Butch Stearns just made a funny

[Miguel]

A couple of minutes ago he opined that drafting a CB with the 7th overall pick would help the Patriots get leverage with Asante Samuel. Free agency starts in early March. The 1st round of the draft is April 26. Does anyone besides Butch really think that Asante will go unsigned for that long??

 

[DaBruinz]

A couple of minutes ago he opined that drafting a CB with the 7th overall pick would help the Patriots get leverage with Asante Samuel. Free agency starts in early March. The 1st round of the draft is April 26. Does anyone besides Butch really think that Asante will go unsigned for that long??

I don't think Samuel will last 57 minutes on the free agency market. Never mind 57 DAYS.

 

[JoeSixPat]

If there was a joke there its in suggesting that the Patriots have any leverage at all.

 

[Truck]

If there was a joke there its in suggesting that the Patriots have any leverage at all.

True and false.

Samuel has no leverage over the Patriots because a 19-0 season says ", we don't need you to still be the favorites next year".

And the Patriots have no leverage over Samuel; Since either they franchise him and have to pay him like 10 million (or whatever the number was); or he says "I'm going to hit the market" and he gets 9mil/year.

Basically, the Patriots have no reason to pay him top dollar. And he probably will not care about taking less than top dollar.

 

[Miguel]

True and false.

Samuel has no leverage over the Patriots because a 19-0 season says ", we don't need you to still be the favorites next year".

And the Patriots have no leverage over Samuel; Since either they franchise him and have to pay him like 10 million (or whatever the number was); or he says "I'm going to hit the market" and he gets 9mil/year.

Basically, the Patriots have no reason to pay him top dollar. And he probably will not care about taking less than top dollar.

FWIW - The Pats can not franchise Samuel.

 

[Wretch]

True and false.



And the Patriots have no leverage over Samuel; Since either they franchise him and have to pay him like 10 million (or whatever the number was); or he says "I'm going to hit the market" and he gets 9mil/year.

I think that the Pats agreed to not franchise AS in the 1 year contract he signed before the season began.

Miguel beat me to it.

 

[Tunescribe]

A couple of minutes ago he opined that drafting a CB with the 7th overall pick would help the Patriots get leverage with Asante Samuel. Free agency starts in early March. The 1st round of the draft is April 26. Does anyone besides Butch really think that Asante will go unsigned for that long??

Stearns is like Mike Adams, he is a baseball guy who doesn't really like football or know much about it.

 

[Rob0729]

Even if there was a scenario where Samuel hadn't signed with someone before the draft, what would drafting a CB with the seventh pick put more pressure on Samuel for? Samuel isn't going to look at this and all the sudden decide to take a 20% discount.

The most Samuel will last on the free agent market is about 2 weeks. So it is a moot point.

 

[Big_Os_Hometown]

FWIW - The Pats can not franchise Samuel.

Can't or WON'T?

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

FWIW - The Pats can not franchise Samuel.

can they transition him?lol

 

[mavfan2390]

We're screwed if we can't franchise him...plain and simple. I doubt there will a number both sides can agree on...I just hope he doesn't sign in the AFC.


Maybe we'll switch to a Tampa 2...who needs corners?

 

[Miguel]

Can't or WON'T?

Can't.

http://www.projo.com/patriots/content/projo_20070909_talk.ba60830f.html
"On Sunday, a league source confirmed the terms that got the cornerback to sign his franchise tender: if he plays 60 percent of the defensive snaps or New England wins 12 games, Samuel will not be franchised again next year. "

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

We're screwed if we can't franchise him...plain and simple. I doubt there will a number both sides can agree on...I just hope he doesn't sign in the AFC.


Maybe we'll switch to a Tampa 2...who needs corners?

I wouldn't say they're screwed. If they upgrade the linebackers with speed in addition to who we have now that will help the secondary plus it will help the front 3. Either way the Pats need to add a playmaker or on defense.

i'd like to see a pass rush specialist in the 4th round.

the first rounder should be a lb whether inside or outside. if they don't go inside that position needs some help in the later rounds or via free agency.

the big question is as many have talked aobut in the draft forum:

if they draft a cd #7 overall does that money come close to what asante would get?? why not pay a few mill extra and retain asante.... a known commodity.

this is why i don't see the pats staying at #7... i see them trading down 10-15.

 

[JoeSixPat]

True and false.

Samuel has no leverage over the Patriots because a 19-0 season says ", we don't need you to still be the favorites next year".

And the Patriots have no leverage over Samuel; Since either they franchise him and have to pay him like 10 million (or whatever the number was); or he says "I'm going to hit the market" and he gets 9mil/year.

Basically, the Patriots have no reason to pay him top dollar. And he probably will not care about taking less than top dollar.

It's a pretty simple equation actually: No franchise = no leverage.

And since he can't be franchised the notion of leverage assumes that Samuel WANTS to play here for LESS than the most lucrative contract offer he can get from any other team and he desparately wants the Patriots to LET him play here for a discount.

