Pat's CB Samuel Won't Return Until Week 10 of Season

[ThreeSportStar80]

Disgruntled Patriots corner Samuel sits out minicamp



Updated: June 5, 2007, 12:27 PM ET

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New England Patriots (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nwe) cornerback Asante Samuel (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6456) says he won't show up for the team's mandatory minicamp, starting Tuesday. Or training camp this summer. Or the first 10 weeks of regular season games.
http://assets.espn.go.com/i/story/design07/dropQuote.gif I'm not coming to camp. I'm not showing up until the 10th week [of the season]. I feel unappreciated. The way they're treating me is just wrong.

Asante Samuel



Samuel, disgruntled after being assigned the team's "franchise" tag, was a no-show at the Patriots Charitable Foundation golf tournament on Monday at the The International Golf Club in Bolton, Mass. Reached by phone afterward, he told The Boston Globe he is unhappy with the lack of progress in contract talks with the team.
"I'm not coming to camp," he told the newspaper. "I'm not showing up until the 10th week [of the season]. I feel unappreciated. The way they're treating me is just wrong."
The prospect of a star player avoiding camp over money is not new for the Patriots. Last offseason, wide receiver Deion Branch (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5951) sat out camp over his unhappiness with contract talks and was eventually traded to the Seattle Seahawks (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=sea).

http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nfl/profiles/players/65x90/6456.jpg Samuel



Samuel has yet to sign the one-year, $7.79 million contract he was tendered when the Patriots franchised him, so he is technically not under contract and cannot be fined for missing minicamp. Under the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the players union, if a deal isn't reached by the afternoon of July 15, he can sign only a one-year deal and cannot have his contract extended until the regular season ends.
If he shows up for Week 10, Samuel will receive a pro-rated portion of that $7.79 million salary. If he sits out the entire year, he'll get nothing -- and the Patriots will be able to put the franchise tag on him again for 2008.
"He's not coming to camp until a contract resolution can be reached," his agent, Alonzo Shavers, told the Boston Herald on Monday. "Nothing more can be said. His status has not changed. There has been no movement toward a deal."
Samuel is looking for a richer contract after a breakout 2006 season, in which he had 10 interceptions and 65 tackles and became considered one of the NFL's elite cornerbacks.

His teammates said Monday they are ready to move ahead, with or without Samuel.

"If he doesn't come [to minicamp], we have to move on," nose tackle Vince Wilfork (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6780) told the Globe. "I would love to have him here, but on the same token, we have to move on." "Asante has enough experience to realize that this is a business and it's not personal," added safety Rodney Harrison (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=2821). "Coach [Bill] Belichick and Mr. [Robert] Kraft, they're going to do what is in the best interests of this team. .. At the same time, we do miss Asante. He's a good guy, a great player, and we miss having him back. Hopefully, in the near future, they can work things out and he'll be here."
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[DallasEast]

"If he sits out the entire year, he'll get nothing -- and the Patriots will be able to put the franchise tag on him again for 2008."

What if the Patriots are having a great year without him and they deactivate him for the rest of the season? Will New England have to pay any of his 7.79 million dollar salary? Adam..?

[ThreeSportStar80]

"If he sits out the entire year, he'll get nothing -- and the Patriots will be able to put the franchise tag on him again for 2008."

What if the Patriots are having a great year without him and they deactivate him for the rest of the season? Will New England have to pay any of his 7.79 million dollar salary? Adam..?

I'm guessing the Pats will have to pay, considering they are the one deactivating him.

[ABQCOWBOY]

Disgruntled Patriots corner Samuel sits out minicamp



Updated: June 5, 2007, 12:27 PM ET

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New England Patriots (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=nwe) cornerback Asante Samuel (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6456) says he won't show up for the team's mandatory minicamp, starting Tuesday. Or training camp this summer. Or the first 10 weeks of regular season games.
http://assets.espn.go.com/i/story/design07/dropQuote.gif I'm not coming to camp. I'm not showing up until the 10th week [of the season]. I feel unappreciated. The way they're treating me is just wrong.

