Now they have given up this option.
This is a cave in plain and simple.
It's not a cave if you give up something you under no circumstances would want anyway.
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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.Now they have given up this option.
This is a cave in plain and simple.
I don't think the pats want to do that under any circumstances. They don't even want to risk having the franchise out there, because if he signs it, it's guaranteeed. The pats would then have to RISK trying to trade him....and suppose they couldn't? Stuck with 10M to this jerk.
So the Pats basically gave up a right they didn't want anyway. Plus it says to samuel that he needs to play really hard in order to get his big money.
What's kind of confusing is the "we won't franchise you if you play in x% of the plays"....well if he plays in less than x%, why would you WANT to franchise him? He'd either be injured or a malcontent.
You answered your own question, without realizing it. You gave a series of arguments why they would never franchise him, then you wonder why they have retained that right under some circumstances.
It's obvious! It's because your earlier assertion that they would never consider franchising him next year is just plain wrong. If they didn't care, as you say they don't, they would have completed this deal in July.
Um...yes. I do. AND I think they'd give up a #1 pick to do it. But now they won't. Because the Patriots caved despite having all the leverage.
I agree. I'd rather see him sit out to week 10 this year, knowing that we could trade him for a high draft pick in the off season.
So it's really about the signing bonus.
But do you think anyone will give Asante Samuel a $20 million sigining bonus?!?!
I mean, in all truth, the guy has had one "star quality" season. Other than that, he has been good and solid, but not among the NFL elite.
He has to put a few of them together, ala Champ Bailey, Ty Law, et al, before we start talking about that kind of dough in Foxboro!
Anyways, I think that all the stipulations are a smoke screen. I don't believe that the Patriots would have given up the franchise tag without the guarantee of a long term contract in place. Now, I KNOW they can't sign a long term deal now. But the Pats certainly COULD negotiate the contract and then negotiate an agreement where that contract would go into place as soon as the season ended. And that if Samuel didn't sign that agreed contract, then the Pats could slap him with the franchise tag.
I think you got it all right here..they really were not caving in here..I think they knew they would not franchise him at that large amount of money..so in fact they really were giving up nothing. I agree this might be a high point..and with another stellar season..gone. But I think you are correct..just a bit down, he is affordable and will be a solid CB in their system. A long term deal is more probable now.No, they couldn't, because the agreement to not tag him is written in his contract, an agreement to enter a long term deal as soon as the season ends is the same as agreeing to a long term deal so it couldn't be written into the deal (which gets reviewed by the management council before it is in effect), and side agreements unless written are uninforceable.
This was a good faith gesture that is pretty indicative that they do really want him long term even if they haven't been able to come to terms this off season. I always felt that was the case once they didn't trade him by draft day. His value was likely never going to be higher. Buy low, sell high. They didn't. They are now in fact hoping that his value drops just a little, back into the very good young corner range (which is all they really need or can afford in this system) as opposed to being touted as a top 5. If it does they will be able to get a long term deal done. If it doesn't they will get a 3rd rounder in 2009 in compensation rather than a late first or more likely early second in 2008 (or 2009 first) which may seem to some to be a tremendous loss only because they aren't factoring in the value of the opportunity to play this out for another 6 months and potentially get a deal done with him that they can financially live with.
I think you got it all right here..they really were not caving in here..I think they knew they would not franchise him at that large amount of money..so in fact they really were giving up nothing. I agree this might be a high point..and with another stellar season..gone. But I think you are correct..just a bit down, he is affordable and will be a solid CB in their system. A long term deal is more probable now.
Where this will get really fun is if he misses the requirments to avoid the franchise (reported to be % of snaps or team wins). If he doesn't meet the requirements and the Patriots franchise him he will be so pissed! It will be great fun.
It would most likely be great fun for Samuel. If he doesn't make the snap % he probably had an injury plagued year and the day they slapped the 10m a year guarenteed tag on him he'd show up on their doorstep and sign it.
They caved, no other way to put it. The odds of a long-term extension are virtually nill, they may be 'good will' and warm and fuzzy feeling but the day free agency starts the conversation is about 'getting paid'. The Patriots become just one of the many teams who will inquire about his service.
There is nothing wrong with their approach, they will get 5 years of service out a 4th round pick (3+ years as a starter). A very good investment, and as others have said they should get a 3rd or 4th round pick in 2009.
Where this will get really fun is if he misses the requirments to avoid the franchise (reported to be % of snaps or team wins). If he doesn't meet the requirements and the Patriots franchise him he will be so pissed! It will be great fun.
For now, welcome back #22 we are a better team with you.
1) Shawn Alexander says hi. The media thought it was a foolhardy move on the Seahawks part to waive the re tag to get him into camp in 2005 because he was sooooo gone to FA after the season. Then they signed him to a long term deal right after the season ended which he credited to the good will that concession generated allowing them to continue to talk throughout the season.
2) They didn't cave any more than they did when topping off Richard's bank account to get him in or shipping Branch to a new team willing to give him exactly what he wanted.
They made concessions in those situations as well, lets remove the word 'cave', it somehow seems to make people mad and nervous that the unwavering Patriots FO actually has to play on the same field as everyone else.
It is called negotiation, and it is a two way street, nothing wrong with it at all. I am glad Samuel is here and ready to go.
There is no way you can say that for sure..UNLESS you know what their long term thoughts are on him. They may be giving up something they did not want. They may be OK with the situation after this year. Keep repeating that..maybe if you say it a thousand times you'll get the truth of it.They caved, no other way to put it.
There is no way you can say that for sure..UNLESS you know what their long term thoughts are on him. They may be giving up something they did not want. They may be OK with the situation after this year. Keep repeating that..maybe if you say it a thousand times you'll get the truth of it.