Samuel wants to stay a Patriot...

[BadMoFo]

but knows it will take a lot to keep him here.

By Pat Bigold
Globe Correspondent / February 8, 2008
HONOLULU - Asante Samuel said "it's gonna take a lot" to keep him a Patriot.

But the 27-year-old unrestricted free agent cornerback, who has spent his five-year career in New England, added that on a scale of 1 to 10, he'd probably rate his chances of coming back a 10.

"The fans love me and I love them back," he said. "The organization loves me and, hopefully, we can work it out."

Samuel had six interceptions during the regular season and has 22 in his career. He's returned three for touchdowns.

"It's gonna take a lot to make me happy and my family happy," said the first-time Pro Bowler after an AFC practice session at Kapolei High Wednesday. Samuel is one of six Patriots who will play in the all-star game Sunday at Aloha Stadium.

Asked how much he thinks he's worth, Samuel threw the question back at his interviewer: "You take a guess and see if you can hit it. It's no secret I'm looking for a big, huge, blockbuster deal."

Samuel's agent, Alonzo Shavers, is also in Hawaii and said he won't begin talking with the Patriots until after the Pro Bowl.

Samuel, who made $7.79 million this season after being designated the team's franchise player and sitting out most of training camp, was the last Patriot to arrive in Hawaii. He flew in late Tuesday.

"I was just relaxing in Phoenix and getting squared away," he said.

Samuel had a chance to stop the Giants' winning drive in Sunday's Super Bowl when he got his hands on an errant pass by Eli Manning with 1:15 left.

The missed opportunity haunts him.

"I could have made the play and ended the game," he said. "I didn't see the replay yet, but I know it hit my fingertips. But the kind of player I want myself to be, I believe I should have had it."

If he had it to do over, "I think I would have jumped a little higher so it would have gone in the palm of my hand rather than my fingertips," Samuel said. "I probably misjudged it a little bit."

Asked if the Patriots' game plan was flawed in their 17-14 loss, Samuel was adamant.

"No, we basically just broke down and didn't make plays," he said. "I'm never gonna criticize my coaches about things you guys may have thought they did wrong. I thought it was a perfect game plan but we just didn't make the plays."

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

I'm sure he does - as long as we also offer him the most money. Bye Asante.

 

[signbabybrady]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

I would not waive bye yet....

There is one big difference here that doesn't usually appear in these types of negotiations. Samuels realize the way he was treated was not personal and he still wants to stay. Most guys are P.O.ed by know and just want out.
So if we pony up he would chose to stay.

I doubt it works out but here is hoping that there is still a middle ground where we pay him enough to stay.

I am not waiving good bye to him just yet as he is a player in the prime of his carreer and the type of guy you want in your secondary.

 

[BPF]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

I would not waive bye yet....

There is one big difference here that doesn't usually appear in these types of negotiations. Samuels realize the way he was treated was not personal and he still wants to stay. Most guys are P.O.ed by know and just want out.
So if we pony up he would chose to stay.

I doubt it works out but here is hoping that there is still a middle ground where we pay him enough to stay.

I am not waiving good bye to him just yet as he is a player in the prime of his carreer and the type of guy you want in your secondary.

I agree. I think a long term deal can be worked out here. It's hard to find a top flight corner and we are better off using the #7 to make our team younger on D (maybe even trading down) not to replace Asante.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

If there is a corner the scouts see as a potential future great or a guy in FA that BB sees as a good fit then there won't be a discussion and Asante sees the door on the way out of New England.

 

[QuinielaBox]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

Send Assante Samuel to Kansas City. Bring back Ty Law.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

I agree. I think a long term deal can be worked out here. It's hard to find a top flight corner and we are better off using the #7 to make our team younger on D (maybe even trading down) not to replace Asante.

It would be PERFECT to re-sign him, draft a CB in the 2nd or 3rd round and use the #1 pick on a LB or RT or trade down. However, I don't think we'll get any discount from Samuel, I think we pay full price before FA or he gets on the market and I expect him to go. If we could get a total contact discount by giving him more guaranteed or in the bonus I'd be all over it as he's young enough and had been durable for a few years now; I don't expect it to happen though.

 

[Caspir]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

"It's gonna take a lot to make me happy and my family happy," said the first-time Pro Bowler after an AFC practice session at Kapolei High Wednesday. Samuel is one of six Patriots who will play in the all-star game Sunday at Aloha Stadium.

Asked how much he thinks he's worth, Samuel threw the question back at his interviewer: "You take a guess and see if you can hit it. It's no secret I'm looking for a big, huge, blockbuster deal."

Yea, okay kid. You think your chances of coming back are a ten, and this is your stance? Have a nice career.

