Eagles put CB Samuel on trading block....

[PATSYLICIOUS]

For like half of what he's making yea

 

[PatsFan24]

Maybe a 5th rounder. That's about it.

 

[supafly]

For like half of what he's making yea

Exactly.

In all honesty, even then I have a feeling Belichick would pass.

 

[TheBostonStraggler]

I agree with Andy, there are about 8.4 million reasons why we shouldn't want Asante right now. If he gets cut and will take a deal that shows his actual value I wouldn't mind seeing him back, otherwise, he isn't worth the money. Our biggest problem on defense is that a wide receiver was the best tackler in the secondary last season. Asante doesn't fix that.

I agree with your agreement. There is ZERO chance the Patriots trade for AS. Further, I doubt any team does. 1) AS is not worth 8.4 million (unless the Eagles sweeten the pot) and 2) chances are good that the Eagles will cut him outright (assuming they are not in some sort of cap quagmire on AS's contract and he does not agree to a pay cut to remains with the Eagles).

Assuming he gets cut, there are solid arguments for and against AS coming to the Patriots. For: While our fortunes at CB appear to be in better shape heading into 2012, that is speculation. What is certain is that CB/secondary is a glaring weak spot for the Patriots due to the most recent performance (2011). It is fair to say it remains a weal spot until otherwise proven wrong. AS certainly would have been a significant upgrade on the 2011 Patriots. Against: He's a knucklehead. He was a knucklehead on the Patriots and he was a knucklehead on the Eagles. The Patriots have a clear track record of either avoiding knuckleheads or giving them a short leash.

For me? Don't want him unless it is an incentive laden contract for a guy who has grown up.

 

[BaltimorePatsFan]

Super Bowl XLII Asante Samuel dropped interception. Buckner? - YouTube

'Nuff said.

 

[jlu52]

He allowed a certain championship to slip through his 8.3 million dollar hands. Sucked abysmally when it counted most. Get rich to this... Never want to see me first in a Patriots uniform ever again....

 

[RobertWeathers]

He allowed a certain championship to slip through his 8.3 million dollar hands. Sucked abysmally when it counted most. Get rich to this... Never want to see me first in a Patriots uniform ever again....

There is no chance of him coming here. I recall Jonathan Kraft on Felger & Mazz a year ago and when the discussion of Asante's non-INT, he got pretty emotional not only about the play that wasn't made but insinuated (didn't say outright) that for the money he was paid that year, the play was expected to be made. Don't think those feelings go away...

 

[voluntarysaftey]

There is no chance of him coming here. I recall Jonathan Kraft on Felger & Mazz a year ago and when the discussion of Asante's non-INT, he got pretty emotional not only about the play that wasn't made but insinuated (didn't say outright) that for the money he was paid that year, the play was expected to be made. Don't think those feelings go away...

And or the money Welker wants, he should've made the catch. One missed play shouldn't define a player's worth

 

[ausbacker]

And or the money Welker wants, he should've made the catch. One missed play shouldn't define a player's worth

Welker didn't drop a lollipop, Samuel did.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Only fan that would want him back would be Steve from Fall River.

 

[Sciz]

In-depth assessments of new depth players for the Patriots - The Boston Globe

And the Patriots did extensive work on those players they acquired. They were very mindful about not disrupting a solid core that showed last season they have what it takes to be one of those “special’’ teams. The Patriots are confident they have found players that can not only fit into their program but increase the overall talent of the 53-man roster.

If the bold is really their goal this offseason, then I think that eliminates Samuel.

 

[EJ Blitz]

I didn't watch football when Samuel played for the Pats. I've always wondered why he was never kept, without really looking into it. I know, "he wanted money" is the quick and easy answer.

 

[TheComeback]

I didn't watch football when Samuel played for the Pats. I've always wondered why he was never kept, without really looking into it. I know, "he wanted money" is the quick and easy answer.

The even quicker and easier answer is that he isn't a team player. He's good in coverage and makes big plays, but he also freelances, complains when things don't go his way, and sucks at tackling. Not worth the money the Eagles gave him.

 

[TheComeback]

Welker didn't drop a lollipop, Samuel did.