It's understandable that not every casual fan realizes this and knows Samuel's tag status, but c'mon, Butch Stearns and other paid "professionals" aren't supposed to be this ignorant.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I wouldn't say they're screwed. If they upgrade the linebackers with speed in addition to who we have now that will help the secondary plus it will help the front 3. Either way the Pats need to add a playmaker or on defense.

i'd like to see a pass rush specialist in the 4th round.

the first rounder should be a lb whether inside or outside. if they don't go inside that position needs some help in the later rounds or via free agency.

the big question is as many have talked aobut in the draft forum:

if they draft a cd #7 overall does that money come close to what asante would get?? why not pay a few mill extra and retain asante.... a known commodity.

this is why i don't see the pats staying at #7... i see them trading down 10-15.

I would be very surprised if the pats drafted a LB in round 1. Belichick seems to prefer to fill holes in his LB unit through free agency, and stick with veterans. From the last couple of years. I think it's far more likely that they sign Karlos Dansby.

The Pats will definitely try to trade down, I would think, and it gets really interesting if they can't. Who do they take then? They won't reach to draft a need, and Belichick doesn't seem to be a fan of drafting LBs, period, so I'd say that, if the talent is there, they grab an OT or a CB.

As for why the Pats don't stay with Asante, I'd say that it's because they have more pressing needs, given that after this year he will be overpaid. Don't get me wrong, he's a good corner, but someone is going to pay him shutdown corner money, and the Pats will have absolutely no reason to match that. Samuel is very good at jumping routes and getting pick-sixes, but that also leaves him prone to giving up big plays, like the touchdown in the Giants game that resulted from him blowing his deep coverage because he jumped the short route.

 

[JoeSixPat]

I would be very surprised if the pats drafted a LB in round 1. Belichick seems to prefer to fill holes in his LB unit through free agency, and stick with veterans. From the last couple of years. I think it's far more likely that they sign Karlos Dansby.

The Pats will definitely try to trade down, I would think, and it gets really interesting if they can't. Who do they take then? They won't reach to draft a need, and Belichick doesn't seem to be a fan of drafting LBs, period, so I'd say that, if the talent is there, they grab an OT or a CB.

As for why the Pats don't stay with Asante, I'd say that it's because they have more pressing needs, given that after this year he will be overpaid. Don't get me wrong, he's a good corner, but someone is going to pay him shutdown corner money, and the Pats will have absolutely no reason to match that. Samuel is very good at jumping routes and getting pick-sixes, but that also leaves him prone to giving up big plays, like the touchdown in the Giants game that resulted from him blowing his deep coverage because he jumped the short route.

Your statement about Belichick & drafting LBs is generally correct - but I'd caution that the reason he hasn't drafted LBs is because he needs a particular type of player, with particular skills and smarts.

Those aren't exactly a dime a dozen and by the time the Patriots usually draft, they're gone.

This year at #7, not necessarilly the case.

So don't discount using #7 on an LB rookie who can start and play well immediately, as opposed to a later pick who needs time to develop - or a free agent or two who might or might not pan out a la Monty Beisel...

Those types of LBs aren't exactly a dime a dozen in free agency either - certainly not at value prices heading into their prime...

I'd say that for LB, much depends on who BB and Pioli have targeted in free agency and how they do when free agency starts. If there's a guy they are sold on and they get him so be it - but if you don't see a starting caliber LB in the beginning of FA, you'll be wanting to change your prediction.

 

[Big_Os_Hometown]

Can't.

http://www.projo.com/patriots/content/projo_20070909_talk.ba60830f.html
"On Sunday, a league source confirmed the terms that got the cornerback to sign his franchise tender: if he plays 60 percent of the defensive snaps or New England wins 12 games, Samuel will not be franchised again next year. "

Link Please

DOH! My Bad

 

[BradyFTW!]

Your statement about Belichick & drafting LBs is generally correct - but I'd caution that the reason he hasn't drafted LBs is because he needs a particular type of player, with particular skills and smarts.

Those aren't exactly a dime a dozen and by the time the Patriots usually draft, they're gone.

This year at #7, not necessarilly the case.

So don't discount using #7 on an LB rookie who can start and play well immediately, as opposed to a later pick who needs time to develop - or a free agent or two who might or might not pan out a la Monty Beisel...

Those types of LBs aren't exactly a dime a dozen in free agency either - certainly not at value prices heading into their prime...

I'd say that for LB, much depends on who BB and Pioli have targeted in free agency and how they do when free agency starts. If there's a guy they are sold on and they get him so be it - but if you don't see a starting caliber LB in the beginning of FA, you'll be wanting to change your prediction.

Fair enough, that sounds reasonable. I suppose that the question now becomes whether or not there are any Belichick-type LBs out there at the top of the draft, and, honestly, I don't watch enough college football to know. My college didn't even have a football team, so that might have something to do with it. I hear James Laurinaitis' name thrown around a lot, but, once again, I really just don't know.

 

[Boston Boxer]

Samuel will get signed to a big contract by another team and he will play out the rest of his career as an average CB...just like the others that chase the money and leave N.E.

I cant think of one guy who has left the Pats for money and had a better year that he did with us.

 

[RayClay]

There isn't a cornerback worth a 7th, but there are a ton from the bottom of the 1st on.

Pats trade down with someone who wants a QB and draft two day 1 CBs.

Remember please, Asante was a 4th round pick. I always liked him and I liked Branch too.

Where are all the desperate sob sisters lamenting how we were so cheap and would never see a pair of WRs like Branch and Givens?

We'll survive just fine if he needs to get top dollar. You never know, maybe he wants to stay?

They'll sign at least one FA CB, maybe a good one.