 

[pheenix11]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

What do you think he wants and what the Pats will realistically offer him?

I'm guessing he wants more per year than his franchise figure and the Pats will offer less.

 

[mgteich]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

green and white

 

[Ring 6]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

I think we are dealing with a different mentality than we dealt with one year ago.
I saw a different Samuel this year, albeit, from a distant vantage point.
I saw a guy who had become a team player, somewhat of a leader. (He was the most vocal "60 minute" guy). I saw a guy who took a lot of pride in the run to perfection. Personally, I think Samuel is among those most disappointed by the ending of the season.
No doubt his financial situation over the next 50 years of his life will be in large part determined by this contract, so he'd be a fool to not take money into consideration, but IMO, this is a guy who a year ago didn't care where he played, and today, that is a factor that is at least somewhat significant. We will see.

 

[aluminum seats]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

He wants a "huge, blockbuster, mega, ginormous" deal. There's really no way he's staying, unless other teams, looking at the Patriots, decide that if the Pats aren't going above X for a guy they shouldn't either. But that won't happen--too many GMs will always confuse signing a big check with being clever.

To them, if they can point to a big FA signing it's their way of generating fan excitement and holding on their jobs another year. It's only later, when the team sucks--but hey, look at out expensive CB!--does everyone realize they've been had and kick him out. Then a new guy comes in, and it's lather, rinse, repeat.

 

[Ring 6]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

He wants a "huge, blockbuster, mega, ginormous" deal. There's really no way he's staying, unless other teams, looking at the Patriots, decide that if the Pats aren't going above X for a guy they shouldn't either. But that won't happen--too many GMs will always confuse signing a big check with being clever.

To them, if they can point to a big FA signing it's their way of generating fan excitement and holding on their jobs another year. It's only later, when the team sucks--but hey, look at out expensive CB!--does everyone realize they've been had and kick him out. Then a new guy comes in, and it's lather, rinse, repeat.

That can be interpretted different way.
He could be saying he is for sale to the highest bidder.
Or he could be saying he knows that what he will be offered will be a huge blockbuster deal, and he thinks on a scale of 1 to 10 the chance of being a Pat is 10, because he knows they will be in the neighborhood, and thats good enough.
What we have no clue about is what the discussions have been to this point.
Its not out of the question that his stance is that he wants at least certain level and if the Pats offer that he doesnt care what else is out there. We just don't know what is inside his head. And never will from disecting his quotes, and giving our own meaning to them.

 

[Steve1iron]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

Samuels is done as a Patriot. He has always worshipped at the altar of money. It means everything to him to have his big payday. He's not the kind of guy to give the team a discount to stay and win. This team survived before him and will survive quite nicely after him. He will free up $7 to $8M that can be used to add some speed to the defense. His replacement will be drafted in the 1st or 2nd rounds.

 

[Pats726]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

Haven't we heard this before?? I want to stay but I want the money as well?? Wasn't this similar to what Woody said after 03?? More wanting to stay AND get the bucks wanted?? Diffrerent personalties, different positions and MAYBE different results....But when I read that, THAT wa sthe first thing I thought of...I know the Patriots will do the right thing..so it REALLt doesn't matter. If he worships the last penny...see ya..that is so so simple.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

If Asante's looking for a "huge, blockbuster" deal, he'd better accept that he's not going to get it here.

 

[Tunescribe]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

... looking for a "huge, blockbuster" deal ...

Loyalty to the greenback. This is what I hate more than anything about professional team sports.

 

[aluminum seats]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

That can be interpretted different way.
He could be saying he is for sale to the highest bidder.
Or he could be saying he knows that what he will be offered will be a huge blockbuster deal, and he thinks on a scale of 1 to 10 the chance of being a Pat is 10, because he knows they will be in the neighborhood, and thats good enough.
What we have no clue about is what the discussions have been to this point.
Its not out of the question that his stance is that he wants at least certain level and if the Pats offer that he doesnt care what else is out there. We just don't know what is inside his head. And never will from disecting his quotes, and giving our own meaning to them.

I'm not sure how "I want a huge deal" can be interpreted different ways, but OK.

 

[#12]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

Id love to have Asante back, but there's no way the Pats offer him a huge blockbuster deal. Think of how that would effect our other signings.

 

[D-cleater]

Re: Samuel wants to stay a Patriot ...

Ok, someone please tell me, what in football is more predictable than a FA looking for a big contract saying that he wants to stay with his present team? I mean c'mon, I'm fine with this being a message board discussion but is it really a headline? What else would he say? It's want to drive up his price and he will go to the highest bidder in order to "feed his family" . LOL.

I know we all want to discuss something positive, but I have to say that there is NO WAY Asante "Get Paid" Samuel is a Patriot next year. NO friggin way.