Posted on 07/14/2007 6:57:10 PM PDT by PajamaTruthMafia
QUINCY - The final piece of the puzzle (or so they hope) could fall into place for the Patriots this weekend. One of Asante Samuel’s agents on Friday expressed optimism that the cornerback and the team could agree on a long-term contract before Monday’s deadline for franchise-tagged players.
‘‘We’re a lot closer than we were before,’’ said Glenn Toby. ‘‘We’re not adversaries; we’re not fighting (the Patriots). We’re fighting to get it done collectively.
‘‘We’re not looking to grab money and leave. We’re looking to build a future here. It’s worked (for Samuel and the Patriots so far). It’s been great. It’s been magic.’’
If Samuel, 26, returns to the fold, it would be the cherry on top of an offseason sundae that has seen the Patriots load up at linebacker (Adalius Thomas, Junior Seau) and receiver (Randy Moss, Donte’ Stallworth, Wes Welker and Kelley Washington) and become the trendy pick to win Super Bowl XLII.
The two sides must strike a deal by 4 p.m. Monday, or Samuel can only play for the Patriots under his one-year franchise tender, which he has yet to sign. The tender would pay him $7.79 million for the 2007 season - hardly chump change - but it would not give him the financial security of a long-term deal, which presumably would include a hefty signing bonus and a fat pay-out for the first few years.
Before Friday there had been little indication of a thaw in contract talks, with many predicting that Samuel would not report to the team until after the 10th week of the regular season - an option available to him through the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
Clearly, though, Samuel’s side has seen good signs lately.
‘‘There’s been a great deal of progress,’’ said Toby, who partners with Alonzo Shavers in Columbus, Ohio-based Infinite Sports Management. ‘‘We respect Coach (Bill) Belichick - he’s a visionary; he’s got a great system. We don’t want to disrespect the system by any means. We want to do something that works.
‘‘This man (Samuel) is a Patriot. His number is still No. 22. He’s working on getting back on the field and playing with the Patriots. He’s working on getting back to business.
‘‘He’s in the business of playing. He’s not in the business of negotiating or posturing, so we’re not posturing. We want to posture by holding up a world championship trophy.’’
Samuel is coming off a career season in which he tied Denver’s Champ Bailey for the league lead in interceptions (10) and then added two more in the playoffs, both of which he returned for touchdowns.
Had he not been tagged, he might have broken the bank a la Nate Clements, the former Bills corner who inked an eight-year, $80 million free-agent deal with the 49ers. Samuel at first said he understood why the Patriots were limiting his options, but as time dragged on without a new deal in place, his patience waned.
In April he told the NFL Network he was prepared to seek a trade, saying, ‘‘I’m not happy anymore and things are not going well.’’ Samuel said the two sides had a ‘‘difference of opinion in my value.’’
Toby said Friday that was water under the proverbial bridge.
‘‘If you take a look at the quotes that Asante made, he just (basically) said, ‘Hey, I want to take care of my family. I performed really well.’
‘‘We’re past that stage.’’
The Patriots’ other top corners are Ellis Hobbs, Chad Scott, Randall Gay and free agent Tory James. Retaining Samuel, a fourth-round draft pick in 2003, would dramatically upgrade the secondary, which also features first-round draft pick Brandon Meriweather, a safety from Miami.
‘‘He’s in the best shape of his life,’’ Toby said of Samuel. ‘‘He’s focused. I think we’re going to get something done because I think this could be an amazing year.
‘‘We just have to work out the business part of it. Hopefully we can get that done. I’m sure the Patriots want to have the best personnel. It’s obvious (how good Samuel is). You saw the way he performed, you see the respect and the pride that he plays with in that city.’’
Ping
in before the Ping!
I'm glad to see that Moss and Seau passed the physical. Heck, it's a good day for me when I'm vertical.
5.56mm
Two mistakes in the article. Junior Seau was acquired in the previous season. The other is that football contracts are backloaded. There is a large signing bonus and small salaries the first couple of years that escalate toward the end. That way if the player declines the team can cut the player and avoid the large salary.
It’s about freakin’ time!
Ought to be interesting...I just bought half a Pats season ticket...:)
You gotta give them credit-they went out and made moves. I hear that Brady is developing a Quarteback/Reciever relationship with the gigantic tight end they acquired...Brady!
Jesus and God help me, but damn - I love my Patriots!!!
Football season is almost here!!!!!!
GO PACKERS! (Runs and hides)
Sorry - one more...
Nothing I love better than hearing Gil Santos say, “and it’s another Patriots first down!”, as I let go of the wheel in my car, and extend my outstretched arm toward an imaginary end zone, whilst careening across 3 lanes of I-93...
Oh my God, I so yearn for football season....
OK, I’ll shut up now.
The most talented receiver ever to play the game, IMO. (I'm talking talent, not character, so don't throw Rice at me.)
And a cancer in the locker room.
Be thankful you've already won your Super Bowl titles, since we could've, many times, and didn't.
And won't.
Sincerely, a Minnesotan who still loves his Vikes...while at the same time being realistic.
I feel very bad for the Vikings - loved them as a kid, watching Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page, and the rest of that amazing team of the early 70’s.
Sad thing for them was the Steelers were just a little better. I remember as a young Vikings fan feeling cheated. Its tough being the biggest and toughest kid in the schoolyard when there’s one who just a smidgen bigger and tougher than you.
I worry about stuff like this. As a Patriots fan, the only team I truly fear is the Colts. Peyton broke the jinx last year at Foxboro, and he’s a great quarterback.
If you live in Indy, know that everybody in New England is scared $h*tless of your guys.
Course, that doesn’t mean we’re not going to kick the snot out of you this season.... :-P
You're right...the early '70's Vikings were something special...the stone-faced Bud Grant on the frozen sidelines with no heaters (of course the other team had them)...his team lined up straight-arrowed with helmets in hand while the national anthem was played.
Guys like Carl Eller, Alan Page, Sir Francis, Matt Blair and others exemplifying character.
All of it ending in bitter disappointment...and not just in the Super Bowl.
I thought the 1975 Vikings were the best team they ever fielded, and were destined to win it all.
I don't know how old you are, but if you saw the famous "Hail Mary" that ended that splendid team's season (Tarkenton's father died watching the game) you might understand what a sports bitter pill really is. (you may have heard an official took a whiskey bottle to the head in that one)
It's ancient history, but most Vikings fans still feel robbed, as the call should've been made, and the game ended in the Vikings favor.
Instead, their team of destiny went home.
It just so happens I was in the Metrodome to watch the only 15-1 team Not To Make The Super Bowl, when Gary Anderson missed the only field goal of his season that year.
Talk about a team of destiny...most Vikings fans (myself included), must feel the Lombardi Trophy is destined to never make it to Minneapolis.
Good luck with the Pats this season...you have a lot to be proud of.
Best run ever.
The New England Patriots now have one of the best teams it has ever had (at least on paper) with or without Samuel. If they stay healthy throughout the entire season, then they will definitely have a very good chance of winning it all. Go Pats!
Hey, it went right down to the wire last year. The Colts/Pats rivalry is probably the best in the league right now, which often happens when there are two great teams in the same conference. We just get to enjoy it, especially us Colts fans now that we’ve finally gotten a taste of the pie. We still have a ways to go to catch up to the success of the Pats but there’s no time like the present!
Good, I love this guy. They are willing to spend to win, and I’m happy about that! Hell it worked for the yankees until the curse of A-rod/Hillary. (I hate the yankees, but it’s hard to deny their recipe for success.)
Manning is still a girlie QB.
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