Asante Samuel



Samuel, disgruntled after being assigned the team's "franchise" tag, was a no-show at the Patriots Charitable Foundation golf tournament on Monday at the The International Golf Club in Bolton, Mass. Reached by phone afterward, he told The Boston Globe he is unhappy with the lack of progress in contract talks with the team.
"I'm not coming to camp," he told the newspaper. "I'm not showing up until the 10th week [of the season]. I feel unappreciated. The way they're treating me is just wrong."
The prospect of a star player avoiding camp over money is not new for the Patriots. Last offseason, wide receiver Deion Branch (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5951) sat out camp over his unhappiness with contract talks and was eventually traded to the Seattle Seahawks (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=sea).

http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nfl/profiles/players/65x90/6456.jpg Samuel



Samuel has yet to sign the one-year, $7.79 million contract he was tendered when the Patriots franchised him, so he is technically not under contract and cannot be fined for missing minicamp. Under the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the players union, if a deal isn't reached by the afternoon of July 15, he can sign only a one-year deal and cannot have his contract extended until the regular season ends.
If he shows up for Week 10, Samuel will receive a pro-rated portion of that $7.79 million salary. If he sits out the entire year, he'll get nothing -- and the Patriots will be able to put the franchise tag on him again for 2008.
"He's not coming to camp until a contract resolution can be reached," his agent, Alonzo Shavers, told the Boston Herald on Monday. "Nothing more can be said. His status has not changed. There has been no movement toward a deal."
Samuel is looking for a richer contract after a breakout 2006 season, in which he had 10 interceptions and 65 tackles and became considered one of the NFL's elite cornerbacks.

His teammates said Monday they are ready to move ahead, with or without Samuel.

"If he doesn't come [to minicamp], we have to move on," nose tackle Vince Wilfork (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=6780) told the Globe. "I would love to have him here, but on the same token, we have to move on." "Asante has enough experience to realize that this is a business and it's not personal," added safety Rodney Harrison (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=2821). "Coach [Bill] Belichick and Mr. [Robert] Kraft, they're going to do what is in the best interests of this team. .. At the same time, we do miss Asante. He's a good guy, a great player, and we miss having him back. Hopefully, in the near future, they can work things out and he'll be here."
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2893597

In the past, this has not been a stratigy that has been particularly succesful for Patriot players. Might be interesting to see how this plays out with the Supplemental draft and the CB out of Georgia. Patriots took Merriweather as a FS out of Miami and they also took Richardson from ND in the 6th but I don't know that either would be ready to play any CB if they had to.

[playmakers]

Before reading this article, I would have assumed that they were lowballing him with the likes of 1 year at 2 million. Yes, nice money for anybody but for a player of his stature underpaid. THen I read they franchised him for 1 year at 7.79 mil, what is his problem. If he signed an 8 year deal he would be making roughly 60 million. That is right were he should be and matter in fact I beileve a bit much. He's nuts, and to miss a charity event is just wrong. I can see mini camp and stuff but not when they offer you 8 mil a season.

[superpunk]

It's brilliat of the Pats to go out and spend like mad in FA, while ignoring another second round pick who performed brilliantly for them.

Hey - it works so well for Washington, it was only a matter of time before everyone tried it.

[BouncingCheese]

IDIOT! The guy has one great season and he is acting like such a prima donna.... which tells me that he is nervous that if he plays badly next year that teams won't pay as much as they would are willing to pay him now, or he is nervous about getting injured.

I think it is a combo of both, because if this guy doesn't think that last year could have been a one-year flash in the pan like so many other players he should go get checked out.

either way, 7.9 million dollars is ALOT of money, I mean there are guys on every team in the league that have $5,000 contracts and here this guy is beeotching and complaining. Ughhh.....

[Chocolate Lab]

Like always, he'll report and play. Hurt feelings aren't really worth that $4.9 million.

