After 11 pages perhaps this is a good summary
Now that the Pats have franchised Samuel, here are the possible consequences of this event.
1. Samuel signs the tender and plays for the Pats in 2007 for $7.7MM and becomes a UFA, again at the end of the season
- IMHO this would be the best deal for Samuel. He gets a hugh GUARANTEED pay check next season and if he has production anything like last season, he can hit the FA market and get even more than he would have this season, because he would have proven that 2006 wasn't a fluke year.
2. The Pats can work out a trade before training camp starts - First lets get this straight NO ONE is going to give the Pats 2 first round picks and THEN pay Samuel $40MM+ over 5 or 6 years with a $10-12MM signing bonus (as reported what he was looking for). If the Pats want to trade him, it would be for a mid to low first and 3rd or 4th....if that.
Think about it. Assante Samuel is kind of a one year wonder. Up to this season he's been a decent CB who has consistantly improved each year. However he doesn't have blazing speed, quickness, or size that would make a team think he can single handedly take over one side of the field, which is what you would have to think to give up multiple high draft pick AND THEN give someone a LT contract worth over $40MM.
I just don't think there are a lot of teams that would think that's a good deal. I'd be willing to bet the Seahawks would like a do over on the Branch deal. They now have a huge chunk of cap space given to their WRs and won't pick until around 8pm on draft day. I can see why they'd do it, thinking Deon was the missing piece on a football team that was a serious superbowl threat. Instead they were only one loss away from giving us a first rounder in teens and though a playoff team, they were a playoff team by default and Deon's numbers weren't any better than Caldwell's (even though I believe Branch is a much better WR.
3. The Pats sign Branch to a long term deal. It would be a mistake to make side by side comparisons between what happened with Branch and what WILL happen with Samuel. REMEMBER, the Pat VALUE the CB position much higher than it does the WR position. So I'm sure the Pats are offering now more than what they were willing to pay Branch. Secondly part of the friction between Branch and the Pats was the fact that Branch was STILL UNDER CONTRACT while he was holding out. Samuel is an UFA, who has been franchised with all the good and bad that go along with that, and thus far looks like he understands the business ramifications about the tag...for now.
4. Samuel hold out until training camp OR LONGER, before he signs his tender. THIS is what I DON'T want to see happen. It will be a distraction, and will hurt not only HIS play, but the team's as well.
My advice, if I were his agent would be to sign the tender immediately, GUARATEEING the not so insignificant sum of $7.78 MILLION DOLLARS for the 2007 season. Then trying to work out a LT contract or a trade. If Samuel did this, and didn't threaten a hold out, he would be taking the high road in this negotiation and will benefit in the long run no matter where he winds up playing
No one wants to hear ANOTHER pampers pro athlete proclaim, "I CAN'T believe that my team is screwing with my future by Franchising me, and FORCING me to only take $7.7MM for next year!!!! Man, I got to think about my family's future". That rant will fall on deaf ears