Three thoughts on Asante's future
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Three thoughts on Asante's future
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
Here are three thoughts on Asante Samuel and his future with the Eagles:
1. While I've detailed the case for keeping him, anyone who heard Samuel talk to reporters Monday had to leave with the sense that he thinks he'll be playing for another team pretty soon. Samuel's simple "No comment" response to a question about whether he's asked for a trade seemed pretty telling.
But really, it just backed up the vibe I've been getting since the Eagles announced the Nnamdi Asomugha signing on Friday. After hearing Howie Roseman talk, I even wondered at the time if the Eagles already had a deal in place for Samuel.
Then today, Joe Banner told Pro Football Talk that teams are formulating offers for Samuel.
What would the Eagles want in return? I've maintained that an above average right tackle makes the most sense. Now that Danny Watkins has signed, that is clearly the team's biggest need. King Dunlap and Austin Howard have rotated at right tackle so far in camp, and Winston Justice has continued his rehab. I just can't believe the Eagles would go into the season with such a big question mark protecting Michael Vick's blind side.
But that's a pretty specific request. And I'm not sure there's a cornerback-needy team that'd be willing to part with a starting right tackle for Samuel.
I've heard people suggest the Eagles acquire a linebacker in return, but given the way this team has viewed that position, I don't see that being enough, although it obviously depends on the player.
What about future draft picks? In a year where Banner has described the team's philosophy as all in, that wouldn't make sense. Why give up a Pro Bowl cornerback for picks that can't help you in 2011?
2. Which brings us to point number two. What happens if the Eagles can't find a suitable trade partner? They are not going to just give Samuel away. Remember, this is a team that is known to wait until it finds a deal it likes - even when the rest of the league knows it has a player on the market. We saw that with both the Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb deals.
So what happens if Samuel stays? The Eagles will need to exercise some damage control. When asked today if he feels wanted, Samuel said "It's probably 50/50."
And considering the comments made by Roseman and Banner, that's not much of a surprise. If Samuel comes back, the Eagles will likely need to massage his ego a little bit and make him feel wanted. Normally, the easiest way to do that is the old financial apology, but that doesn't make sense here since Samuel is in the fourth year of a six-year deal.
Clearly, the Birds will have to go out of their way to let Samuel know he's appreciated so he doesn't become a distraction. Based on what I've seen and heard from Asomugha so far, he seems like an outstanding teammate and should be able to help to some degree, but it will be challenging.
3. A couple final notes on why I still think the Eagles would benefit from keeping all three corners.
Juan Castillo talked today about using Asomugha in a similar role to the way the Packers use Charles Woodson. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but I do know the Packers found it necessary to keep three cornerbacks on the field last year in the playoffs against the Eagles.
I went back and looked at snap counts with the help of Pro Football Focus. In that game, Woodson played all 66 defensive snaps. Tramon Williams played 65 of 66. And Sam Shields played 63 of 66.
In other words, they clearly had a need for three good cornerbacks, and all three stayed on the field.
Is that going to be the case every week? Probably not. A lot depends on the opposing offense and its scheme and personnel. But I still think the Eagles can get creative in finding a way to get all three guys on the field, and I think it's the best option if they want to go all in this season.