[ThreeSportStar80]

The Pats are known for not paying their players and Samuel deserves a nice contract...

[WoodysGirl]

Like always, he'll report and play. Hurt feelings aren't really worth that $4.9 million.
You know the saying...

Money talks, BS walks..

[Vintage]

It's brilliat of the Pats to go out and spend like mad in FA, while ignoring another second round pick who performed brilliantly for them.

Hey - it works so well for Washington, it was only a matter of time before everyone tried it.


I agree with your premise.....

However, bear in mind, NE put Troy Brown in their secondary and had success with it. If they can do that, I am willing to bet they can "get by" with Eugene Wilson (played CB in college and in pros before moving to S) and Meriweather....Gay is coming back, Hobbs is still there, etc.

While you can debate their recent splurge in free agency (though, LBers tend to have easier transitions).... they've shown they can fill in gaps nicely in their secondary.

Maybe Asante isn't as good as we think he is....or the Patriots think they can replace him easily and isn't worth the kind of long term contract he is demanding.

[BouncingCheese]

I agree with your premise.....

However, bear in mind, NE put Troy Brown in their secondary and had success with it. If they can do that, I am willing to bet they can "get by" with Eugene Wilson (played CB in college and in pros before moving to S) and Meriweather....Gay is coming back, Hobbs is still there, etc.

While you can debate their recent splurge in free agency (though, LBers tend to have easier transitions).... they've shown they can fill in gaps nicely in their secondary.

Maybe Asante isn't as good as we think he is....or the Patriots think they can replace him easily and isn't worth the kind of long term contract he is demanding.


Asante Samuel isn't as good as we think he is and I think he knows this. Great points.

DING DING!

[AbeBeta]

Before reading this article, I would have assumed that they were lowballing him with the likes of 1 year at 2 million. Yes, nice money for anybody but for a player of his stature underpaid. THen I read they franchised him for 1 year at 7.79 mil, what is his problem. If he signed an 8 year deal he would be making roughly 60 million. That is right were he should be and matter in fact I beileve a bit much. He's nuts, and to miss a charity event is just wrong. I can see mini camp and stuff but not when they offer you 8 mil a season.

They are low balling him by not offering a multi-year deal. A franchised player takes a considerable risk here. If he gets hurt, he's not going to see the HUGE payday that he should get. That's why he'll sit until the 10th week -- that limits the opportunity to get hurt.

The big point you are missing is that his yearly salary is not the sticking point. If he signed a 8 year 60 mill deal, he'd have about $25 million in signing bonus in his bank account right now. That's $25 mill even if he gets hurt and can never play again. Add in to that his yearly salary and it is about 4 times what he'd earn if he had a catastrophic injury while playing under the franchise tender.

[Sam I Am]

I'm guessing the Pats will have to pay, considering they are the one deactivating him.

I'm guessing you mean on the active roster. He wouldn't be active for games. My guess is that he won't even be on the active roster until he returns. At that time, the Pats would have to cut someone from the team to make room for him. The Pats cannot be held responsible for a player who refuses to show up. Think of it like Ricky Williams when he left the Dolphins for Tibet to smoke the wacky tobaccy. The Dolphins didn't have to have an active spot on the roster for him. The Dolphins owned the rights to Williams. Just like the pats own the rights to Samuel.

[BouncingCheese]

They are low balling him by not offering a multi-year deal. A franchised player takes a considerable risk here. If he gets hurt, he's not going to see the HUGE payday that he should get. That's why he'll sit until the 10th week -- that limits the opportunity to get hurt.

The big point you are missing is that his yearly salary is not the sticking point. If he signed a 8 year 60 mill deal, he'd have about $25 million in signing bonus in his bank account right now. That's $25 mill even if he gets hurt and can never play again. Add in to that his yearly salary and it is about 4 times what he'd earn if he had a catastrophic injury while playing under the franchise tender.

