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Sorry - but there's not much else to talk about.
First, two assumptions :
1 - Samuel would play the whole season if we promised not to re-tag him after 2007.
2 - The Patriots would decline such as offer to protect their investment at the end of 2007 (keep him tradable).
I think these assumptions are valid as that's what happened with Branch so it's reasonable, though not guaranteed, that the sides would feel the same way with Samuel.
Additionally the reason I think Samuel thinks the Patriots aren't being fair is their demand for two #1s to trade him. Unless a team forks over that incredibly high price, Samuel is stuck.
So . . . middle ground time.
Samuel plays this year including reporting to training camp on time. The Patriots DO NOT promise to not Franchise him next year. However they do agree to take less than two #1s in compensation. Whether that agreement is for one #1 or a #2 would be negotiable - but clearly the less the Patriots are willing to take the more likely Samuel could get his longterm deal while the Patriots would still get to trade him.
It seems like a win-win. The Patriots get their player now and can still trade him for a valuable draft pick but not the insane price of two #1s. Samuel gets his $8M now and knows that he'll get his long term deal next year as the agreed to trade price would be reasonable enough that someone would pay it.
Honestly I'd take a #2. Get Samuel in for this year and have two picks in each of the first three rounds next year. And Samuel could rest assured knowing someone would trade a #2 for him - his only problem would be having an equally, or close to equal, good year next year. And that might be a real problem.
First, two assumptions :
1 - Samuel would play the whole season if we promised not to re-tag him after 2007.
2 - The Patriots would decline such as offer to protect their investment at the end of 2007 (keep him tradable).
I think these assumptions are valid as that's what happened with Branch so it's reasonable, though not guaranteed, that the sides would feel the same way with Samuel.
Additionally the reason I think Samuel thinks the Patriots aren't being fair is their demand for two #1s to trade him. Unless a team forks over that incredibly high price, Samuel is stuck.
So . . . middle ground time.
Samuel plays this year including reporting to training camp on time. The Patriots DO NOT promise to not Franchise him next year. However they do agree to take less than two #1s in compensation. Whether that agreement is for one #1 or a #2 would be negotiable - but clearly the less the Patriots are willing to take the more likely Samuel could get his longterm deal while the Patriots would still get to trade him.
It seems like a win-win. The Patriots get their player now and can still trade him for a valuable draft pick but not the insane price of two #1s. Samuel gets his $8M now and knows that he'll get his long term deal next year as the agreed to trade price would be reasonable enough that someone would pay it.
Honestly I'd take a #2. Get Samuel in for this year and have two picks in each of the first three rounds next year. And Samuel could rest assured knowing someone would trade a #2 for him - his only problem would be having an equally, or close to equal, good year next year. And that might be a real problem.