Asante: "I want to be where I'm wanted"
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Asante: "I want to be where I'm wanted"
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
UPDATE:
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Asante Samuel said that he still does not know if the Eagles want him.
"I want to be where I'm wanted," Samuel said. "If I'm wanted here, if I'm not appreciated here life goes on. I move on."
Samuel was asked where he wanted to play after the Eagles went out and acquired two big-time cornerbacks in Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
"Wherever they want me," Samuel said. "If they're tired of my big-play-making ability maybe they'll ship me off or maybe they'll want to keep me. Who knows?"
Asked if he felt wanted by the Eagles, Samuel said he felt 50-50 about it. He was also asked if he approached the Eagles about trading him.
"No comment," Samuel said.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said that Samuel did not ask for a trade. Samuel's agent, Alonzo Shavers, said on Sunday that his client did not want to be traded.
Samuel said that he though the Eagles' cornerback threesome could work. He said that he would be willing to play nickel.
Samuel said that his absence from camp thus far was for a "personal matter." While he was away the Eagles, of course, shocked the NFL and signed Asomugha as a free agent. Was he surprised?
"Free agency is free agency," Samuel said, "ain't no telling what can happen."
He said he had met both Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie before.
"Nnamdi's an awesome guy," Samuel said. "I met him at a Pro Bowl -- well-educated guy, well-spoken, great athlete. I got a lot of respect for him."
He said the cornerback trio was the best in the league "on paper, but until we play the game we'll see how it goes. It's a bunch of big-name players on the team. We're the 'Dream Team,' right? I guess we'll find out after the Super Bowl."
FROM EARLIER:
BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Asante Samuel reported to Eagles training camp Monday morning, according to his agent Alonzo Shavers.
The Eagles later made it official.
"I'm happy to be here," Samuel told a few reporters as he walked into the indoor training facility at Lehigh University. "I love it here!"
Samuel practiced in the afternoon walkthrough. When he walked out onto the field he started shouting, "Asante's back!" He was the starting left cornerback during the walkthrough with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on the right side. Before Samuel showed up Rodgers-Cromartie played on the left side.
Samuel missed the first four days of camp for personal reasons. His absence was excused. Shavers said that his clients' matter had been resolved, although he could not provide details.
Samuel, of course, reports to camp with his name already the subject of trade rumors. Those rumors started approximately one second after the Eagles signed top free agent acquisition Nnamdi Asomugha. Samuel does not want to be traded, however, according to Shavers.
The Eagles have been fielding calls for the Pro Bowl corner, NFL sources said. But the team has said it has every intention of keeping all three -- the just-traded-for Rodgers-Cromartie is the third -- of their starting-caliber corners.
DeSean Jackson, meanwhile, is not in camp, despite a report that he could report as soon as Monday. The Eagles wide receiver is believed to be holding out because he wants a new contract. There have been conflicting reports of when he will arrive this week, if at all.
Eagles president Joe Banner said this morning of WIP-AM that he was under the impression that Jackson's return was not imminent, although he admitted that he would likely be the last to know.
Comments (81)
Asante, we want you!— padillaflotilla- Do you proofread your articles before you post them?— davinci74
- Do you proofread your articles before you post them?— davinci74
- I just read a long book. Book it Frank!— Jeffritoe
- to guru26..just because you are part of the ignorant herd mentality here that can't figure out anything by yourself, doesn't make you right.
The Jets situation has absolutely nothing to do with the Eagles situation, they are two different teams with different salaries for different players, duh.
The Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez has volunteered to restructure his contract to earn less this season so the Jets can get under the salary cap...do you think Michale Vick will take a salary cut so the Eagles can afford all their high priced corners? That will never happen.
Also the Eagles must come up with unexpected millions for DeSean who will not play this year if he don't get a new deal.
Each team's situation is unique with their players salaries...so to simply say the Jets did it this way, so the Eagles can also, is really a dumb thing for you guys to say...even thought it's predictable from the ignorant herd posting here.
— frank105 - so you're saying desean wouldnt be happy making santonio holmes money? he shouldnt even get as much as a super bowl mvp. check the stats as they are very similar. also mark sanchez is due like 13.5 this year. you don't think vick would be happy with something in that neighborhood? he would, BOOK it.
