornerback money in the offseason, and the Pats secondary will become that much worse. What the hell are the Pats going to do to finally solidify the weakest component of their defense in an offseason that will feature Asante Samuel as one of the best cornerbacks?

 

[Hok]

Watching his selfish play today, taking a sure pick away from his fellow defender in hopes of padding his stats really pissed me off. What could have been a major turning point in the game, turned into a "could have been pick" for good ol' Asante.

That's hardly fair. Hawkins was coming up behind Samuel. How was he supposed to know he was there?

 

[Dank Franklin]

He was directly facing Hawkins and tipped the ball right out of his hands.

 

[RayClay]

I've never really bought too much into the old "playing for a contract prior
to a free agent year". However, watching the incredibly mediocre Asante Samuel this year, my opinion has changed. As bad as the Pats' cornerbacks have been for the past couple years, Asante has never proved himself a top ten, or even top twenty cornerback. Yet here he is leading the league in picks the year before he becomes a free agent. Watching his selfish play today, taking a sure pick away from his fellow defender in hopes of padding his stats really pissed me off. What could have been a major turning point in the game, turned into a "could have been pick" for good ol' Asante. I guess what really bothers me is that some idiot team will pay Asante top five cornerback money in the offseason, and the Pats secondary will become that much worse. What the hell are the Pats going to do to finally solidify the weakest component of their defense in an offseason that will feature Asante Samuel as one of the best cornerbacks?

Amazing how guys can just do that.

We need to trade all our draft picks and just sign free agent cornerbacks to one year contracts.

Obviously anybody can get interceptions if they're tryin'.

Maybe we can pay them by the game like day laborers. The ones who can't make interceptions have to go back to hanging out in front of Home Depot

 

[Hok]

He was directly facing Hawkins and tipped the ball right out of his hands.

I'll have review the game on DVR, but I seem to remember Samuel facing the QB when he tipped it initially, then turning around to catch it off the tip, and realizing too late to pull up that Hawkins was waiting to catch it.

 

[Dank Franklin]

I'll have review the game on DVR, but I seem to remember Samuel facing the QB when he tipped it initially, then turning around to catch it off the tip, and realizing too late to pull up that Hawkins was waiting to catch it.

I didn't TIVO it and granted I'm going off my own personal recollection of the play. But I distinctly remember all my boys going ape s&@# over the play, screaming that Asante "stole" a sure pick from Hawkins. Regardless, my point is that I'm very, very concerned about the future of the Pats secondary. It seems like eons have passed since their secondary has been a force to be reckoned with. With the injury status of Harrison and Wilson, I find myself holding my breath every time the opposition throws one up. Unless they draft a lock of a stud cornerback in next year's draft, I just don't see the secondary situation getting any better.

 

[Dank Franklin]

I'll have review the game on DVR, but I seem to remember Samuel facing the QB when he tipped it initially, then turning around to catch it off the tip, and realizing too late to pull up that Hawkins was waiting to catch it..

I didn't TIVO it and granted I'm going off my own personal recollection of the play. But I distinctly remember all my boys going ape s&@# over the play, screaming that Asante "stole" a sure pick from Hawkins. Regardless, my point is that I'm very, very concerned about the future of the Pats secondary. It seems like eons have passed since their secondary has been a force to be reckoned with. With the injury status of Harrison and Wilson, I find myself holding my breath every time the opposition throws one up. Unless they draft a lock of a stud cornerback in next year's draft, I just don't see the secondary situation getting any better.

 

[Pat_Nasty]

Wasn't the first time I've seen a possible INT slip away because two defenders were both going for it.

Happens fairly regularly, actually, and usually between teammates not in contract years.

Given the amount of time you have to think about these things while the ball is in the air, the accusation of intentional selfishness to rack up his stats at the expense of an easier play seems a little specious to me.

 

[skri65]

I've never really bought too much into the old "playing for a contract prior
to a free agent year". However, watching the incredibly mediocre Asante Samuel this year, my opinion has changed. As bad as the Pats' cornerbacks have been for the past couple years, Asante has never proved himself a top ten, or even top twenty cornerback. Yet here he is leading the league in picks the year before he becomes a free agent. Watching his selfish play today, taking a sure pick away from his fellow defender in hopes of padding his stats really pissed me off. What could have been a major turning point in the game, turned into a "could have been pick" for good ol' Asante. I guess what really bothers me is that some idiot team will pay Asante top five cornerback money in the offseason, and the Pats secondary will become that much worse. What the hell are the Pats going to do to finally solidify the weakest component of their defense in an offseason that will feature Asante Samuel as one of the best cornerbacks?