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Just when you thought he was gone....Joey Nickels has re-appeared! C'mon Banner keep all 3 of these cats and make one of them a safety.— kelprod2- kelprod2, you are a first class moron. Not one word of this article said anything about money being a consideration. How about you take your ill-founded prejudice against Banner and shove it. In case you hadn't noticed, the Eagles have been signing their draft picks and the best free agents at a record pace and are the envy of the league. You ignore the mountains of evidence that contradict your opinion of Banner and choose an article that has nothing to do with money as the rationale for attacking him. Stuff it kelprod2. You're as wrong as wrong can be. — Falkirk
- I've noticed you're free with other people's money except where it counts, kelprod. — HandNik
- I agree with point #3, but Hanson (despite his problems as a starter) can cover most slot guys. Cap room to sign a MLB and an OT seems like a better move.— HandNik
- dont understand why banner comes out publicly and says "we're fielding offers for asante" if he isnt resolved to move him in the near future.. and then in the same breath he says we could make it work with three probowl corners? they also mishandled communication to weaver regarding his release, and it seems like the failed trade of bunkley to cleveland was the result of blindsiding the player with a piece of bad news..— zwarte piet
- Sheil, if they can get a 2nd round pick and a mid round pick for Asante that would be great value. They should make the deal that nets the most value.— soulman386
- john clayton of espn is often wrong, but he is now saying that Desean feels he has made his point and will report to camp...and that Asante might restrucure his contract, which would help the Eagles find money for Desean? that doesnt really make sense— jim715
- with a high scoring O... teams are going to be throwing the ball a lot against the D... unless they get knocked over with a deal or can't handle the cap with Vick and Jackson big deals to come... got to keep all 3 DB's. In order to beat GB, Indy, Pats, N.O. they got to stop the passing game in the redzone... no better way to do that then with 3 all pro DB's— dennismithusa
- they already have 11 picks for next year..what do they want with more picks, especially when they want to win this year? should i be worried that its up to our offensive line coach to figure out how to make a defense work with 3 egos at cornerback, and a collection of mid to late round linebackers with almost no experience?— jim715
- ...wait...as the pre-season progresses there will be teams that have needs. Keeping all three seem to makes sense unless there a 'WOW deal' bubbles up....time will tell.— ziggy
- It would make sense to trade Samuel for a draft pick. Now. Even though they are all in. They can use his salary cap space to acquire a free agent right tackle. And still have money left over to fill other needs. Although Samuel is a talent, he does cost alot of money. Significantly more than DRC for instance. They do not need to make a trade with someone who has a good RT. That would be difficult, because, odds are, they would want to keep a good RT that is under contract. In this instance, a trade would be about salary cap space. It is analogous to signing Cullen Jenkins as a FA, and then trading Bunkley for little, to save cap space. They valued Jenkins as a big upgrade over their existing DT that had under contract. So, they acquire the FA that's better, and trade their existing player. Similarly, they like Ashoumgha better than Samuel, acquired him as a FA, then they can trade Samuel for a pick and salary cap space. It is a very good strategy. Keeping Samuel or Cromartie as a third corner is not a wise decision in terms of salary cap space, and other needs to team has. A third corner typically plays only about 50% of the snaps. And the Eagles already have an excellent third corner in Hanson. Sheil pointed out how good he was based on statistics the other day. Additionally, Samuel will be a malcontent in this situation. He is selfish, and not a team player. He is already sulking. And finally, neither of the three corners should be shifted to safety. Not only is that a waste of resources, Samuel and DRC cannot tackle the way a safety needs to. Therefore, make the trade for Samuel, grab a pick, use the money to get a good RT on the market, like Jared Gaither.— arrowamy
- I think someone needs to throw Samuel over their shoulder and burp him.— ej610
The Eagles have spoken:
"On PFT Live, Banner said the situation might be like two years ago, when the Eagles felt they were best off with Donovan McNabb, Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick at the quarterback position, rather than trying to move one. of course, that was a one-year situation."
So there it is; play out the year if they aren't bowled over and trade him prior to next year's draft. As for Jackson, I like the scenario were you make him play out the year for peanuts and franchise him the next year.
"Nickels" dies hard.- Draft picks are like currency in the NFL. You can never have too many of them. For instance, you can have fourteen picks in one year. That doesn't mean you draft 14 players. You can package several of them to move up and down the draft board. You could move up to the top pick theoretically by packaging multiple picks. You can trade them for active players. You can trade them for future draft picks. Hoarding draft picks is never a bad thing! Ask Bill Belichick.— arrowamy
- I would absolutely keep Asante. The stats show that he isn't just a top 10 corner, but a top 5 corner in the NFL. Unless tremendous and I mean tremendous value comes the other way, any trade would be foolish. Furthermore, then they would be one injury away from having Lindley out there consistently. Keep all 3, use DRC as the nickel CB.— Armyofthe15Monkies
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