The thing about Samuel is that he has only had one great year... A player like Lance Briggs has had two Pro bowl seasons and the Bears are lowballing him (though apparently he turned down a six year, 60 million dollar contract, go figure). I don't think the Pats are in the wrong in the least; I wouldn't want to pay all that money for only one great season that could have been a fluke or flash in the pan.

[stealth]

how old is samuel?

[ThreeSportStar80]

I'm guessing you mean on the active roster. He wouldn't be active for games. My guess is that he won't even be on the active roster until he returns. At that time, the Pats would have to cut someone from the team to make room for him. The Pats cannot be held responsible for a player who refuses to show up. Think of it like Ricky Williams when he left the Dolphins for Tibet to smoke the wacky tobaccy. The Dolphins didn't have to have an active spot on the roster for him. The Dolphins owned the rights to Williams. Just like the pats own the rights to Samuel.


Not to change subjects totally but dude that Avatar pic is hilarious! We will have to see how it works out along with the Lance Briggs situation in Chitown.

[WoodysGirl]

Maybe it's me, but he lost a few cool points in my eyes with this...

BOLTON - Asante Samuel [stats] did not join his Patriots [team stats] teammates at Marquise Hill’s wake Friday in New Orleans, nor did he attend the funeral, according to several people who were at the services.

http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1004881

[AbeBeta]

Maybe it's me, but he lost a few cool points in my eyes with this...



http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1004881

That's not right. If I were his dad, I'd fly to NE to smack him.

[David276]

well lets let him come on down to dallas for a 4th rounder and see how he does for a year

[superpunk]

Maybe it's me, but he lost a few cool points in my eyes with this...
http://patriots.bostonherald.com/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1004881

Sounds callous, but we don't actually know if the two of them were close.

On the surface, though....:mad:

[NextGenBoys]

Asante Samuel isn't as good as we think he is and I think he knows this. Great points.

DING DING!

Agreed. He is a product of their system.

[joseephuss]

It's brilliat of the Pats to go out and spend like mad in FA, while ignoring another second round pick who performed brilliantly for them.

Hey - it works so well for Washington, it was only a matter of time before everyone tried it.

Are you making a reference to Deion Branch? The Pats did at least get a 1st round pick for him. I don't think he was worth the money he wanted even though he was an asset for the Pats. It is still a little early to see how this situation plays out.

This may not be the best way to handle things, but the Pats are not the Skins. Washington throws around this free agency money and isn't close to winning. The Pats were very close to a Superbowl last season.

[jterrell]

Before reading this article, I would have assumed that they were lowballing him with the likes of 1 year at 2 million. Yes, nice money for anybody but for a player of his stature underpaid. THen I read they franchised him for 1 year at 7.79 mil, what is his problem. If he signed an 8 year deal he would be making roughly 60 million. That is right were he should be and matter in fact I beileve a bit much. He's nuts, and to miss a charity event is just wrong. I can see mini camp and stuff but not when they offer you 8 mil a season.

huh???

They have to pay him 8 mil for the franchise tag!
If they signed him he would get 15 mil up front at least.

The Pats have been notoriously cheap.
Because they win guys take their lumps and play for less but that wasnt gonna work with everyone forever.

[WoodysGirl]

Sounds callous, but we don't actually know if the two of them were close.

On the surface, though....:mad:
I can believe that quite a few team members weren't close with him, but still came to show their respects.

Just looks bad.

[superpunk]

Are you making a reference to Deion Branch? The Pats did at least get a 1st round pick for him. I don't think he was worth the money he wanted even though he was an asset for the Pats. It is still a little early to see how this situation plays out.

This may not be the best way to handle things, but the Pats are not the Skins. Washington throws around this free agency money and isn't close to winning. The Pats were very close to a Superbowl last season.

It is at least similar. Having Deion Branch would have worked wonders for them last year, as Reche "I can see you" Caldwell dropped critical end zone passes in the Colts game. And then, it cost them again this offseason as they felt the need to make moves for WRs like mad - changing the approach they've always taken - the one that actually works.

