Asante

[Seymour93]

Asante is gone, nobody is taking short money anymore. Thats what happens when those Super Bowl days are becoming a thing of the past.

Unfortunately I think you're probably right. We better sign someone or draft high at CB because without Samuel the secondary is weak.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Asante is a product of the system. When it works he is a pretty good ball hawk, a capacity he always had except it took a few years of working on his hands to be in position to capitalize on it.

Last year he couldn't have gotten an offer based on his performance on a struggling defense. This year in a spotlight game against the top NFC team whose achilles heel is a young QB beginning to struggle in the second half because he's being encouraged to take shots down the field, and playing with one of the best DL's in the business when they are healthy, he turned in a stellar performance. Caught the talking heads attention and they immediately began touting a guy whose secondary they've been lambasting for the last 18 months. I'm sure his agent is positively giddy.

The way I read Asante he will say mostly the right things about wanting to stay, but he has been focused on this payday for some time now. They have had some preliminary talks based on what he is in Belioli's estimation, and those went nowhere indicating the sides are miles apart. It's shaping up to be a Branch like situation only he couldn't hold out this season because he was so abyssmal for most of last season.

I would guess they will do whatever represents the most value to them. Probably tag and trade if he remains a hot ballhawk down the stretch, or perhaps transition tag him if they think his market has cooled. BB values the position more highly than WR, but there are a couple of positions on defense he truly values more. And we have issues with those short and long term that trump overpaying for a system corner.

 

[Rob0729]

Another way to look at it: Conventional wisdom says that either Graham or Samuel will get paid, unless we're trying to compete with Arizona for "most cap space".

So which one? Graham or Samuel - underrated TE who is injured 3-4 games a year, or "prety good" corner that you'll have to overpay in this market?

I don't think Graham is so underrated. I bet Shanahan makes a hard push for him this offseason. I think there will be several teams willing to pay top dollar for him.

 

[PatsDeb]

I don't think Graham is so underrated. I bet Shanahan makes a hard push for him this offseason. I think there will be several teams willing to pay top dollar for him.

It's difficult to say which one you pay for and which one you let go. It probably comes down to, which one is more easily replaced? I would (reluctantly) say Graham, because we have gotten by for stretches without him before, but we have had so many injury problems in the secondary (compounded with age next season), who are we going to get to replace Asante?

 

[AzPatsFan]

Bth. As it will take $7 mnd $3 million respectively to sign both. And the Pats have the room and more with noone neded resigning for a couple of years, and more room opening up

It will still leave room tfor one FA Lb.

 

[edzo44]

I side with the guys who figure Asante has the ring already so now he'll want to get the most money he can from the highest bidder and Drew Rosenhaus is his agent. He'll get it and he's gone for sure. (Remember, however, that I'm also a guy that thought Seau would be playing with a cast in the playoffs)!

 

[Brady-To-Branch]

Asante is a product of the system. When it works he is a pretty good ball hawk, a capacity he always had except it took a few years of working on his hands to be in position to capitalize on it.

Last year he couldn't have gotten an offer based on his performance on a struggling defense. This year in a spotlight game against the top NFC team whose achilles heel is a young QB beginning to struggle in the second half because he's being encouraged to take shots down the field, and playing with one of the best DL's in the business when they are healthy, he turned in a stellar performance. Caught the talking heads attention and they immediately began touting a guy whose secondary they've been lambasting for the last 18 months. I'm sure his agent is positively giddy.

The way I read Asante he will say mostly the right things about wanting to stay, but he has been focused on this payday for some time now. They have had some preliminary talks based on what he is in Belioli's estimation, and those went nowhere indicating the sides are miles apart. It's shaping up to be a Branch like situation only he couldn't hold out this season because he was so abyssmal for most of last season.

I would guess they will do whatever represents the most value to them. Probably tag and trade if he remains a hot ballhawk down the stretch, or perhaps transition tag him if they think his market has cooled. BB values the position more highly than WR, but there are a couple of positions on defense he truly values more. And we have issues with those short and long term that trump overpaying for a system corner.

Good post. It got me rethinking my position. I still say tag Samuel and trade him to a team that's willing to pay him what he wants. Also, as I mentioned in the Briggs thread, that unlike LBs, the Pats have had a good track record with drafting CBs in the BB era.

Your post also reminded me of this CHFF article.

 

[checkedout]

I voted for # 3. This team isn't stupid. They will spend the big money if they have no choice. If the Pats don't spend the big bucks to maintain this defense, their '07 season will be over before it begins.

Agreed. He should be paid as the Pats #1 not the NFL #1 corner. We have the room.