Asante Samuel

[Brando19]

Adam Schefter, of the NFL Network, reports New England Patriots CB Asante Samuel has requested a trade because he is unhappy with the way contract negotiations have gone.

[ND72]

wasn't he franchised?

[retailguy]

wasn't he franchised?

Yes, and he thinks he's worth more. No shock there.

[b bulldog]

He wants the big signing bonus

[Brando19]

Adam Schefter of NFL Network reports that Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel, a free agent limited by the franchise tag, wants to be traded.

"This is to let everybody know that I'm not happy anymore and things are not going well," Samuel told Schefter. "At first I thought it was going well, but it's not. We have a difference of opinion in my value. They think I'm worth one price and the other teams think I'm worth a lot more. If a long-term deal can’t be done at fair numbers for me and New England, then I want to be traded."

Samuel says that he is prepared to sit out the season, if need be. "If it's best for me and my family," Samuel said, "I will do that. Absolutely."

Sure. Look, none of these franchise players is going to miss a paycheck. So look for Samuel to sign his tender on the eve of the start of the regular season, and collect game checks worth more than $458,000 each. That's almost as much as he made for the entire season in 2006.

The problem is that the Pats have shelled out plenty of money for multiple free agents in the past month, and Samuel has been paying close attention.

"I've been patient, haven't said anything bad, haven't said anything negative," Samuel said. "But my patience has run out. Business is business. They handled their business their way and I'm handling my business my way. I hope not, I really hope not, but it's looking more and more like it could be time to move on."

[Partial]

Note the intelligent wording by him. He isn't burning his bridges ala Briggs and Walker.

[retailguy]

Note the intelligent wording by him. He isn't burning his bridges ala Briggs and Walker.

brando's post came from PFT. Not Schefter.

[Merlin]

I don't think we will go after him it it's an option. TT already failed with Manual so I don't see him gambling again at that position.

[woodbuck27]

I don't think we will go after him it it's an option. TT already failed with Manual so I don't see him gambling again at that position.

This is a fine player in the right system. Having said that.

He wants to be too rich to be a Packer.

[packinpatland]

Unrest in Patriot-paradise??????????

[Patler]

Unrest in Patriot-paradise??????????

There is always unrest on the Patriots relative to salaries.

There was a great article about two seasons ago, for which their GM, cap specialist and negotiator were interviewed. The thing that came through loud and clear was that their philosophy was this:

1. With a salary cap, you can't afford top-paid players at every position.
2. If you have some elite players, others will be paid less.
3. Hopefully, you have very good players at most positions.
4. In view of 1, 2 and 3; if you are a very good team, you are likely to have a very good player or two that is extremely underpaid for his value.
5. To remain competitive, you have to accept that #4 will happen, and you simply live with it, including the player complaining. You remedy it only when and if you can without diluting your other talent.

The impressive comment was that to be a legitimate SB competitor, you MUST have underpaid players, and perhaps some extremely underpaid players. If all of your starters are fairly paid in comparison to their equals on other teams, you won't be good enough to challenge in the playoffs.

It was a very realistic comment, I thought, on the workings of a salary cap for sports teams.

[packinpatland]

Coach Bellichek(?) delivers this gospel very well.

[packinpatland]

With the exception of Brady, no one is sacred on this team.