— MPatt24 - I love when the bloggersphere comes together in unity. In this case, to call out Frank105 for what it is - uninformed nonsense. Someone posted about the Jets which is right on. Had they gotten NA, he, with Revis woulda been a similar price tag, but exactly what they were going for. The only thing that I think falls into the "book it" category is that unless the Iggles get a very good player in return (Asante is still in the top 15 CB's, outta about 60 starting CB's), say an OG or OT, they are keeping him. I don't see them giving up a top player for picks next year. With the LB core the way it is, 3 CB's may be part of the plan...
Frank105, you need some 411.— guru26 - Asante wants to play the way HE wants to play and to hell with the team. Namdi and DRC already said they'll do whatever the team wants them to do. The fact that Asante can't say that means he has an attitude of ME FIRST. Trade the little baby.— greenflyer
He's a Cowboy. Book it. ROMO shreds you. Book it— sweet.sassy.molassy
Comment removed.- honestly that was pretty good tpizza. This Frank105 stuff on here was hilarious.— CharlieGarner25
- Asante..WE WANT YOU!!!— sarah89
- There is only one moron that I know of who constantly said "Book it", but I thought he moved to Arizona to wash Kolb's car for a living.— tpizza
- Unless there is a crazy good trade out there, have to keep Asante in order to dominate every defensive secondary scenario...btw, even if Asante was traded, team would still need to pay 2-3 million to a compitent nickel...just as important, still not sure what to do about linebacker situation...anyone have any ideas on how to resolve? Any free agent solutions?— elixmusic
- If the eagles are "all in" like I keep hearing, they should keep him. Drc had a down year last year and isn't proven like Asante and nnamdi. We need all 3 guys. If the eagles trade Asante for a 2nd round pick, I would be disappointed. We can't keep settling for playoffs and done. I want a super bowl. These 3 corners can help get us there, and with a young group of safeties and linebackers, we are going to need them. If they do trade him, they will regret it. Just like the phillies did when they got cliff lee. Prospects and draft picks are great at times, but these teams are in win now modes and need to keep the high level of talent they have.— Knock0ut12
- It's simple. The'll trade him if they get a great offer, otherwise all 3 play.— ej610
- It's a chicken/egg argument: has treating the Eagles as soap opera made them intolerable, or has the Eagles' soap opera made Inquirer sports page insipid and irrelevant? You make the call, readers.— Muldog
- I feel sorry for Asante. He's not the bad guy in all this. He's been a great player for the Eagles. I hate to see him go. I hope they can find a way to keep him for this season so he has a chance to go to a Superbowl with the Eagles.— Drew777
- samuel is a very over rated corener in this league. In fact i think he stinks: lousy tackler, soft against the run and wide receiver screen plays. yes, he can intercept the ball and runs well in the open field, but he is NOT being paid for just interceptions. He is paid to be the shadow againts other teams #1 receiver. He is alos IMHO a very lousy cover corner. Thsi si exactly why he was released by New England who dupe the eagles into thinking he was the next Deon Sanders.
