From ESPN's Michael Smith:
Another interesting tidbit I heard tonight was that the Jets made a strong push to land Asante Samuel during his visit with the Eagles Friday. Who knows what's gotten into the Jets? Keep in mind the Jets have paid a reported $44 million in guarantees to free agents Alan Faneca (highest-paid offensive lineman), Calvin Pace (seven sacks last year in first season playing OLB in 3-4), and Damien Woody, and another reported $20 million to Kris Jenkins (I heard it's really 9 million) after he was acquired via trade with Carolina. I'm told New York was willing to make Samuel, whose position head coach Eric Mangini coached when the two were in New England, the highest-paid defensive player in league history with a contract offer bigger than the six-year, $72 million contract and $30 million signing bonus the Colts gave Dwight Freeney last year. But Samuel had targeted Philadelphia as his next team, with Tennessee as his fallback choice. Samuel didn't want to end up like Nate Clements, with a record-setting contract on a losing record. He felt like Philadelphia was closer to being a contender plus there he isn't the face of the defense. Samuel ended up getting a six-year deal with Philly that with escalators could be worth as much as $61.5 million. He got $23.6 million guaranteed ($20 million up front) and will receive $32.1 million over the first three years of the deal. So the Jets likely would have paid in up fronts and guarantees what Samuel is due to make over three years in Philly. The Jets, as they say, are not fooling around this offseason.