Not getting a true feeling about samuel?

[bradybunch]

not sure if everyone here is happy or not but I for one am stoked and very excited that he will be back and hope they will sign him long term he has earned his money and he is a key to our defense.

 

[RayClay]

not sure if everyone here is happy or not but I for one am stoked and very excited that he will be back and hope they will sign him long term he has earned his money and he is a key to our defense.

Hate to say it, but I think he's going to be traded.

 

[BigMike]

The Patriots just sent out the following statement from coach Bill Belichick after the team placed the franchise tag on Asante Samuel:

"Asante Samuel is an outstanding player who has been a consistent contributor for us for several years. We hope Asante remains a Patriot for many seasons to come."

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

not sure if everyone here is happy or not but I for one am stoked and very excited that he will be back and hope they will sign him long term he has earned his money and he is a key to our defense.

I'm just happy they should get some type of compensation for him whether it's a draft pick or Asante himself

 

[Triple-T]

I hope we keep him. With him on board, all we need to do is fix the linebackers and our D dominates. If we lose him, we risk putting a Duane Starks in his place.

That would blow.



Bona fide.

 

[PatsSteve1]

Well, it's not like they just franchised Champ Bailey at CB.

 

[Brady to Brown]

I hope we keep him. With him on board, all we need to do is fix the linebackers and our D dominates. If we lose him, we risk putting a Duane Starks in his place.

That would blow.



Bona fide.

Great post. Asante earned his salary in 2006. He could be T.Law part 2.

 

[pats63]

It is all about control....I hope Asante stay,but if we have to trade it works out for all parties....I guess this was a no-brainer....Asante is not going to hold out like Meion...

 

[DarrylS]

It is all about control....I hope Asante stay,but if we have to trade it works out for all parties....I guess this was a no-brainer....Asante is not going to hold out like Meion...

I agree and right now the Pats have the upper hand, if he plays under the franchise tag he has to continue to play well because he is still playing for the contract, holding out will do nothing but make him worth less, and the trade value is still there.. but, I do not believe that the Pats will pay him 7.79 Million this year, it does not fit into their philosophy or salary structure.

 

[patsox23]

If they can get him for 5-6 mill per season, fine. Otherwise, trade him. It's a bit premature, IMO, to be "glad he's coming back." This is just part of the negotiation, and a smart, if obvious, strategy by the Patriots.

 

[sieglo]

I like it because it forces him to play in 2007 like it's a contract year.

 

[Ring 6]

I think this is a long way from done.
I put the chances of him playing the 2007 season under the tag very low.
The Pats will work tosing an extension. There is a new advantage to an extension---with 7.7 mill counting against the cap now, any extension will open up more cap room for 07.
I used to think the attitude of tag him, he has to play held true, but after Branch, among many other cases in the NFL, it has become apparent that players who do not like their contracts DO have leverage, and can force the issue.
One big difference here. Branch was sitting out at the cost of his rookie contract (dont remember, but I think he was making something like 1.5mill for 06) Samuel would risk losing almost 8 mill to play the same game.

IMO, there are one of 2 things going on here:
1) The Pats tagging Samuel is a sign that BB has a very high opinion of him, and a deal will get done, and their value on Samuel is consistent with the market, or
2) The Pats want nothing to do with paying the kind of $$ Asante wants, so the tagged him to trade him and get something instead of nothing.

My instinct is its the first, but I simply am guessing.

 

[PatsFanInVa]

AndyJohnson, I definitely hear you... my gut is saying, "oh wow, look about the nice things BB said about keeping him long term. Hmmm." But my brain is saying "Yeah right, and Tom Brady has had a hurt shoulder since 2001."

PFnV

 

[PatsSteve1]

1) The Pats tagging Samuel is a sign that BB has a very high opinion of him, and a deal will get done, and their value on Samuel is consistent with the market, or
2) The Pats want nothing to do with paying the kind of $$ Asante wants, so the tagged him to trade him and get something instead of nothing.

* Considering they tagged Tebucky Jones it's hard to read what their up to. I don't think they thought that highly of him but didn't want to lose him for nothing. Assante is a better player than Tbucks for sure.

 

[frankiesfly]

Im happy. Its just that in my mind i always knew they were going to keep him.