get rid of him and save $6 million/year. They shoudl have signed Stephen Tulloch while htye had the chance, but at leats they got rid of Mr Softy: Sean Bradley. Perhaps the worst MLB in Eagles franchise history.— sdeens - well Frank could be right...but its not guaranteed either way...like Assante said its 50/50...the eagles told Namdis agent on the last day that they coudlnt do the deal so they werent expecting Namdi to take less money and sign...and when he did at the last minute they had no idea what to do with Assante...why would they trade for DRC if they knew they were going to get Namdi and have three CB's....they didnt. They traded for DRC thinking they WERENT going to get him, and they were fortunate that Namdi really wanted to play here and accepted a cheaper offer on the last day. So now they are scrambling to figure out what to do with three corners. brilliant strategies again...it wont win a SB if you dont even have 1 LB good enough to cover TE's... it just gets people excited for the season to go out and buy the new jerseys....but it wont win a SB.— CharlieGarner25
- Hawaendi, Asanti!— Richard Saunders
- I don't think that Frank 105 needs to be called names - let's keep it civilized. We are all entitled to our opinions. I tend to agree with Frank that Asante will probably be traded because the Eagles are fielding calls. If they weren't going to trade him, they would come out and say that he's off limits. We need three DB's, the question is, how do they play together? I think that DRC in nickel coverage works best since he's the youngest and most inexpensive of the three. The other two are being paid too much not to be in on almost every down. I give it a 65% chance that Asante is gone. The front office is just waiting for the right deal.— asonepraise
- Frank 105: idiot. Book it.— Dadof24
- and the birds were 40 mill under the cap going into 2011 and thats before getting rid of Kolb ($6,742,000 cap # for 2011) , Bunkley ($1,926,720 cap # for 2011), and Weaver ($2,600,000 cap # for 2011) so theres roughly 11+ mill off the cap hit before adding in new contracts....go ahead frank dispute that..and these numbers are from http://www.sportscity.com/NFL/Philadelphia-Eagles-Salaries— buckbrennan
- dmo86 - thank you for your comment to Frank - as a 25 year armor vet; totally agree...— M60tanker
- Is it just me or does this seem eerily familiar to when the Phillies had a spoil of pitching riches when they first acquired Halladay - then traded Lee. We know how that worked out and we were fortunate that they had a shot to "undo" that mistake. Let's not make the same mistake. This is a passing league and to have these three DB's, allows defensive flexibility and should unlease the DL and LBs -- i'm thinking of a Buddy Ryan type defense...PLEASE keep these guys and let's see if they play anywhere near as good as they look on paper!!!— nyphillyguy
- Frank,
Could you please not use your supposed military service as justification for posting bull and also if you could please not use 'veteran status' to garner sympathy, you make all of us other veterans look bad. Regards.— dmo86 - frank105...first of all why cant we pay 3 guys 20 mill when the colts pay manning alone 23 mill or Brady gets 18 mill a year...theres 2 guys on separate teams that are each making more or just about as much as 3 of our guys...so how about you stop living in fantasy land and think before you post— buckbrennan
- Asante is right, the Eagles do not appreciate him and do not have the money to pay him what he is worth.
Eagles will pay Nnadmi $12 million this season
Jets will pay Revis $12 million this season
Jets will pay their other corner $8 million.
Yet the Eagles will only pay Asante $5.9 million.
Can't blame Asante for wanting to be traded to a team that will pay in line with these other top corners.
— frank105 - So, you completely just burned yourself with this post.
You said the Eagles pay Nnadm 12, Asante 6, and DRC 1... comes out to 20 million, something that you said can't be afforded. However the Jets can afford to pay the same exact amount for TWO corners? See your flawed logic?— dmo86 - Uh oh....just when we thought "nickels" went away, he reappears....— kelprod2
- The Eagles want and need Asante Samuel. Look at the passing stats in the last 5 years of the NFL. 3 great CBs isn't a luxury it is a necessity. Obviously the Eagle have a few other holes to fill but unloading one of these CB isn't something they NEED to do.— willbert31
- Eagles are going to run a ton of screens this year. All of the running backs on the roster are short and fast. I think Vick is going to drop that ball off like a hot potato all season long. I am fine with our linebackers, because Patterson and the Linebackers got killed last year by the passing game, I would rather have more DBs on the field to stop the passing game. I also love Matthews at Middle Linebacker. He is not his brother, but he knows how to attack the football and we have not had that since Dawkins.— GrownMan86
- Giving DeSean a raise isn't the issue. Its "how much" of a raise (and how much guaranteed money) he's going to want. I think that's where the conflict is going to come in, and it could get ugly.— SteveS11
- Do grown men really need to whine and moan in public about being loved and wanted all the time? Man up, do your job and handle your business behind the scenes.— JettMartinez
- You don't put Asante at the nickel spot. He's an outside player. Keep him on the left. Can be used in certain packages as sort of a rogue safety.— armchairGM
- Comment removed.
