Maybe Asante's on to something . . .

ctpatsfan77 · Nov 29, 2006

FOXBOROUGH -- Asante Samuel wants Patriots coach Bill Belichick to know that wide receiver Troy Brown isn't the only one capable of playing both ways. With Brown's cameos in the defensive backfield becoming common, Samuel would like to try his hand -- or hands -- at wide receiver.

"Every DB thinks they can play receiver," said Samuel. "I'm one of those top DBs who thinks he could play receiver. If you're looking for a receiver, put me in because I think I could play."

It would be tough for the Chicago Bears to argue with the dreadlocked defensive back after he intercepted quarterback Rex Grossman three times yesterday as New England picked off the NFC's top team, 17-13, at Gillette Stadium. The three interceptions were a career high for Samuel, tied the Patriot game record, and matched the number of Grossman passes caught by Muhsin Muhammad , who was Chicago's second leading receiver.

I'm wondering if maybe, somehow, the Pats might be able to use this to convince Asante to stay in New England. ["Sign with us, Asante, and we'll let you play WR, too. Who else in the league would let you even try?"]

MoLewisrocks · Nov 29, 2006

"I'm one of those top DBs..."

I fear that the sentiment expressed at the beginning of his second sentance is the one that will stand in the way of his staying in NE. Tell you the truth, I also heard a few too many I's in his postgame comments this week. Especially from a guy we didn't hear hardly a peep from postgame over the last year and a half.

zippo59 · Nov 29, 2006

MoLewisrocks said:
"I'm one of those top DBs..."

I fear that the sentiment expressed at the beginning of his second sentance is the one that will stand in the way of his staying in NE. Tell you the truth, I also heard a few too many I's in his postgame comments this week. Especially from a guy we didn't hear hardly a peep from postgame over the last year and a half.

I interpreted that to mean that he is one of the DB's at the top of the lost who would like to play WR.

Seymour93 · Nov 29, 2006

MoLewisrocks said:
"I'm one of those top DBs..."

I fear that the sentiment expressed at the beginning of his second sentance is the one that will stand in the way of his staying in NE. Tell you the truth, I also heard a few too many I's in his postgame comments this week. Especially from a guy we didn't hear hardly a peep from postgame over the last year and a half.

Getting 3 INT's in an NFL game would make you feel pretty good about yourself I'd imagine. Prepping for Martz's offense should bring him back down to earth this week. However he could be back on cloud nine going up against a QB like Kitna.

RayClay · Nov 29, 2006

If he could play receiver he'd have 20 interceptions a year. LOL

He's got a good nose for the ball, it's catching them that has been his problem.

Hell of a bargain for a 4th rounder. Yeah, he's using the "I" word, but that pretty much comes with the territory for a CB or WR.

I've always been a huge Asante fan, especially when a lot of people dissed him last year.

Business is business. I hope we can sign him. Either way, I'd like some DBs high in the draft next year.

Bella*chick · Nov 29, 2006

He said the same thing on Cold Pizza yesterday. If he could play any position other than DB, he'd be a receiver and he takes offense at the general notion that DBs are DBs because they can't catch.

shakadave · Nov 30, 2006

Asante does have good hands for a DB. Best on our team. I'm amazed at how bad some DBs' hands are. Some can't catch a ball as well as my mother can.

mgcolby · Nov 30, 2006

He is catching the ball this year, but he is not someone I would trust to catch a deep ball from Brady.

The guy couldn't catch a cold last year until the Jax game. He needs to bring his head out of the clouds.

I hope Zippo is right about his meaning of "Top DB" because he is anything but a Top DB hell he isn't the best CB on his own team.

But for the love of god Asante keep playing for that contract.

Rob0729 · Nov 30, 2006

Why is it that every CB who starts to wrack up the INTs all the suddem want to play WR or return kicks. Ty Law always wanted to kick returns. Champ Bailey has been talking about playing WR. Deion Sanders unsuccessfully did play some WR.

Troy Brown plays CB because he wants to. In fact, he doesn't. He plays because we are depleted at the position. Why would we risk injury at a position we are already short handed to allow Samuel to play WR?