They appear to be doing it again with Samuel.

[Vintage]

It is at least similar. Having Deion Branch would have worked wonders for them last year, as Reche "I can see you" Caldwell dropped critical end zone passes in the Colts game. And then, it cost them again this offseason as they felt the need to make moves for WRs like mad - changing the approach they've always taken - the one that actually works.

They appear to be doing it again with Samuel.

Except, they've proven they can shuffle around parts in the secondary.

Ty Law, Laywer Milloy, Rodney Harrison, Asante Samuel, Ellis Hobbs, Troy Brown, etc

[sjordan6]

I think the Samuel situation is a perfect example of how smart the patriot organization has been and high marks should be given to the coach and GM. This organization has refused to be bullied by players and their high demands for contracts. They understand which players they must pay (Brady, Seymour) and those who they can sacrifrice. What is even more intriguing is how they are able to allow some players to leave and still get compensated with picks.

Samuel will not get paid by the Patriots and that is simply the bottom line. Although he only has one good season under his belt, it was a contract season that included 10 ints and great cornerback play on his part.

I see the patriots trading Samuels to a team for a first round pick. The Patriots will have three first round picks while having a Super Bowl calibur team, that inlcudes Randy Moss/Brady/Stallworth/....

Pure Genius!

[superpunk]

Except, they've proven they can shuffle around parts in the secondary.

Ty Law, Laywer Milloy, Rodney Harrison, Asante Samuel, Ellis Hobbs, Troy Brown, etc

Maybe. Those guys were kept around til their downsides. Samuels appears to be peaking.

[Vintage]

Maybe. Those guys were kept around til their downsides. Samuels appears to be peaking.


If anything, shouldn't we be lauding their approach?

They chose to invest the money into Adalius Thomas (money that could have gone to Asante Samuel). They seem to be saying a pass rush is more important that CB's (and they got a very good DL).

Isn't that what we are counting on this season? A pass rush to help our secondary out.

And NE has had success with Troy Brown in their secondary. If they can do that, they can probably manage to get good play from Hobbs, Gay, Wilson (can move back to CB if needed) and Meriweather (can play some CB if needed).

[Sam I Am]

I can believe that quite a few team members weren't close with him, but still came to show their respects.

Just looks bad.

While I do not know the situation here as to why he did not show up, I also do not attend funerals or wakes. My not attending them is something personal to me and has nothing to do with selfishness or disrespect for the dead.

[superpunk]

If anything, shouldn't we be lauding their approach?

They chose to invest the money into Adalius Thomas (money that could have gone to Asante Samuel). They seem to be saying a pass rush is more important that CB's (and they got a very good DL).

Isn't that what we are counting on this season? A pass rush to help our secondary out.

And NE has had success with Troy Brown in their secondary. If they can do that, they can probably manage to get good play from Hobbs, Gay, Wilson (can move back to CB if needed) and Meriweather (can play some CB if needed).

Why would anyone laud it? Aggravating your home-grown players until they leave or are traded, recently just as they are hitting their stride? Getting rid of a player who your star QB loved, stringing him out for a year, and then going nuts the following offseason with eye-popping acquisitions? Using "you're not as good as you think you are" as a bargaining tool?

We'll see how it works. They're going against what made them great. That has never worked, for anyone. I doubt they'll buck that trend.

[Vintage]

Why would anyone laud it? Aggravating your home-grown players until they leave or are traded, recently just as they are hitting their stride? Getting rid of a player who your star QB loved, stringing him out for a year, and then going nuts the following offseason with eye-popping acquisitions? Using "you're not as good as you think you are" as a bargaining tool?

We'll see how it works. They're going against what made them great. That has never worked, for anyone. I doubt they'll buck that trend.


I meant the part of choosing to invest in a pass rush to help alleviate secondary concerns.

You took it too literal.

[superpunk]

Oh, I see.






Your mom takes it too literal. Hmph.

[Vintage]

Oh, I see.