- The Eagles opened up free agency with 40 million dollars of cap space and have since dropped Bunkley and Kolb's contracts. Why do we need to book it that Samuel is gone?— mike
- You still got nobody to protect Vick. Dont matter how many CB's you get. Go Boyszzz— sweet.sassy.molassy
- Frank, Jets were going to sign Nnamdi and also have Revis under contact for big $$. I don't know the exact cap hit, but they surely woul dhave been over $20MM, just for those 2. Are you suggesting the Jets would have had to deal revis because $20MM is too "incredible" an amount to pay to one position? Of course not, CB is now the most important position on defense and paying big $$ there is just good business.— Phils Phan 28
- The Eagles, on paper at least, seem set up to make a good run for a Super Bowl this year. Now that most of the critical needs are met, there's a chance that some vets might want to come here for less $ just to add a ring to their jewelry case before they retire. Maybe the birds could add a vet RT on a 1 year deal, just until they know what they have with some of the younger guys. The linemen are learning a new blocking style, it might be better to allow them to stay in their familiar positions, without having to shift Herremans to RT or throwing Watkins in at RT. Just a thought. The name Flozell Adams comes to mind.— cletisvandam
- To John663: I appreciate your offer to apoligize to me if Asante is traded before the season starts.
I also will agree to apoligize if Asante is not traded.
However, I will never give up my right to free speech.
I served in the military, and along with millions of U.S.troops who fought over many years in many wars, my free speech and opinions will never be given up.— frank105 - Frank is a troll, he will be gone wen samuel starts as an eagle this year.. BOOK IT!— lighterfluid
- Do linebackers matter anymore? Who covers the TE and underneath routes?— robinlupe
- @frank, if Asante is not on the Eagles at the start of the season I AGREE to apologize to you if you agree not to post under your name or any other alias for the period of 1 year if he is still on the team.— John663
- Trade Asante for a linebacker ASAP. Eagles need linebackers, not a cornerback that doesn't tackle.— pogiepop
- Comment removed.
- Asante is and has been one of the consistently best CBs in the NFL over the 6 seasons. Those of you hoping for him being traded are the same ones who were calling for Reid's head two years ago. You obviously don't realize what a great situation the 'D' is in with all 3 QBs here.— Drigh13
- Frank is a troll, he will be gone wen samuel starts as an eagle this year.. BOOK IT!— lighterfluid
- to hava-nigela: Most of these morons don't even know how much the cap is for this season, and how much the Eagles are under or over the cap, and how much more money they need to spend to sign the rest of the players including our #1 draft pick who is holding out.
So how could they possibly know that the Eagles will spend an incredible $20 million this season just for these cornerbacks?
They are totally clueless....and stupid for not even knowing anything about the cap.
Asante will be traded before the season starts.— frank105 - Other than the obvious talent acquired in signing (DRC, Nnamdi, Jenkins, etc.), all of these guys appear to have a much more mature attitude with respect to playing the game. There is an obvious absence of "ego" and a focus on "team" when all of them speak. You could write this off to "saying the right thing" when speaking to the press, but I really feel they all are individuals who know how to win because they understand that TEAM comes first. I am beginning to understand why Andy, Joe and the boys cleaned house. It appears the Eagles are not only starting over, but truly getting back to re-establishing the type of attitude necessary for winning a championship -- something talent alone can't accomplish.— onedayer
- I think it's funny that we demand that players "honor" contracts, but we do not demand the same from management.— sfactor
- Comment removed.
- The reason America produces NOTHING of quality today is because of greed. Greed is certainly not good and can be labled as the major contributor to the fall of our economy and the reason with are now in the midst of a depression.
When players like D jackson dont honor contracts its because of greed and an inflated concept of self worth. Honor your contracts and play hard. Time will tell if the birds moves are good ones, paper doesnt get on the field.— HBJ - @frank and when they don't, mom will take away your wifi and you will have to come out of the basement and go to the McDonalds to post your tripe.— johnnydomino
- Castillo was just quoted in another article about the possibility of using Asomugha "some" at safety - the position he played at Cal - mentioning how he thought he could be a playmaker of the Charles Woodson type. That could be interesting - Asomugha at safety in non-passing downs and move DRC inside and Asomugha to corner in passing situations.
