Asante Trade to Titans? Doesn't Seem Close
The Eagles' next order of business would seem to be trading corner Asante Samuel. Earlier this week, the Inquirer's Jeff McLane reported Asante would be willing to rework his contract if it would help get a deal done. He has cap numbers of $10.5 million this season and $12.5 million next season, according to Eaglescap.com.
Asante Trade to Titans? Doesn't Seem Close
Les Bowen
There seem to be differing thoughts on whether or not Asante Samuel will get traded. (Michael Perez/AP file photo)
The Eagles' next order of business would seem to be trading corner Asante Samuel. Earlier this week, the Inquirer's Jeff McLane reported Asante would be willing to rework his contract if it would help get a deal done. He has cap numbers of $10.5 million this season and $12.5 million next season, according to Eaglescap.com.
Asante talk heated up this week at the NFL meetings in Florida. Titansinsider.com reported that Tennessee has "some interest" in the 31-year-old corner, who has intercepted 19 passes over the last three seasons, and has appeared in four Pro Bowls since entering the league in 2003 with the Patriots.
Last night, Comcast SportsNet reported that a Samuel trade with the Titans, for a conditional third-round pick, could happen in the next few days. But Jim Wyatt, longtime Titans beat writer for the Nashville Tennessean, doesn't think the Titans are pursuing Samuel, and has stated flatly that they would not expend a third-round pick for him.
"The Titans aren’t on the verge of trading for Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel, and any interest in the four-time Pro Bowler is lukewarm at best," Wyatt wrote.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman appeared on 94WIP today, but was not asked directly about the Comcast report. He referred to calls being "ongoing" RE trades in general, which was not particularly helpful.
My thinking is that these sorts of trades seem to happen near or during the draft, for some reason - maybe a team is hoping to get a corner in the first couple rounds, doesn't, and thinks, "What the heck, will the Eagles take a fourth-rounder now for Asante?"
I think that's probably the price. "Conditional third-rounder," predicated on Asante making the Pro Bowl next season or something, would be good value. I'll be a little surprised if this Titans thing happens, at least anytime soon.
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Poll: Are the Eagles a Super Bowl contender this year?Comments (42)
"Howie Roseman...was not particularly helpful (in an interview)." I, for one, am shocked.— dragoon6- It seems funny that Asante, who is a premiere corner in this league is only worth a conditional 3rd but AJ Feeley and Kevin Kolb are worth 2nd rounder’s.— birds748
- I think the answer to that is fairly clear. Quarterbacks are valued higher than any other position.
— SteveS11 - Yeah, but "any" QB versus a pro-bowl caliber corner? I bet Arizona would take Asante over Klob, now.
- Say what you want about Samuel but there's no denying the guy is a playmaker that consistently generates turnovers. You're telling me no one in the league is in need of a guy like that?— JimG
- Howie is backed into a corner now. He is going to get swindled into a 3rd round pick. when Kevin Kolb gets you a 2nd rounder and pro bowl corner— Sports4Life
- Would it be awful if they just kept him and let him play out his deal? Can't have too many good CB's.— regassert6
- The Eagles obviously think they can make better use of the money. That may turn out to be true and it may not. If DRC or Nnamdi stink up the place or get injured, and their backups get lit up, trading Samuel away will look like a dumb move in hindsight....but one that the Eagles are seemingly determined to make. — SteveS11
- Sports4Life: QB is a much more important position than corner, and the Cardinals thought they might get a starting QB out of the deal.— p-diddy
- Asante's value has to do with age and contract... In the NFL over thirty is like when your car goes over 100K miles... The value drops considerably. They really should have traded him last year— missurichie
- Asante may not be tough enough for Birds' fans, but he's smart on the field and off. His willingness to eat some cash now and rework his deal will facilitate a trade and extend his contract. It's called job security in the NFL.— obx2003
- Trade him for a 4th round draft pick? No thanks. I'd keep him if that's all they'll get. How big an issue is his salary for the Eagles?— MikeP
- The top five corners in the HOF couldn't tackle either. Basing your opinion of a corner on his tackling(and Asnate gave up the fewest yards after the catch than any Eagles corner) of RB's near the line of scrimmage is like saying that a DE can't play because he doesn't have good enough hands to make interceptions. Making plays for a CB is INT's buddy.— UncleStosh
- Stosh, why must you allow logic to prevent you from a more interesting post? What the hell is wrong is you?
