When you have Asante Samuel as the prized top FA, you KNOW it was a weak FA period

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Don't get me wrong,Asante was a very good player for us but to be the top prize in the FA market shows how truly bad this offseason is of available Free Agents compared to recent years like last season when there were at least 3 big names and we copped 2 of them in Stallworth and the top prize A. Thomas

In a better FA year Samuel may have not have been even in the top 5 of the best players out there but this year it was a bad group and Asante picked the PERFECT time and year to become contract-free and find the BIG $$$ he may not have received if it was a year or two from now which I would expect to be a better selection of players available.

Some guys have all the luck....

 

[Watson's IQ]

Re: When you have Asante Samuel as the prized top FA,You KNOW it was a weak FA period

I disagree, and I think you're undervaluing Samuel.

Samuel > Stallworth. I don't think it's particularly close either, so your argument really falls apart there.

 

[dhamz]

Re: When you have Asante Samuel as the prized top FA,You KNOW it was a weak FA period

Don't get me wrong,Asante was a very good player for us but to be the top prize in the FA market shows how truly bad this offseason is of available Free Agents compared to recent years like last season when there were at least 3 big names and we copped 2 of them in Stallworth and the top prize A. Thomas

FA classes are going to be weak because teams are using the CBA increase in cap to lock up the top guys never allowing them to get to FA.

If Stallworth was one of the top 3, doesn't that say last year was weak? Stallworth has never even had a 1000 yd season.

Samuel is at least the equivalent of Nate Clements who many considered the best or second best guy on the FA board last year.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: When you have Asante Samuel as the prized top FA,You KNOW it was a weak FA period

I disagree, and I think you're undervaluing Samuel.

Samuel > Stallworth. I don't think it's particularly close either, so your argument really falls apart there.

Stallworth was dissapointing last year but for teams looking for a good WR in FA last year he was highly sought

I just think there were so many good players at so many different positions last year that it was a super FA period and was stocked with talent,This year its much more a grab bag and full of players with head injuries or concussions or some medical problem or age that makes you think twice,There is not too much good talent as in the past few years and especially bad at Linebacker and Quarterback

 

[JoePats]

Re: When you have Asante Samuel as the prized top FA,You KNOW it was a weak FA period

Is the OP saying that Stallworth last year was a bigger catch than Samuel? Come on that's idiotic.

 

[bigjunk1]

Re: When you have Asante Samuel as the prized top FA,You KNOW it was a weak FA period

Randy Moss was an available FA. He's pretty good...

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: When you have Asante Samuel as the prized top FA,You KNOW it was a weak FA period

FA classes are going to be weak because teams are using the CBA increase in cap to lock up the top guys never allowing them to get to FA.

If Stallworth was one of the top 3, doesn't that say last year was weak? Stallworth has never even had a 1000 yd season.

Samuel is at least the equivalent of Nate Clements who many considered the best or second best guy on the FA board last year.

I think Stallworth was valued for consistent 600-800 yard seasons and looked at as a #2 by some teams and #1 by others who thought he could improve,He would have been our #1 before Moss arrived.

 

[dhamz]

Re: When you have Asante Samuel as the prized top FA,You KNOW it was a weak FA period

I think Stallworth was valued for consistent 600-800 yard seasons and looked at as a #2 by some teams and #1 by others who thought he could improve,He would have been our #1 before Moss arrived.

If he was valued by a lot of teams - why did he only end up with a 1 year prove it to me deal?

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: When you have Asante Samuel as the prized top FA,You KNOW it was a weak FA period

If he was valued by a lot of teams - why did he only end up with a 1 year prove it to me deal?

Obviously the Patriots rarily lock up a player for more than a year or two unless he has been proven worthy in the team system,You should have already known that.

When was the last time a player got a multi year contract who joined NE and never played for them before?,None that I can remember but maybe on a rare occasion like in Welker and Thomas and of course the cap is a factor as well.

 

[signbabybrady]

Re: When you have Asante Samuel as the prized top FA,You KNOW it was a weak FA period

Is the OP saying that Stallworth last year was a bigger catch than Samuel? Come on that's idiotic.

not to mention Stallworth was on the market agian this year so even if he was one of the better guys last year he is out there again so that would be a wash in his arguement.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

not to mention Stallworth was on the market agian this year so even if he was one of the better guys last year he is out there again so that would be a wash in his arguement.

I don't think he was as prized this year as last year because he was not a very integral part of the Patriots offense despite the team being the highest scoring offense ever - and thats saying something and will drop your stock.

If Stallworth was the one with Moss numbers I guarantee you he would have been a day 1 first FA prized pick over Asante,but of course if he did have those types of numbers like Moss,NE probably would have retained his services anyway

 

[Watson's IQ]

Re: When you have Asante Samuel as the prized top FA,You KNOW it was a weak FA period

I think Stallworth was valued for consistent 600-800 yard seasons and looked at as a #2 by some teams and #1 by others who thought he could improve,He would have been our #1 before Moss arrived.