- When they trade Asante before the season starts...then I will accept the apology from all you fantasy football idiots who are too dumb to figure this out.— frank105
- their entire LB and safety postions will make nothing this year. You're looking at 7-9 roster spots that might take up a few million dollars in cap space. They're all rookie or 2nd yr guys and mostly lower round picks. Seems like they'll easily be able to afford putting a bit more money into the CB position and still have some flexibility to do more— figgypop
- frank "shekels" 105— johnnydomino
- Not to dogpile on poor, possibly-mentally-challenged Frank, but you do understand that if the Eagles sign Vick to a long-term contract, his cap number will likely go DOWN from the $16 million they're already paying him under his franchise tender, yes?— JLB
- They will definitely trade Asante beofre the season starts...then you can apologize to me for doubting this.— frank105
- if you only pay 2 million for all of your LB's you definitely can keep all 3.. Does anyone realize that almost half of any teams plays are with 3+ WR's??— FABER
- Greed is good.....we applaud it in business and we should applaud it in the number of great players we have........there are never enough all pros.....and if Joe and Jeff have FINALLY become greedy about Trophies we should applaud that....but UNTIL it happens we won't know their committment.....these moves are only the first steps.....— nuggett
- Glad to see everyone agrees that Frank is a buffoon. Banner even said last week the Eagles have room to keep making moves. Spending almost 20 mil on what last year our WEAKEST position actually makes a LOT of sense. I'm sure Banner & Roseman have already earmarked the $$$ for Watkins & Desean.— thomaspfoolery
- Stop making Asante out to be a bad guy. He never said he wanted a new contract. He never said he wanted to be traded. He's in the prime of his career and at the top of his game. When they trade him it will be for salary cap reasons. It will not be a knock on him. I think they will get another 2nd round pick for him which would be great.— soulman386
- Don't let the door knob hit ya where....— Don Cornelius
- @Frank:
Vick's $16 million is already figured into the Eagles' salary cap.— Penfold18 - I believe that copy and paste should now be called Frank and Paste.— Realistic One
frank you moron. The only thing we can book, is that you ARE a moron. Vicks 16 million is already against the cap. Before you start booking tooth fairies why dont you stop posting the same thing on EVERY article. NO ONE CARES what frank105 thinks. It is possible they will trade one of the corners but it wont be for cap reasons because they will turn around and use the money anyway.- MONEY is the issue, not defensive schemes.
Eagles can not pay $20 million this season for these cornerbacks. No Way.
Plus Eagles have to pay DeSean many millions to get him back, plus Eagles need to pay Vick $16 million this season.
Do you belive in the tooth fairy too....this is a business with a cap, not fantasy football.
Asante Samule will be traded...book it.— frank105 - So you're privy to the Eagles accounting department's books, Frank? — Drigh13
- Frank... Extending Vick (clearly in the plans now that Kolb is gone) would actually lower his $16M cap hit, freeing up even more space to pay Jackson and keep Samuel — logicandreason
- stop saying book it — kcoyle11
- I believe that you are wrong Frank. I see all three here all year.— Tozmanian
- Frank do you prognosticate the national debt too?? Have you watched any football in the last 3-4 years?? Teams pass more than ever. Asante is a bargain @ 6 mil - unless someone offers a starting right tackle or a seriously good starter, I will "BOOK IT" that Asante starts the season as an Eagle. DRC even said last week he'd move down inside if necessary. 3 great corners allows the Eagles to play nickel 75% of the time - which considering our dearth of linebacking talent is probably a VERY wise move.— thomaspfoolery
- NNadmi will make $12 million this season.
Asante will make at least $6 million (He now wants to renegotiate it much higher)
Rodgers-Cromartie will make $1 million
Eagles can not pay $20 million this season for cornerbacks...No way.
This ain't fantasy football, Eagles can not pay $20 million for just these cornerbacks.
Plus they need to pay many more millions to get DeSean to play this season.
Asante Samuel will be traded....book it.
— frank105 - Can I see your extensive cap analysis of the Eagles 2011 season? You're such an expert, I'm sure you have it. Quick, someone call Joe Banner, he's about to make a mistake, but don't worry, frank105 will take care of things. There is nothing, I mean NOTHING, funnier than some poster doing cap analysis.... book it. — mjc1
- "...Samuel would not confirm if he was indeed at Lehigh University when contacted..." Uhm, what does that mean exactly? He answered his phone at Lehigh but couldn't confirm he was there? What is this, national security?
— DennyP - Don't unpack your bags...Asante.— johnnyb85
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