WR is the most selfish group in football. CB, I believe, come 2nd. You see a ball in the air, you jump at it. Sure, you can blame asante for batting it up in the air trying to get it. If he knew 100% that Hawkins would have had it, he woudln't have jumped up for it.

But you can hardly say it was selfish. Would you have rather no one jumped for it?

 

[CheerforTom]

Amazing how guys can just do that.

We need to trade all our draft picks and just sign free agent cornerbacks to one year contracts.

Obviously anybody can get interceptions if they're tryin'.

Maybe we can pay them by the game like day laborers. The ones who can't make interceptions have to go back to hanging out in front of Home Depot

We tried that with Poteat, he went to the Jets. I miss him...

 

[RayClay]

We tried that with Poteat, he went to the Jets. I miss him...

And all we needed to do was dangle a big contract in front of him. It wouldn't have to be that much either, compared to what he's making now.

I'm sure he'd decide to start intercepting too, with that incentive.

When's Hobbs up? He should be good for 9-10 in his contract year.

 

[Miguel]

Good for him.

He has 5 more INTS than the rest of the DBs combined.
One more forced fumble
7 more defended passes.

 

[jczxohn1]

It was nice to see some passes defended by Samuels. INT's are nice, but passes defended/PI penalty ratio is a more telling stat, IMO.

 

[RayClay]

Good for him.

He has 5 more INTS than the rest of the DBs combined.
One more forced fumble
7 more defended passes.

Agreed, absolutely. I've always been a big Asante fan, he's been a consistent performer witha great nose for the ball.

He caught a lot of undeserved crap for playing under difficult circumstances last year, but he played hard and hurt, I'm sure.

He's playing with confidence and holding on to balls he used to drop.

If you can find a better cornerback with a 4th round pick, sign him.

As always, I'll leave the negotiations to the professionals, but I hope they find a way.

 

[MDD]

Amazing how guys can just do that.

We need to trade all our draft picks and just sign free agent cornerbacks to one year contracts.

Obviously anybody can get interceptions if they're tryin'.

Maybe we can pay them by the game like day laborers. The ones who can't make interceptions have to go back to hanging out in front of Home Depot

Of course to re-sign him might require overpaying him by 20%, which would, in your words, "break the bank and turn us into the Redskins."

Which one is it?

 

[SeanBruschi54]

HMMM.....

7 Ints for Asante this year which is more than hes had ever combined in his career. Still playing very well making tackles and deflecting passes.

Hmm.... So he might looking at a big contract especially in this market.

So we might need to franchise tag Asante to get anything.

 

[Prufrock]

I am pleased with Asante's play over the past few games, but we all need to remember that interceptions are one of the most deceptive stats in the NFL. The truly amazing corners ie, Champ Bailey, Deion Sanders, Ty Law, Rod Woodson, etc. all really don't have that impressive interception numbers. Ty Law in his prime was getting like 2-5 interceptions a year. If there was some stat like "passes thrown to", it would be a much better stat to judge a cornerback on than interceptions.

Asante is getting a lot of picks this year because he is kind of in that cornerback purgatory where he is pretty good, but not great.

 

[RayClay]

Of course to re-sign him might require overpaying him by 20%, which would, in your words, "break the bank and turn us into the Redskins."

Which one is it?

Never overpay. If you want a player and he wants to stay you negotiate a mutually agreeable contract.

By definition you are paying him exactly what you want to.

Overpay refers only to meathead owners like Snyder who don't know what they want or need.

I believe the Patriots signed Tom Brady and Richard Seymour as well as Daniel Koppen.

All were as tough or tougher negotiations than a very good 4th round cornerback.

Overpay by it's very definition means you screwed up and are not in control.

 

[RayClay]

I am pleased with Asante's play over the past few games, but we all need to remember that interceptions are one of the most deceptive stats in the NFL. The truly amazing corners ie, Champ Bailey, Deion Sanders, Ty Law, Rod Woodson, etc. all really don't have that impressive interception numbers. Ty Law in his prime was getting like 2-5 interceptions a year. If there was some stat like "passes thrown to", it would be a much better stat to judge a cornerback on than interceptions.

Asante is getting a lot of picks this year because he is kind of in that cornerback purgatory where he is pretty good, but not great.

Also, he always had a good nose for the ball, he's just holding on to them this year.

Great point that the great ones in their prime simply aren't thrown to.

 

[Krugman]

Deossie and Burton were taling about Samuel last night on the late sports,they didnt think he would be back re some of the reasons you mentioned....too bad,we need some good db's.