Your mom takes it too literal. Hmph.


Now you see?

http://www.luc.edu/depts/history/dennis/Visual_Arts/05-Romantic_Blake_Great-Red-Dragon.jpg

Not as well as your sister does...

[jterrell]

A few things:

1. The Pats have been as combative as anyone with players over salaries. Its a fight they do not shy away from. It HAS taken its toll at times but mostly have been a good model because they have fought against overpaying older players. Still players recognize they will get that fight when they want to get paid and al players want to get paid.

2. They seem to be willing to bring in malcontents or thugs provided they play cheap; for them cheap is the key.

3. The biggest tool used by successful front offices has been the early resigning of young talent to long term deals. They waited too long with Samuel and he had a breakout year. Is he overrated? Probably. Does that mean he is easily replaceable? Absolutely not. Lotsa folks thought Troy Aikman was overrated but we haven't replaced him yet.

4. The Pats will change courses at some point because they'll see the same light Jerry Jones did that is tied to the age of their franchise QB. They'll pay extra to get another legit Super Bowl shot or two.

5. The Pats have not been great consistently. They have been consistently good. Since they won the 3 Lombardi's in 4 years they haven't won the AFC since. Ultimately I suspect their front office is a bit overrated. They got lucky with Brady who has made everyone on the offense better players. Belichek is a talented defensive guy who has good results on that side of the ball regularly but the offense is largely Brady.

[Pats Fan]

Sorry boys and girls this is a guy that had one good year and only because his contract was up. Oh gee, time to play now.

Can I show you the door bud??? Out, you do not belong in New England. Look up Washington or some other sucker team willing to pay for a player that only plays when the money is on the table.

Oh, now I got money on the table, got it, now I can just be average.

Pats, do NOT give him a dime. Rather give him the boot. The Pats were fair with him. Way too fair in my eyes. What, does this fool think he is the top guy in the league??? Over Champ -- sorry.

To me, this is where a line in the sand needs to be drawn. I don't even care if Samuel crossed it, it is over. MOVE on Pats. We don't need him.

And you know what, we don't.

Whoever gets him will not be happy campers. I just hope it is not the Pats. I remember Law saying, hey, a man has to eat making millions. Where are you now Law???

Some of these guys are just out of control. Sorry one is a Patriot. May I give you the boot guy???

[Pats Fan]

Post from patsfans.com. I agree completely. 100%.

BB/SP, masters of the cap game, are quietly thanking their lucky stars that Asante has announced his intention to hold out.

Here's why:

If Asante plays for us next year it is a one year $7.8M bet on his on the field performance.

If Asante plays at the level of an average pro bowl corner back, the bet is a push. We paid $7.8M, and we got roughly the same amount of talent.

If Asante plays like the best CB in the NFL, he's worth $10M-12M. We win the bet by $2-4M.

If Asante plays like he did during the first 75% of his NFL career (or worse, get injured) he's worth maybe $2M of cap space. We lose $6M (or more).

Unless you think that Asante is a future hall of famer, this is a lousy bet.

Factoring in a few our need for Asante this season, I think it would be a modestly positive event if he plays for us on the tag this season. But nobody should be jumping up and down at the prospect of paying $7.8M for one year of Asante. The expected value of his talent is roughly equal to (probably a little less than) what we'd be paying him.

But as trade bait, Asante could fetch us a first rounder. If you look at our last 5-10 first rounders, I think its conservative to say that, on average, each of them has supplied us with (or is on pace supplying us with) over $10M more value than salary cap cost over their first five years. Trading "roughly zero" for $10M would be a huge win for the Pats.

By telling the whole world that he wants a trade, Asante makes it easier for us to ship him to another team. If we offered another team a straight up trade for Asante, they'd know that we have doubts about his ability to reprise his 2006 performance. But with Asante whining at the top of his lungs, we can actively talk trade and the "fortunate" team that receives him will be none the wiser.