That wasn't an easy interception to make. The rest of the team had plenty of chances to win and blew them all. Sour grapes much?

I don't like the guy, but he made tons of big plays for the Pats. I seem to remember him starting and playing well on another Super Bowl team.

 

[supafly]

The even quicker and easier answer is that he isn't a team player. He's good in coverage and makes big plays, but he also freelances, complains when things don't go his way, and sucks at tackling. Not worth the money the Eagles gave him.

This is likely the best answer here. Samuel is very good at jumping routes, which is partly where the 'freelancing' term comes from. I would respectfully disagree (fully) with the notion that he is 'good' in coverage, although he is certainly not the worst. I would have to consider his coverage about average, or maybe slightly above at best.

He is just not a team player though, as The Comeback pointed out. It's also very true that he is pretty subpar as a tackler, and even goes as far as avoiding contact at times.

The only way I could ever see Belichick considering Asante Samuel again is if it were 3-4 years down the road, and he was looking for a minimal/vet minimum type of deal.

I didn't watch football when Samuel played for the Pats. I've always wondered why he was never kept, without really looking into it. I know, "he wanted money" is the quick and easy answer.

There have been a lot of different situations just this year alone where the team didn't agree on the player's desired level of pay/compensation. The Asante Samuel situation was no different. At the time he signed one of the top CB deals in the entire NFL, and I would have to think that the team would've struggled with the notion of whether or not they even would have considered paying him HALF of what the Eagles were willing.

I can honestly guarantee you that there's just no possible way in hell that Asante Samuel would be coming here. I would bet any amount of money on it.

 

[supafly]

That wasn't an easy interception to make. The rest of the team had plenty of chances to win and blew them all. Sour grapes much?

I don't like the guy, but he made tons of big plays for the Pats. I seem to remember him starting and playing well on another Super Bowl team.

I seem to remember it not being as easy as some like to remember, in all fairness to Samuel. He had to try to keep his feet in bounds and come down with the ball, which it seemed he was trying to predict/locate in terms of how close to the out of bounds line it would be.

The lofting and positioning of the ball may have made the play harder than it looked.

I may be remembering it incorrectly, but I also thought that Meriweather and even Rodney Harrison also had chances at ending the game with INT's too. I know for a fact that at the very least, Meriweather had a shot.

 

[ausbacker]

That wasn't an easy interception to make. The rest of the team had plenty of chances to win and blew them all. Sour grapes much?

I don't like the guy, but he made tons of big plays for the Pats. I seem to remember him starting and playing well on another Super Bowl team.

No, sour grapes would be bringing up Tyree slipping Samuel to catch a broken play ball on his helmet whilst Samuel stood by and watched.

At his best he was a fine player for the Patriots. Now, it appears that his best days are behind him and his long standing coverage issues will not help the secondary.

 

[supafly]

No, sour grapes would be bringing up Tyree slipping Samuel to catch a broken play ball on his helmet whilst Samuel stood by and watched.

At his best he was a fine player for the Patriots. Now, it appears that his best days are behind him and his long standing coverage issues will not help the secondary.

That's a very good point too.

When people think of Samuel, many tend to bring up the possible INT in the SB; but the better (or worse for us) issue that likely stands out to many is that David Tyree was his blown coverage/assignment for that play.

 

[ausbacker]

That's a very good point too.

When people think of Samuel, many tend to bring up the possible INT in the SB; but the better (or worse for us) issue that likely stands out to many is that David Tyree was his blown coverage/assignment for that play.

The Tyree play was the bigger issue for me. Rodney tried his best to make a play on the ball, he was simply beaten by someone who shouldn't have needed to race to cover.

Samuel has been a fine corner. Nobody can take that away from him. His ballhawking skills have been in the top echelon of defensive backs for the better part of 8 or so seasons. My contention in regards to the secondary is that the Patriots need defenders capable of defending first and being opportunistic thereafter, not the other way around.

 

[Brady2Moss]

If we did bring asante in, would there be a chance he could play free safety? He loves to free roam and read the QBs eyes, might make for a good center fielder (Aside from the fact that he cannot tackle). Regardless I like our DBs if Ras can stay healthy, McCourty bounces back, and Moore continue to build on his impressive playoff run.