No hope of signing Samuel

[shmessy]

If he doesn't want the whole bank on his contract, he may end up in Miami. How would you guys feel about that?

Oh, geez. The Miami Dolphins are really on our minds. You are scaring us. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhh.........

 

[Seneschal2]

Asante needs to be back next year. The Patriots aren't going to come close to finding a Corner of his caliber in FA. This years draft doesn't boast any true shut down corners, so the draft won't be the place to fix that. Samuel has played as well as any corner during the last 3 qtrs of the season and has carried that into the playoffs. If Asante isn't back next year our defense will be exposed as our Secondary will be below average!

Good post. A couple of points. Samuel will be a priority for exactly the reasons you mentioned -- BB/Pioli won't risk leaving a hole in that secondary. The draft and FA are options that would deliver 'new faces' to the defense -- learning curve required. Negotiations are a two-way street leading to a familiar take-it-or-leave-it scenario. Pats will make a fair offer that won't be "insulting". Either way, we'll want him on the field next season at least, as a rookie CB develops...

 

[arrellbee]

I know I'm wasting my time and breath, but for gosh sakes folks. How many times do you have to watch the Patriots let players go and then fill in another player and keep right on going before you realize that there are no 'have to' sign players except Brady and maybe Seymour. If the Branch and Givens example doesn't convince you, I can't imagine what would I guess.

- there is NO WAY that the Patriots will pay Samuel what some other stupid team will
- i VERY seriously doubt that the Patriots would even consider Samuel worth a franchise amount

What I worry about is whether Samuel will try to enhance his value by going for interceptions in the next couple games and give up some disastrous receptions. I haven't seen anything like this yet, but then it's also almost impossible to tell much about how the DBs are playing from TV coverage.

Best wishes, Asante. You made an important contribution to the team and it's success.

 

[Kdo5]

SIGN HIM, GIVE HIM THE MONEY.

He is 10 times more valuable a player than Deion Branch.

 

[Aqua4Ever04]

Wouldn't matter much, the problem for the Dolphins has never been on defense

Yes but he would make the weakest past of our defense much better.

 

[Caspir]

If he doesn't want the whole bank on his contract, he may end up in Miami. How would you guys feel about that?

Uhh, if he doesn't "want the while bank" then he won't be leaving.. Did you think before typing that?

The Tatoo says "Show me the Money"

It says "Get Paid." What do you think this is, Jerry Maguire

 

[AzPatsFan]

You know what, I love Asante. He's from right here South Florida (Lauderdale Lakes) and I actually covered him in high school (I work as a freelancer for the Sun-Sentinel covering Broward and Palm Beach County HS football).

I must admit, I don't remember him from his days at Boyd Anderson High School, but after the Pats drafted him, I looked back at my old rosters and sure enough, there he was!

So I kind have a personal connection to him - covered him in HS, playing for my favorite pro team.

But, all that said, Asante just does not strike me as one of those "gotta sign" guys.

In fact, on this current Pats team, to me, there are only a couple of "gotta sign" guys - Brady, Koppen, Warren, Wilfork, Seymour and Vrabel.

If Asante wants to go for the dough, God bless him.

But maybe he should put a call into Damien Woody, Chad Eaton, Lawyer Milloy, Willie McGinest, et al, first!

Choices:

1. Stay in New England, win and make a lot of money
2. Leave New England, probably lose and make a kaka-load of money!

Corrected Choices:

1. Stay in New England, win and make a lot of money
2. Leave New England, and sign for a kaka-load of money!
3. Pay big fee to agent on big potential of contract.
5. Probably lose and new Team becomes disenchanted.
6. Get cut long before you get the load of promised dough. Rep ruined.
7. Sign for vet minimum elsewhere; & hope to get back into NFL

 

[everlong]

I hate to say it but the Jets have the most money going into the FA period and they have nobody they need to resign. I think Mangini will look at it as a daily double taking away from the Pats and adding to the Jets. He'll get some over the top deal that will make the Givens or Branch deals look like bargains.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

For what we are going to pay him.we can pick donnie edwards from chargers and get a 2 CB through draft in the higher rounds and another younger LB.