There's only one small catch to all of this. Which team is going to be stupid enough to trade a #1 pick for Asante Samuel AND give him the huge money he's looking for? Surely after last year's Seattle trade, teams are going to be wary of giving the Patriot's another #1 pick for an overpriced player.

I don't know if there is anyone out there who is that stupid, but I do know that the louder Asante screams, the easier it will be to part them from their #1 pick in 2008.

[Chocolate Lab]

So now Samuel was average other than last year? Funny, I remember some Pats shills (and even some others) claiming he was better than Newman in 2003.

Pats Fan, who is going to play corner for you if you let him go or he holds out?

IMO Samuel is pretty darn good. Maybe not great, but very good. It sounds great to plan to let good young players go and oh well, we'll replace them in the draft. But no one, not even Scott Pioli, drafts great forever.

[Pats Fan]

So now Samuel was average other than last year? Funny, I remember some Pats shills (and even some others) claiming he was better than Newman in 2003.

Pats Fan, who is going to play corner for you if you let him go or he holds out?

IMO Samuel is pretty darn good. Maybe not great, but very good. It sounds great to plan to let good young players go and oh well, we'll replace them in the draft. But no one, not even Scott Pioli, drafts great forever.

The guys name is Wilson -- and I have thought for years he was better than Samuel. Just has to stay healthy. This is not like the loss of Branch -- that in my opinion hurt us bad. This guy needs to go.

[BouncingCheese]

I don't think they care much about their secondary (excluding the safety pos.), they are smart about having good pass-rushing linebackers and a very solid Defensive line that gets pressure to the qb... The Pats know where to spend money, because they know what creates turnovers. I think SD and Ne have average at best secondaries but the pressure and havoc they created up front hid those weaknesses. Samuel should make his 8 million and then jet out of NE; hasn't he seen the FA low-ball their players?

[burmafrd]

NE was lucky in 2001-2004 as there really was not a real challenger that was a better team at the time. Now with SD and Indy and maybe Baltimore, not to mention Cinci, there is a whole lot more quality in the AFC. NE was NOT that close to the SB- if that idiot SD DB does not fumble that INT then they lose there. Indy was behind and then ground down and dominated NE in the second half of the AFC champ game. BB saw this and got desperate this off season: Moss is someone BB would not have touched a few years ago. And the NE secondary is not that great that they can shrug off Samuel. They better hope thomas has a 20 sack season because they are going to need that production. And we shall see how things go with Moss.

[WoodysGirl]

NE was lucky in 2001-2004 as there really was not a real challenger that was a better team at the time. Now with SD and Indy and maybe Baltimore, not to mention Cinci, there is a whole lot more quality in the AFC. NE was NOT that close to the SB- if that idiot SD DB does not fumble that INT then they lose there. Indy was behind and then ground down and dominated NE in the second half of the AFC champ game. BB saw this and got desperate this off season: Moss is someone BB would not have touched a few years ago. And the NE secondary is not that great that they can shrug off Samuel. They better hope thomas has a 20 sack season because they are going to need that production. And we shall see how things go with Moss.
JMO, but you can only be lucky so many times. You might get lucky once, but three times. Sometimes you gotta give credit where credit's due.

[burmafrd]

All three were by FGs. All three could have been lost by just one play being different. Now I say for sure that BB and company figured out the salary cap faster then anyone else did- but now pretty much everyone has figured it out as well, and its noticeable that the NE draft is not as good as it was earlier. Add to that I do not think that BB has been really able to replace Weis and Crennel with the same ability.

[Q_the_man]

huh???

They have to pay him 8 mil for the franchise tag!
If they signed him he would get 15 mil up front at least.

The Pats have been notoriously cheap.
Because they win guys take their lumps and play for less but that wasnt gonna work with everyone forever.

They paid Tom Brady, they didn't Low Ball him........Why franchise him if ur not gonna pay him.....

[ThreeSportStar80]

I wouldn't mind having Samuel opposite of Newman, he's a playmaker to me. I don't put too much into that "product of the system" crap...