Asante...

[Krazy Koz]

I know it's from a fan site, but here is some info:

The Jets are fully expected to pursue Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel when the free-agency period begins in early March.
Samuel, who can play both corner spots, tied Champ Bailey for the league lead in INTs with ten, and also returned one for a touchdown in the Jets' first-round playoff loss. He'd form a strong duo with Andre Dyson.
Source: Newark Star-Ledger

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/Home_NFL.aspx

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

As I have said 1,000 times - that's why we Franchise him, to maintain control of where he goes. Franchise him and going to The Jest is not an issue - unless we trade him there.

 

[Krazy Koz]

As I have said 1,000 times - that's why we Franchise him, to maintain control of where he goes. Franchise him and going to The Jest is not an issue - unless we trade him there.

I got no problem with the Franchise tag, but then a trade is likely to follow and I'd really like to see him back. I'd feel more confident about our secondary if he was back. but hey if we get good trade value that's cool too.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Just dont let the Jets tamper.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

I got no problem with the Franchise tag, but then a trade is likely to follow and I'd really like to see him back.

I'd like him back too. But better to Franchise him and trade him to an NFC team for a low #2 or even less in 2007 than to let him walk to The Jest and get a #4 comp pick in 2008. The only risk is being stuck with him for a year at around $7.8M which is overpaying but for one year it's not a backbreaker.

 

[Krazy Koz]

Just dont let the Jets tamper.

Yeah, then BB and EM would really be at ends... and more crap for the media to overhype.

 

[wdkantro2]

I agree with the franchise tag, but don't forget that is what eventually drove Vinateri out of New England.
On the open market, he is going to get way more than he is worth. He is a great route jumper, but certainly is not a lock down corner. Interceptions alone don't make a lockdown corner.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

I agree with the franchise tag, but don't forget that is what eventually drove Vinateri out of New England.
On the open market, he is going to get way more than he is worth. He is a great route jumper, but certainly is not a lock down corner. Interceptions alone don't make a lockdown corner.

I dont want to hear that sh!t. We made Adam the highest paid kicker in the league for years. On top of all that money he did more endorsements than Peyton Manning for the area.

He left for his own stupid ****ing agenda.

 

[mgteich]

I continue to fascinated by those who think we can trade players not under contract.

 

[wdkantro2]

I dont want to hear that sh!t. We made Adam the highest paid kicker in the league for years. On top of all that money he did more endorsements than Peyton Manning for the area.

He left for his own stupid ****ing agenda.

You misunderstand. I know they offered him MORE than a fair contract. He was pissed at them because they franchised him in the past. It is possible that he just wanted an excuse to rip the Pats though. I just personally wouldn't franchise a guy who you want to keep on your team longterm.

 

[TeamPats]

I continue to fascinated by those who think we can trade players not under contract.

To be fair mgteich, is this not what the Jets just did with John Abraham? I could be mistaken

 

[tatepatsfan]

Asante would have to be franchised and then traded...because then technically he would have a 1 year deal with us.


He is very important to this team. IMO, moreso than Givens, McGinest, or Vinatieri were last year. I really hope he stays with us, and I think he is worth the franchise label, but I hope it doesn't come to that. I'd rank him somewhere between 10-25 in terms of top CB's (I know Curran ranked him around #40 but I disagree), but to us, he is a ballhawk and a gamechanger, and I believe his tackling has improved drastically this season. His cover skills aren't top notch but if he can get near 10 picks again next season, he'd be worth good money.

 

[FirstAndGoal]

I think people are looking at one stat and proclaiming him Champ Bailey. Asantee is a weak/fair tackler and he lacks closing speed. He's got good instincts but he isn't worth the price he'll demand.

 

[cstjohn17]

I continue to fascinated by those who think we can trade players not under contract.

I agree, the franchise and trade scenario seems unlikely to me. Why would a team fork over 30-35 M and a draft pick?

If the Pats franchise him they have to be prepared to pay him the $7-8M tender.

Same old, same old... tell me if you have heard this before.

Players hits free agency, gets a bunch of good offers, the Pats make an OK offer (slightly lower than the others) and the player takes the higher money from another team and leaves. The Pats are a little weaker but life goes on.

The Jets have a lot of holes, using 20-25% of their cap on one position doesn't make a lot of sense. I hope Samuel stays but the chances are grealy diminished once he hits free agency.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

To be fair mgteich, is this not what the Jets just did with John Abraham? I could be mistaken

No, you are not mistaken. That is exactly what we did with Tebucky when he wasn't exactly worth the franchise tag - we tagged and traded him to NO for a nice package of picks.

"Tebucky Jones was signed by the Patriots as a free agent on April 6, 2005 ... He was originally drafted by the Patriots in the first round (22nd overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft ... Traded by the Patriots to New Orleans on April 15, 2003 in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft (56th overall, traded for Corey Dillon), a fourth-round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft (113th overall - Dexter Reid) and a seventh-round choice in the 2003 NFL Draft (239th overall - Tully Banta-Cain)"

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I agree, the franchise and trade scenario seems unlikely to me. Why would a team fork over 30-35 M and a draft pick?

If the Pats franchise him they have to be prepared to pay him the $7-8M tender.

Same old, same old... tell me if you have heard this before.

Players hits free agency, gets a bunch of good offers, the Pats make an OK offer (slightly lower than the others) and the player takes the higher money from another team and leaves. The Pats are a little weaker but life goes on.

The Jets have a lot of holes, using 20-25% of their cap on one position doesn't make a lot of sense. I hope Samuel stays but the chances are grealy diminished once he hits free agency.

Market value is a funny thing. Who'd a thought someone would trade a first round pick for Deion and then pay him $30-35M?

Asante is a pretty hot commodity right now - a lot hotter than Tebucky was bask in the day and probably hotter than Deion was in September as a WR in a late season market.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

I continue to fascinated by those who think we can trade players not under contract.

You know how it works as well as the rest of us, once a new contract and trade with another team are agreed to then the Franchise contract is signed and they are under contract.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

No, you are not mistaken. That is exactly what we did with Tebucky when he wasn't exactly worth the franchise tag - we tagged and traded him to NO for a nice package of picks.

"Tebucky Jones was signed by the Patriots as a free agent on April 6, 2005 ... He was originally drafted by the Patriots in the first round (22nd overall) of the 1998 NFL Draft ... Traded by the Patriots to New Orleans on April 15, 2003 in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft (56th overall, traded for Corey Dillon), a fourth-round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft (113th overall - Dexter Reid) and a seventh-round choice in the 2003 NFL Draft (239th overall - Tully Banta-Cain)"

We didn't get a #2 directly, we actually got a 2003 #3 but then trade it for a #2 the next year which turned into Dillon.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

I agree, the franchise and trade scenario seems unlikely to me. Why would a team fork over 30-35 M and a draft pick?

If the Pats franchise him they have to be prepared to pay him the $7-8M tender.

Sure they have to be prepared to pay it. But a team would pay the contract and draft choice. It happens at least once a year. Heck, Abraham fetched a #1 just last year as a UFA. I'd be heppy with a #3 and controlling where he goes.

 

[Kasmir]

I continue to fascinated by those who think we can trade players not under contract.

I agree. Folks tend to forget that with the singular exception of the franchise tag option, he's not ours at the end of the season. Unless he likes it here enough to give us a discount, he's no more likely to be here next year than any other free agent in the league. Same observation for TBC and Graham.

I'm most hopeful with Graham, as he's cheaper to franchise, and also has been making some pro-Patriots noises since being elected a captain.