Like this year it will be bad for a few games but i think by mid season we will be rocking. We need to start to save cap for warren and big vince our bread and butter.

I agree and maybe they can pick up a wr like Bobby Engram.

 

[PaulNEPats]

If he wants the money, then he better step up against Marvin on Sunday. If he does, SHOW HIM THE MONEY!

 

[Patriot Missile]

I don't know about everyone else but in regard to this situation. Asante has been good a sizeable portion of this season. I think he is well on his way to becoming a "good" CB. Imo, sometimes interception numbers can be misleading. So far he has shown good competance and understanding of the game and shown good instincts. He is no shutdown corner imo.

Now I keep throwing out the word 'good" because that is what he is. If you were an employer and you had to spend top money on a priority position in your company, and you didn't feel he was in the top 5 in what he did, would you pay him even though it would offset the rest of the employees in your workgroup? Mind you,this employee has only turned heads for less than a season.

Now if he goes and shuts down Harrison or Wayne in the biggest game of his career I know my opinion may change as well as the organization's as well. This may be the game they have been waiting for out of him. And if he does? Well then he will be expected to do it again on a bigger stage vs Berrian or Colston. Put your money where your mouth is Samuel.

 

[pats63]

I always love Asante from day one.....If he wants DB or DG money he won't be wearing the pats logo.....There is always someone to set up and play....It just be me,but I have this feeling about Willie Andrews....I think we will see alot of DB this Sunday......Asante make money and stay on a good team....GO PATS!!!:rocker:

 

[FirstAndGoal]

He can't tackle and you're going to see that he can't run with a fast receiver. He's got decent but not great speed. Watch the cushion he gives the Colt receivers on Sunday. The pundits have pointed it out but I've watched him against good receivers and he can't play bump and run with them. That being said, he's decent but he's not a premiere cornerback by any stretch of your imagination. I'd like to see him stay a Patriot but there are rookies playing this year that I'd take over him. Sorry if some see him as a superstar but he's not IMHO. If he wants that kind of money, let someone else pay for him and take the hit on the salary cap. He'll find out when he goes to some team that wants him to be a shutdown.

 

[rookBoston]

I've heard it all before. We've let too many "must sign" players walk away to make me believe that the loss of any one player is going to break our backs.

- Asante has only really broken out in a big way in the last few months. Before that, he was a good young player. There are plenty of those who haven't broken out, yet-- the CB equivalent of Gaffney-- who'll sign with the Pats just to get a shot.

- Part of the plan for a sustainable playoff team is to lose a handful of talented players every year-- Givens, Vinatieri, Ashworth-- and replace them in free agency (Caldwell) or the draft (Gostkowski, O'Callaghan). Honestly, in those three cases, I dont see much of a talent backslip at all.

- We're going to have something like 11 or 12 draft picks this coming season.

- Some desperate team that cant grow its own talent is going to pay top dollar for Asante, and BB/SP will be content with a Compensatory Pick. (I think the same probably holds true with Graham, although if interest is lower on Graham, we may actually be competitive in the bidding.)

- Dont forget we have Gay on IR. He looked as good or better than Samuel as a rookie. Also we have Wilson on IR, who has CB flexability. Add a very young Hobbs, who is on a trajectory higher than Samuel's at the same point in their careers. Plus any rookies Pioli may want to tap. I dont think there's much cause for alarm. There are plenty of bullets in this gun.


Stay or go is much the same, so long as we dont overpay.

 

[arrellbee]

I've heard it all before. We've let too many "must sign" players walk away to make me believe that the loss of any one player is going to break our backs.

- Asante has only really broken out in a big way in the last few months. Before that, he was a good young player. There are plenty of those who haven't broken out, yet-- the CB equivalent of Gaffney-- who'll sign with the Pats just to get a shot.

