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Samuel blasts Eagles brass

BEFORE THE Eagles practiced yesterday, Andy Reid said he wouldn't have anything to say about Asante Samuel's comments last weekend about feeling unwanted, and that Samuel wouldn't, either.

Asante Samuel says he feels wanted by Andy Reid but not by Joe Banner and Howie Roseman. (David Maialetti / Staff Photographer)
Asante Samuel says he feels wanted by Andy Reid but not by Joe Banner and Howie Roseman. (David Maialetti / Staff Photographer)Read more

BEFORE THE Eagles practiced yesterday, Andy Reid said he wouldn't have anything to say about Asante Samuel's comments last weekend about feeling unwanted, and that Samuel wouldn't, either.

One problem: Samuel wasn't finished. And once the cornerback spoke, a whirlwind afternoon of damage control began.

It started after practice when Samuel said he and Reid are on good terms and that he's always had a strong relationship with the Eagles coach, but stopped short of stating that he's wanted by the organization.

"By Andy," Samuel said when asked if he feels wanted. "Some people upstairs might not want me, but who cares? They probably never played football. They run it like a business, so they're going to do what they need to do. Upstairs, they're playing with a lot of money, playing fantasy football. They're doing their thing."

The comments sounded like a veiled shot at team president Joe Banner and general manager Howie Roseman. Asked if those were whom he was referring to by the people upstairs, Samuel did not back away.

"Do they fit the comment I made? Are they upstairs playing fantasy football with all this money? OK," Samuel said.

Of course, Reid doubles as the executive vice president of football operations and works in conjunction with Banner and Roseman.

Samuel said he desires to be where he's wanted. He believed by virtue of still being on the team, he's wanted by the Eagles. But he does not think that Reid and upper management are on the same page about that.

"I think there's a power struggle around here," Samuel said. "But it's all good. Like I said, me and Andy are cool. I'm here to play for Andy. He's my head coach. That's what matters."

Samuel later made a statement to reporters regarding his previous comments, although he did not necessarily amend what he said about the front office.

"Earlier today, I let my emotions get the best of me," Samuel said. "Everything's good and I'm happy to be here. I had a talk with coach Reid this afternoon and I now have a better understanding of how business works in the NFL. Let's get a win Sunday."

The team later released a statement from Reid, who said he was aware of how Samuel felt and spoke to his apparently disgruntled cornerback. Of course, Reid expressed the same sentiment earlier in the day about Samuel's comments over the weekend, but in this later statement, he spoke specifically to Samuel's remarks.

"As I have said previously, when we acquired Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha, we had received numerous calls on the availability of our cornerbacks," Reid said in the prepared statement. "After discussing significant trade offers with other teams, we decided to keep all three cornerbacks on our team. Asante is a valuable member of our team and we appreciate all that he brings to this organization.

"As far as my relationship with Howie and Joe, I have a great deal of respect for both of them and I know we are all on the same page."

The turbulence dates back to the Eagles adding Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie during training camp, giving the Eagles three Pro Bowl cornerbacks. Samuel's name had been rumored in trades since camp and remained a topic of conversation until last week's trade deadline. He even said that the team called him following the Asomugha signing and told him they were trying to trade him. Samuel said no such call was made at the deadline.

During an interview with 97.5 The Fanatic on Saturday, Samuel said the trade speculation did not sit well with him and that the team doesn't want him. He said in the interview that his frustration will not affect his play because he continues to earn a paycheck each week and that "Asante Samuel is a business entity first, so I'm going to make sure I handle my business accordingly." Samuel reiterated that yesterday.

"As long as I'm here, as long as I'm getting paid on Tuesday, I'm going to go out and do my job to the best of my ability each and every Sunday," he said. "I play for the fans, I play for my teammates. That's what it's all about."

Samuel, 30, has 2 full years left on the 6-year, $57 million free-agent contract he signed in 2008. He has started all six games this season and has one interception and 20 tackles. In a conference call with New York reporters last month, Samuel intimated that he could envision himself playing for an Eagles rival after what transpired this season. He did not fear that speaking out this week would affect his value elsewhere in the NFL.

"I've never been a troublemaker. I've always been a leader. A player that goes out and is productive and does what he's supposed to do," Samuel said. "People gotta realize I'm a real guy. I'm a realist. I keep it real. I'm always going to speak the truth. I live and die by that. That's the only way I know. It's no disrespect or anything. That's just me. I'm not going to sugarcoat anything."

Daily News sports writer Paul Domowitch contributed to this report.