I'm not saying he wasn't valued. You made the case that he was more valuable as a free agent last year than Samuel is this year. That is not true. I'm not even 100% sure that A. Thomas was a bigger FA than Samuel.

I may agree with you that this year's free agent class isn't as deep, but the fact that Samuel was on the top of it isn't any indication of that. The guy is a very good player and a star, I don't know why that's so difficult to grasp for some people around here.

Is Stallworth a top 10 receiver? Resoundingly no.

Is Samuel a top 10 corner? Resoundingly yes.

 

[BradyManny]

Re: When you have Asante Samuel as the prized top FA,You KNOW it was a weak FA period

Samuel and Stallworth are both mildly overrated.

But AD was a bigger signing than Samuel. Asante is a pretty good corner, and a great corner in our cover 3 playing zone. Frankly, I agree with the perception that Hobbs has better man skills than Asante, but there's no denying Samuel is one of the best in the league at guessing and jumping routes. That's fine, but you're either a shutdown corner or you're not, and he's not. You can't be a shutdown corner when you're not good enough to play both sides of the field and teams can choose to line up their best receiver away from you. Maybe Asante is the first "shut down [the #2 receiver on the team]" corner....

 

[dhamz]

Re: When you have Asante Samuel as the prized top FA,You KNOW it was a weak FA period

That's fine, but you're either a shutdown corner or you're not, and he's not. You can't be a shutdown corner when you're not good enough to play both sides of the field and teams can choose to line up their best receiver away from you. Maybe Asante is the first "shut down [the #2 receiver on the team]" corner....

Shutdown corner is the most overused phrase in the NFL. There are none. The rules are now set so there can't be any. You'll get good cover guys and playmakers at CB now but no one who won't get beat simply because you can't touch the WRs.

You'll see years where a good corner never gets the ball thrown his way but that usually has more to do with the inept guy on the other side (see Oakland in 07, Denver in 06) than him shutting down a side of the field. Once the team upgrades at their other CB spot, suddenly the shutdown corner gets thrown at again (see Denver 2007).

 

[Rob0729]

Re: When you have Asante Samuel as the prized top FA,You KNOW it was a weak FA period

A couple of things:

1.) Donte Stallworth was not a big free agent last year. No one really wanted to give him a big deal. He basically came to the Pats to rehab his career and cash in this offseason.
2.) Donte Stallworth was a free agent last year and this year. So I don't think he factors into the difference between this year's and last year's free agency.
3.) Last year was a better free agent class especially at the top with Nate Clements and Adalius Thomas. Both are arguably better than this year's best. Last year also had Graham, Kris Dielman, Eric Steinbach, Patrick Kerney, London Fletcher-Baker, Deon Grant, and Cato June to name some. There were more depth and quality of free agents last year.

 

[BradyManny]

Re: When you have Asante Samuel as the prized top FA,You KNOW it was a weak FA period

Shutdown corner is the most overused phrase in the NFL. There are none. The rules are now set so there can't be any. You'll get good cover guys and playmakers at CB now but no one who won't get beat simply because you can't touch the WRs.

You'll see years where a good corner never gets the ball thrown his way but that usually has more to do with the inept guy on the other side (see Oakland in 07, Denver in 06) than him shutting down a side of the field. Once the team upgrades at their other CB spot, suddenly the shutdown corner gets thrown at again (see Denver 2007).

Right, so by definition, Asante Samuel cannot dominate at his position or dominate a game. In fact, CB is unique in that sense, a QB can take over a game, a wide receiver can take over a game, a good OL can dominate, a good DL will dominate, etc....CBs are easily avoided, and in Asante's case, even more easily neutralized by the fact that you knew he would only line up on one side of the field. So how can he be worth as much as he got? He's not, the Eagles paid too much.

 

[signbabybrady]

Re: When you have Asante Samuel as the prized top FA,You KNOW it was a weak FA period

I don't think he was as prized this year as last year because he was not a very integral part of the Patriots offense despite the team being the highest scoring offense ever - and thats saying something and will drop your stock.

If Stallworth was the one with Moss numbers I guarantee you he would have been a day 1 first FA prized pick over Asante,but of course if he did have those types of numbers like Moss,NE probably would have retained his services anyway

I think you would be wrong. by your thinking Moss was not a priority signing this year because it didn't happen day one.

Not to mention that we gave Donte a contract that had an out clause because we had concerns about the deal and the Browns gave him millions in guarenteed money.

 

[D-cleater]

Re: When you have Asante Samuel as the prized top FA,You KNOW it was a weak FA period

When was the last time a player got a multi year contract who joined NE and never played for them before?,None that I can remember but maybe on a rare occasion like in Welker and Thomas and of course the cap is a factor as well.

Just off the top of my head, I'm sure there are a lot more. not including rookies ofcourse

2007 - Adalius Thomas
Wes Welker
Sammy Morris
Kyle Brady
Rashad Baker

2006 - Chad Scott
Mel mitchell

2004 - Rosevelt Colvin
Corey Dillon

2003 - Rodney Harrison
Tyrone Poole

2002? - Roman Phifer

2001 - Mike Vrabel