- Part of the plan for a sustainable playoff team is to lose a handful of talented players every year-- Givens, Vinatieri, Ashworth-- and replace them in free agency (Caldwell) or the draft (Gostkowski, O'Callaghan). Honestly, in those three cases, I dont see much of a talent backslip at all.

- We're going to have something like 11 or 12 draft picks this coming season.

- Some desperate team that cant grow its own talent is going to pay top dollar for Asante, and BB/SP will be content with a Compensatory Pick. (I think the same probably holds true with Graham, although if interest is lower on Graham, we may actually be competitive in the bidding.)

- Dont forget we have Gay on IR. He looked as good or better than Samuel as a rookie. Also we have Wilson on IR, who has CB flexability. Add a very young Hobbs, who is on a trajectory higher than Samuel's at the same point in their careers. Plus any rookies Pioli may want to tap. I dont think there's much cause for alarm. There are plenty of bullets in this gun.


Stay or go is much the same, so long as we dont overpay.

It's not nice to disillusion all those folks who are just ABSOLUTELY certain that losing Samuel (Law, McGinest, Branch, Givens, Milloy, Viatieri, Woody, Andruzzi, Patten, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc.) will ruin the team. Every one of those players that Belichick and Pioli are not smart enough to spend the bank for cost at least one win a season which explains why we were only 4 and 12 this season and in the AFC East cellar. How can Belichick and Pioli be so dumb.

 

[MDPATSFAN]

Yes but he would make the weakest past of our defense much better.

Why would a player be attracted to your perpetually diseased franchise? Personally, I see Wes Walker catching passes from Tom Brady next season.

 

[Fogbuster]

Why would a player be attracted to your perpetually diseased franchise? Personally, I see Wes Walker catching passes from Tom Brady next season.

Aw, be nice. Aqua is just tying to be nice. The consensus seems that Asante can walk if he demands more than BB & Co are willing to pay. So be it. If he goes to the 'fins, it's no big loss to the Pats and if it improves the 'fins a bit, more power to them both.


//

 

[DarrylS]

I don't know about everyone else but in regard to this situation. Asante has been good a sizeable portion of this season. I think he is well on his way to becoming a "good" CB. Imo, sometimes interception numbers can be misleading. So far he has shown good competance and understanding of the game and shown good instincts. He is no shutdown corner imo.

Now I keep throwing out the word 'good" because that is what he is. If you were an employer and you had to spend top money on a priority position in your company, and you didn't feel he was in the top 5 in what he did, would you pay him even though it would offset the rest of the employees in your workgroup? Mind you,this employee has only turned heads for less than a season.

Now if he goes and shuts down Harrison or Wayne in the biggest game of his career I know my opinion may change as well as the organization's as well. This may be the game they have been waiting for out of him. And if he does? Well then he will be expected to do it again on a bigger stage vs Berrian or Colston. Put your money where your mouth is Samuel.

This is pretty much my opinion also, he is a good CB, but not a great one. Heard from a few pundits(Tom Curran et al) he is a nickel back put into a starting role, and has done ok in this sitz. There are theories on interceptions, one being that because of his perceived weaknesses by the opposing O that he is thrown at a lot. If he does not stay on here, hope he goes to the Jets and they pay big bucks for him.. tie up more money and enter salary cap hell. IMO he is not a franchisable money player, a good player but certainly not work the money of the top 5 cb's in the league. He is a ball hawk, but has gotten beaten often and has a hard time tackling the big backs.

 

[SaCaCh]

This issue is over....Assante is gone. 0 chance he will be here next year.

 

[BelizePats]

Samuel is a nice player. A superstar? NO WAY!
His picks are totally deceiving and do not come close to telling the whole story.
If he wants a 15 miilion signing bonus and ty law yearly pay (which he does) he is gone from the Pats. Some idiot franchise will step up and throw idiot money at him. That's why the Pats are head and shoulders above the rest of the league in terms of cap management.
Samuel is a thoroughly replacable part.
Save the moeny for Warren and Vince.