How will Asante react with the Franchise tag put on him?

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

No player likes the franchise tag placed on him - How will Asante deal with it?

Will he be a problem in terms of attitude? or will he simply play as hard and as good,or even better this year so that he hits the market for even bigger dollars next year?

Some players become a locker room disruption because they simply don't want to be with their current team with the tag and want to already make the guaranteed long term big money immediately while some guys just go about their business and do what their team requires and expects from them and await the big payoff the following year- We will see what happens with Asante soon I am sure,I have really heard nothing from Samuel in the media yet regarding his opinion on it and I look forward to it,from a reputable media source of course....

 

[SoonerPatriot]

I have a feeling it's going to get very, very ugly before it's all said and done.

Wouldn't suprise me to see him pull some of the same kind of crap Branch did last year. My worry is in the meantime thinking we have Samuel in the fold, we'll let Grambo go and then later on Samuel refuses to honor his contract (franchise) and we'll trade him for picks that aren't going to help us in 2007 and we'll have lost them both in the process.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

i think he'll be traded and it won't be an issue but if he isn't traded I assume he'd rather make $8M than not.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I have a feeling it's going to get very, very ugly before it's all said and done.

Wouldn't suprise me to see him pull some of the same kind of crap Branch did last year. My worry is in the meantime thinking we have Samuel in the fold, we'll let Grambo go and then later on Samuel refuses to honor his contract (franchise) and we'll trade him for picks that aren't going to help us in 2007 and we'll have lost them both in the process.

If he doesn't sign the tag he is under no obligation to honor a contract he did not seek.

Asante's agent is saying all the right things, as is BB. I think if they see a serious effort on the part of the team to work on a contract more in line with what he will now here from teams and see with Clements, they will be fine. If on the other hand the team doesn't appear interested in dramatically increasing their earlier offer, then they better be prepared to trade him when his agents informs them he believes that is in everyone's best interest. I doubt he and his agent care at this point - sounds like they knew this was inevitable and as long as everyone remains cooperative Asante should see his money one way or the other before draft day.

The big problem with Deion was he was under contract and his agent chose to be uncooperative and frankly the FO chose to ignore them like somehow the situation would magically turn itself around. That was foolish on both of their parts. They won't play chicken with Asante because getting value for him this season matters or they likely would have just settled for the comp pick in 2008. And Shavers sounds like a guy who knows better than to burn his bridges while his client is standing on them.

 

[spacecrime]

The best news is that the agent reversed himself and isn't upset about the tag. At least that is what the Globe reported. Earlier the agent said Samuel would be very upset to be tagged, and that could get ugly quickly.

If the Pats intend to trade Samuel, perhaps this means preliminary work is done and the agent concurs with trade.

If they intend to try to sign him, even better. This might mean they are close to an agreement.

The biggest problem with the tag is that players don't want to get hurt because they have no long term security. That is why most tagged players do not sign their tags until just before the opening game, so as not to get hurt in preseason. (And to avoid the two-a-days.) Unfortunatley, this also means they are unfamiliar with the plays, etc. Only way around this is to do what the pats did with AV the second time he was tagged and AV was annoyed. Promise that if he comes to came and practices, they won't use the tag the following year.

It all depends on Samuel and how he feels (not that I want to re-visit the other thread). I really really hope they sign him or trade him. If they require him to play under the tag it could get nasty.

 

[DarrylS]

This is one of those damned if you do and damned if you don't, he does not really have a choice as if he is franchised and stays on the team (which I still do not believe) he is playing for a contract. If he holds out he will be labeled a headcase or a troublemaker.. his only real choice is to continue play at a high level.

 

[everlong]

Remember Branch was losing game checks of less than 100k/game. Samuel would be losing game checks at just under 500K/game. Big difference.

I think he'll be either signed long term or dealt (more likely) before the draft. Once 3/1 hits his agent is going to go out and see what teams will offer. Once that happens the Pats will decide if they can fit that into their value system and go from there.

 

[3 to be 4]

the Patriots know that Samuel knows that if he wants big money he will have to play at a very high level in 2007, and it gives the Patriots time to draft another CB in the meantime. Its very similar to when the Patriots knew Ty Law's contract was coming up and they drafted Wilson and Samuel.

Im very happy knowing they have him for 2007. If they can sign an impact LB and use their draft picks well, not to mention getting Harrison and Wilson back, they can more than make up the 4 points that kept them from winning their 4th in 2006.