I do think Samuel thinks he is a top DB in the league. He is leading the NFL in INTs. He probably thinks he is one of the best now. Many CBs are full of themselves at least a bit. It is the nature of the position.

Kdo5 · Nov 30, 2006

Uh oh..."top DB"...he's getting a little full of himself already after the big game.

Box_O_Rocks · Nov 30, 2006

mgcolby said:
He is catching the ball this year, but he is not someone I would trust to catch a deep ball from Brady.

The guy couldn't catch a cold last year until the Jax game. He needs to bring his head out of the clouds.

I hope Zippo is right about his meaning of "Top DB" because he is anything but a Top DB hell he isn't the best CB on his own team.

But for the love of god Asante keep playing for that contract.

Exactly, I love how he looks in his Patriot colors, but he's bounced enough balls off his paws for me to know he would really need to hit the jugs machine before I'd consider him at WR. I love how people automatically pick him to be #1 CB because he has the interceptions, and I don't mind paying him at the low end of elite CBs to retain him, but Hobbs is the #1 CB and the more consistent man in coverage (NEM, that means consistently better, not consistently short in classic NEM ignorance).

mgcolby · Nov 30, 2006

Box_O_Rocks said:
Exactly, I love how he looks in his Patriot colors, but he's bounced enough balls off his paws for me to know he would really need to hit the jugs machine before I'd consider him at WR. I love how people automatically pick him to be #1 CB because he has the interceptions, and I don't mind paying him at the low end of elite CBs to retain him, but Hobbs is the #1 CB and the more consistent man in coverage (NEM, that means consistently better, not consistently short in classic NEM ignorance).

I can sum up the difference between Asante and Ellis with one play.

Berrien (sp) goes deep down the middle, Asante has good position, goes for the pick and misses - result a 40+ yard completion. Put Hobbs in the same situation and he knocks the ball away for an incompletion.

Hobbs is best CB we have and I don't know how anyone who watches the games can say otherwise?

PatsWickedPissah · Nov 30, 2006

Box_O_Rocks said:
Exactly, I love how he looks in his Patriot colors, but he's bounced enough balls off his paws for me to know he would really need to hit the jugs machine before I'd consider him at WR. I love how people automatically pick him to be #1 CB because he has the interceptions, and I don't mind paying him at the low end of elite CBs to retain him, but Hobbs is the #1 CB and the more consistent man in coverage (NEM, that means consistently better, not consistently short in classic NEM ignorance).

they're within 1 inch of each other in height

shirtsleeve · Nov 30, 2006

mgcolby said:
I can sum up the difference between Asante and Ellis with one play.

Berrien (sp) goes deep down the middle, Asante has good position, goes for the pick and misses - result a 40+ yard completion. Put Hobbs in the same situation and he knocks the ball away for an incompletion.

Hobbs is best CB we have and I don't know how anyone who watches the games can say otherwise?

Hobbs the best we have, maybe. But he finds himself turned around by far too many receivers. He still needs work. Asante is what he is. Not as good in coverage, but also not afraid to take a shot at the pick when he has position (not that this is always a good thing. If he doesn't have a safety over the top, the risk reward ratio is much different). Asante is playing for his contract, so expect a lot of gambling for the rest of the season. More picks. More big plays against him. The coaches will try to get him focused, but his agent has already beaten them to that punch.

AzPatsFan · Nov 30, 2006

This time last year Ellis Hobbs was being mentioned as the future shutdown CB. Thai year he has played with a cast and he has no ability to catch an INT. Nor does he have the ability to tackle as well. He must wrap up with both arms. It requires him to position himself differently when playing receivers than an able bodied CB s he can complete the tackle. It makes him less effective than before, but it hasn't changed is ability to be a pretty good CB, as well.

I hope we are able to keep AS, and we have the money cap to do so, but fans just don't understand the premium that teams pay to first line CBs. These days a team needs at least four QBs of stating quality, to handle multi WRs formations.

wrangler · Dec 1, 2006

This Asante thing has got my interest????

What QBs has he had success against and in what game situation????

Playing for a contract and playing for the Team are two different things me thinks.? jmo

Maybe Asante's on to something . . .

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