Asante Samuel by Jackie MacMullen - WTF?????

[shmessy]

No complaints about MacMullen, she's one of the best and is just doing her job and getting the scoop, but I can't believe Samuel is talking about this to the media the day before the playoffs.

www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/01/07/payment_due

The other unbelievable part is his clueless friend, Benny Sapp playing for Hermie Edwards (every player's best buddy who pays top dollar for our FA's, but turns in pathetic performances every year - all ya have to do is watch last night's game for the most recent example).
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"It would be a shame if he has to leave. Asante has fallen in love with the place. I know he'd rather stay, but he also knows it's business. They make that pretty clear up there. They just don't pay their players like other teams.

"My question is, why wouldn't you pay a guy who has been consistent every year? This is his fourth season and he keeps getting better and better.

"I don't know what's going on with the Patriots, but let me tell you this: Forget all that talk about the 'system.' The system doesn't make the player; the player makes the system. That's not why he's picked off all those balls."
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Yeah, Benny, there's a problem with the NE system.......Herman Edwards, however is on the right track - - too funny.

 

[PATSNUTme]

I don't care about this. Let Samuels play in the playoffs like he deserves a big contract.

I'll worry about his leaving in the off season. There is too much to think about right now.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

I don't think he has been consistent. He has steadily improved every year and this year had a breakout year.

Last year he was flagged for alot of PI calls.

 

[shmessy]

I don't care about this. Let Samuels play in the playoffs like he deserves a big contract.

I'll worry about his leaving in the off season. There is too much to think about right now.

EXACTLY.

So why is he talking about this, in these terms, to the Boston Globe at this time?

Shut up and play, Asante.

 

[fgssand]

Franchise his ass....Patriots helped in no small way to make him what he is. He is coming across ungrateful.

 

[shmessy]

Franchise his ass....Patriots helped in no small way to make him what he is. He is coming across ungrateful.

They'll probably franchise Graham. The top 5 TE's don't make what the top 5 CB's make.

Somehow (sarcasm) the Pats will find a way to survive without Asante Samuel.

In the meantime, #22, shut up and play. Quit running to the media on the eve of the playoffs with your contract gripes.

I have a problem anytime a player under contract starts complaining about the NEXT contract with the media. The issue is compounded when he does it the day before the playoffs start. That is the proverbial kick to the groin - - he knew what he was doing.

 

[RayClay]

Get paid? LOL! He'll enjoy the Redskins.

Guess that extra 1st round pick will come in handy. Maybe we'll hit with another 4th rounder.

 

[Mainefan]

I think intercepting 10 passes is a great achievement, but I would like to know the numbers concerning Samuel's other achievements:

What percent of passes against him were completed?

How many yards were gained by opponents by passing in his direction?

How many touchdowns did he allow?

How many tackles did he have and how many did he miss?

My point is that there is a lot more to judging a cornerback than the number of interceptions he comes up with.

Interceptions are certainly nice and very useful, but some of them are pure luck--the tips, the stupid passes from quarterbacks who can't tell which jersey color is there, etc. The interception number is suggestive, but not conclusive.

In my opinion, if we look at Asante Samuels' body of work, his entire career, what we see is a capable although somewhat inconsistent CB, but not a superstar. The best thing we can say about him is that he's gotten better over time.

So, I don't think we should do any financial acrobatics to retain him. Offer him what he's worth. And if he walks, there's no reason to go into mourning. We'll find a replacement. At this point in time, he is NOT a core member of the team.

 

[shmessy]

My point: Is this guy even a "Patriot" for griping to the Boston Globe about his next contract THE DAY BEFORE THE PLAYOFFS START?

For that alone, screw him.

 

[LloydBraun]

Mainefan hit it on the head. The guy is good, but has had an up and down career to date.

Do teams shy away from throwing his way? NO

Is he a shut down? NO

Is he a good young corner, benefitted by being on a good team? YES

Samuel will get a bunch of cash from the Jets or Packers in the offseason and he will leave.

I think the pats should extend Graham right away, then franchise Samuel and trade his rights. perhaps a #2 and a #4 from the Packers?

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Terrible move by either the reporter of Assante for having this come out before the Pats play one of the biggest games of the yr... Stupid..

 

[ArmyPatsFan]

Agreed....having something like this come out now is in poor taste for Samuel and the globe imo. Nothing good can come out of releasing this now. Sounds like Assante had pretty much made up his mind...just hope he makes a few tackles today instead of trying to pick off every throw.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Well I think right now Id pay Daniel Graham over Assante, since he is all about the cash.. Good for him, and good for any player .. But this goes to show where is heart is today.. I just hope he plays a little better than he talks...

 

[shmessy]

Agreed....having something like this come out now is in poor taste for Samuel and the globe imo. Nothing good can come out of releasing this now. Sounds like Assante had pretty much made up his mind...just hope he makes a few tackles today instead of trying to pick off every throw.

The Globe isn't part of the Patriots organization. It's not their job to supress a story because of loyalty to the Patriots. This is not the old Soviet Union and they are not supposed to be Pravda.

That being said, Asante Samuel IS a Patriot employee and the hell with him for doing this.

 

[BelichickFan]

I don't care whether he's playing for the money today or the win, this is one reason I think Belichick is fine having players reach free agency - you get their production in their contract year. Asante sees $$$ every time he picks off a pass - it's a win - win

 

[Ichiro]

I hope he goes to the Chiefs. He'll love Camp Herm Edwards. He loves to take it easy on the veterans. Lots of nice words.

But don't expect to win in the playoffs. You could see the look in Ty Law's face yesterday. He was playing a hell of a game, but the coaching sucked.

I'm starting to hate our players who complain about the Patriots' system. Players are great, but the talent level in the NFL is about the same across the board. It is the "system" that helps us win Super Bowls. At least respect it by not mouthing off to the Globe about "disrespect".

 

[shmessy]

I hope he goes to the Chiefs. He'll love Camp Herm Edwards. He loves to take it easy on the veterans. Lots of nice words.

But don't expect to win in the playoffs. You could see the look in Ty Law's face yesterday. He was playing a hell of a game, but the coaching sucked.

I'm starting to hate our players who complain about the Patriots' system. Players are great, but the talent level in the NFL is about the same across the board. It is the "system" that helps us win Super Bowls. At least respect it by not mouthing off to the Globe about "disrespect".

The funniest quote in the article was from Benny Sapp of the Chiefs. The timing of his quote appearing (I know he made it before yesterday's debacle) in the Globe today is priceless.

Yeah, the Chiefs have the right system!

 

[Amanichai]

Point Blank: This is not good. If we're upset about it obviously his teammates and coaches are upset about it. This is a piss poor selfish move by Asante with the potential to mentally knock some of the players out of the game before it begins.

 

[Amanichai]

Well I think right now Id pay Daniel Graham over Assante, since he is all about the cash.. Good for him, and good for any player .. But this goes to show where is heart is today.. I just hope he plays a little better than he talks...

They're ALL about the cash. Football is a short lived career and you need to make what you can. Since asante has helped us win two superbowls and has had a break-out year I think Asante should go after the money, it's just his timing is off. Talking about stuff like this to the media before a big game is thoughtless and selfish. After it is all said and done, if you want to go after the money and the pats don't give it to you, then move on.

We all know that the pats are going to try to get the most out of you for the least amount as possible. IT'S SMART BUSINESS. And by doing business that way they put players like Asante and Deion and vinateri in positions where they can go to other teams and get TOP DOLLAR. WTF are they mad about???

 

[dtbrks]

Bad timing for this, but I believe this was done on purpose from Samuel.
Oh well, have a nice career somewhere else.