Samuel: "of course" I want to be back
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Samuel: "of course" I want to be back
Jonathan Tamari
Asante Samuel was back in Philadelphia Friday, helping to fix up a home for a single mother just a few minutes from Lincoln Financial Field.
The most pressing question for football fans is whether Samuel will be spending much more time in Philadelphia, or if he will be taking his game elsewhere.
Asked if he wants to be back as an Eagle, Samuel said simply, "of course," but didn't elaborate.
"I just take it day to day, see what the future holds," Samuel said. But he said he had not received any clear indication from the team of what their plans are for him next year.
The Eagles tried to trade Samuel after acquiring Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and many believe he could be dangled again this offseason. Samuel responded last year by lashing out at management, criticizing Joe Banner and Howie Roseman for playing "fantasy football" and dropped numerous hints that his future might lie elsewhere.
Samuel is due for a base salary increase from $5.9 million to $9.4 million next season, and the Eagles secondary struggled while his style mismatched with Asomugha's.
"I’ll play whatever I need to play," Samuel said Friday. "As long as I make the play, what difference does it make?"
Samuel said he has not yet spoken to new secondary coach Todd Bowles, officially hired last week. Watching the rival Giants win the Super Bowl, he said, provides motivation.
"You’ve got to congratulate the Giants, they did a good job, but it’s definitely tough, especially when it’s coming from your division, to see the team you have good battles with win it, so it always gives you extra motivation, an extra chip on your shoulder, knowing, if a team from your division wins it, why can’t you win it?" he said.
It was the first time reporters have had a chance to talk to Samuel since before Christmas, since the cornerback injured his hamstring, missed the final two games of the season and didn't meet with the media then.
Samuel was back in town for his charity "Bring it Home Single Moms." He donated to Habitat for Humanity of Philadelphia to help pay for renovations of a house that a single mother will purchase, and his presence Friday brought attention to the charity and the cause.
"I was raised in a single-parent home and just being fortunate to be able to buy my mother a house, it made me realize how important it was if we would have had our own house to come home to every day," Samuel said.
He said it felt like his family moved "every six months" when he was young. Samuel stayed for about an hour, priming walls with paint for television cameras to record.
Habitat for Humanity helps people afford homes, but only after showing they can pay a mortgage and contributing 350 hours of "sweat equity," including classes on managing their finances and the legal responsibilities of owning a home.
The home Samuel donated to and worked on will go to Rasheeda Manning, who has a 15-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter. They currently live in a house sagging with water damage and mold. Habitat for Humanity workers were busy renovating her new house Friday.
"They're just so ecstatic," Manning said of her children. "I wake up with it on my mind every day. I have something brighter to look forward to."
She added, "sometimes I can't believe it's true."
"It's great to partner up with Asante and his foundation," said Corinne O'Connell, associate executive director for Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia. "He brings resources and obviously passion and commitment."
I am afraid that you guys are all missing the point! Samuel is no doubt a skilled cover corner. You cannot argue that. The fact that he is not Ronnie Lott when it comes to tackling is certainly an issue BUT to his credit he HAS gotten better. The real issue is that he is flat out un-coachable. Period. That playoff loss to GB two years ago was 100% on him. He blatantly refused to play press coverage even when instructed to do so by McDermott. Rogers picked him apart at the line of scrimmage all day. This year was better but still very difficult. It is no coincidence that Fitzgerald had one catch for 11 yards against press coverage by Nnamdi and 10 catches for 140 yards and two TD's against Asante's 10 yards off the line of scrimmage coverage. The guy is flat out un-coachable. Read above.... I’ll play whatever I need to play," Samuel said Friday. "As long as I make the play, what difference does it make?" What he means is that "I will play whatever I want to play, not what I am told to play". Guy needs to go. I would take a bag of practice kicking balls in return for him if it meant that he was on the next train out of here.
— Nedt- Good player, but way overpaid. It's similar to DeSean Jackson. If he feels he needs $9 million, I'd trade him.— armchairGM
- I hope he's back!— Geno D
- I'm surprised...I would think he'd want to play for a contender.— 2ndNlong
- By season's end, all 3 corners were starting to mesh with the system and were hitting people. Given the frequency of 4 wideout sets, we need all 3 of these talented people. They all know how flexible they need to be. Keep all 3, Andy, and don't let Howie talk you out of it.— rad205
- It would be good to have Asante back good good good— charmaine
- Let him go. He's overpaid and has been an underachiever this past season. He's one of those players -- and the Eagles have a few -- who act like he's a superstar whenever he makes a play. Hey, Samuel, you're simply doing what you're paid to do!— Ron T
- Eagles fans. Sheesh. Maybe if the "coaches" would have used Asamugha how he is SUPPOSED TO BE USED, Asante wouldn't have to "tackle" as these "fans" here say he should. Asamughas whole game is shutting down and sticking the best receivers the NFL has to offer. When genius Reid made the brilliant Juan Castillo coach of the defense (sorry, I have to pause here to laugh my friggin a** off) and they came up with the highly intelligent plan to use him in zone-only fashion, they should have just all gone home September. Zone. Brilliant.— girouxforpresident
no.- Great mission Samuels, Good luck on what ever may come your way.— Dexter
- Will he re-structure his deal? that would have been the question to ask suring his hour of painting.— LA Mike
- Later Asante— shawnmac
- He was by far our best cornerback last year.
Asomugha played poorly, is more expensive and doesn't tackle much better than Asante. I can live with giving one more year to redeem himself.
But I can't understand why should I trust DRC as a starter more than Asante.
DRC was simply awful. Incredible athletic skills, but plenty of mental lapses, technical mistakes and bad attitude. There's a reason why Arizona get rid of him.— takeo77 - get rid of him for a 2nd rounder if you can! We need toughness and guys who can hit and intimidate opponents! Asante is a wuss— connorjr
Comment removed.- The big piece in the story is, "Samuel is due for a base salary increase from $5.9 million to $9.4 million next season".
He's gone.
— red rock - Anyone take notice of her last name......It never ends being an Eagles fan....— softballdude
- Good Bye Asante, and I'm not elaborating !!— dmanphilly
- Good Bye Asante, and I'm not elaborating !!— dmanphilly
- The Eagles were offered a 2nd round pick for Samuels right before the 2011 season, but got greedy when they got an additional 2nd roundpick for Kolb, so they asked for two 2nd round picks for Samuel. Now with the increased price tag, they will be lucky to get a 3rd rounder. Samuels is the odd man out. Unless you are content to have Castillo get "creative" (read foolish--already Todd Bowles is talking about disguising Castillo's coverage schemes better) by having Nmandi and DRC play out of position to accommodate Samuels. Please trade Samuels before Castillo tries to get clever again.— Robman
- A game changer, a play maker........He is the only one on the defensive side on the ball that can be called that....and if Howie and Andy could replace the safeties with no talent and the linebackers with no speed or talent, then Asante's contributions would be greater......BUT then Howie builds the team with low round picks in order to please Joe with assigning low round contracts....— nuggett
- SilliBilli I see why that's your name fumble recovery against the
Dolphins what about the other games when he missed tackle after tackle
get rid of him his days are over— douglasrdd - CB's that can cover AND tackle are rare. Sooo, I'd rather have a CB who can cover. That said, the hit and fumble recovery Samuel made against the Dolphins changed the momentum of the game for the Birds.— SilliBilli
- His first missed tackle in training camp trade him for a third round pick— eaglessuck@life