- Eagles should keep him, he is still our best CB. The other two nitwits showed me nothing last year.— ChrisM
- Here is a fact: When Nnamdi oplayed in Oakland, he saw about a total of 20 passes thrown to his side for an entire season because the guy across from him was cannon fodder. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy when the "shutdown" corner no longer has to shut anyone down because teams don't throw their direction. When he came tothe eagles and tewams had a choice of throwing ton his side or the ballhawks samuels side, he saw a lot more action and he was no longer quite the shutdown corner he was in Oakland. Asante was better than him in every statistical category including tackling as Nnamdi was the worse tackler on the team.— UncleStosh
- Plus here he was playing too much zone. His strength isn't dropping back into coverage. It's attacking on the play. — DelValLifer
Comment removed.- W— ingy9
- W— ingy9
- W— ingy9
- W— ingy9
- Sorry .. Well we have the gold standard here , so that should be worth at least a 3rd rounder ...— ingy9
- Trade Him For Sheldon Brown. Now He's TOUGH as Nails!— Ace-Philadelphia
Sheldon Brown wanted more money and you see where that got him. Ashante's style just doesn't fit with the wide 9. Corners have to play tight man coverage and Ashante's game is playing off and of course the safety has to be over top in case Ashante guesses incorrectly. Eagles could just restructure his contract but then DRC is back on the slot and we don't want that to happen.- Perhaps they could trade Asante & a 4th Rounder For Dawkins. So, that way we have to Voice Leaders in DeMeco Ryans and Dawkins. And I believe they can share ways to get the team hype and going. Instead of having no Voice or soul on the team and have the team plasying and looking depressed looking like it WANTS its coach fired.— Ace-Philadelphia
- Perhaps they could trade Asante & a 4th Rounder For Dawkins. So, that way we have to Voice Leaders in DeMeco Ryans and Dawkins. And I believe they can share ways to get the team hype and going. Instead of having no Voice or soul on the team and have the team plasying and looking depressed looking like it WANTS its coach fired.— Ace-Philadelphia
- I'm telling you they shouldn't trade Asante. They'll be right where they just started. One GREAT Corner and One Corner that's garbage. And I think y'all are familliar with that scenario. (Asante Samuel & Dimitri Patterson. Do y'all really believe DRC is that MUCH better than Dimitri? That's a downgrade from Asante. DRC is like another Dimitri except DRC is more ATHLETIC. Asante has 2-years left and they don't want to re-structure that and let him play it out. What happened with that trying to be like Green Bay Defense scheme? Where Nnamdi wanted to be like Charles Woodson or something like that? Be careful what you wish for.— Ace-Philadelphia
- Asante is your new FS if they can't trade him. Let him roam......— LJ14
- "... Eagles are seemingly determined to make" - really. The only folks talking about trading Asante are the Philly media gaggle. Don’t conflate answering a reporter’s repeated question “are you looking to trade Samuels” with the FO getting up every morning and posting him on Craig’s List.
Hopefully Bowles will bring the team some much-needed continuity, something that was sorely missing last season. KEEP the best corner on the roster - #22!
— Laughingaloud123 - third round + cap space = not bad— alwaysphil1
- Reworking his contract will have to come with some cash up front. I can't see giving away a talent like this in a league starved for Defensive Backs with his talent being the spread offense is in check now.— Dexter
- The only problem with playing Samuel at FS is he would be dependent upon as a last line of defense again the run, he's not that physical. However, he would be a Offensive Coordinator's worse nightmare free lancing in the Eagles defensive back field.— Dexter
- Talent wise Ashante Samuels is worth a second round pick. What brings the asking price down is his salary. If Asante is willing to restructure his deal before the trade maybe his worth goes up. He is a top 5 corner in this league and just because he doesnt play up to the line doesnt take away from the fact. Deion Sanders wasnt a physical corner either but he made plays on the ball that meant the difference between a win and a loss. Thats all that is important. Wins and losses. And no Corner we have on the roster effects the game as much as Samuels does when its all said and done. If we cant get a HIGH 3rd rounder and something else for him then keep him. The Eagles have plenty of salary cap space to HONOR THEIR CONTRACT WITH HIM. HE HAS PLAYED UP TO HIS CONTRACT AND DESERVES TO SEE IT THROUGH. So tired of the Eagles BS of getting rid of guys because they dont want to take less money on the contracts that they have formatted. But when it comes to a player wanting to get out of a bad deal for them they turn the media and fans against him and make him a bad guy al la Desean Jackson. Hypocrites.— Zeru
- Zeru - Well served!
Asante should NOT rework his contract; why should he once released he can make whatever deal he wants with whatever team he wants. Problem with that is the Cowgirls are in need of a CB, and they would love nothing more than to poke us in the eye and sign him right in front of us. Then he can pick our pocket twice a year until he retires!
You're worth is your word - PAY THE MAN!
— Laughingaloud123 - He is worth a 2012 3rd round pick or 2012,2013 4th round picks.
Age,salary,alergic to hitting are the limitations...take the best deal and don't look back....he needs to go.— greenbloodVAEagle - I wonder sometimes if you guys are fans or EAGLE bashers? im a diehard! trade our best corner for a 3RD HUH..??Are we trying to win a super bowl her or not.Let him finish out this year..let go for a ring!— Natural215
- hell if he agrees to rework his contract and can be forced to tackle occasionally then we should keep him
I really wanted him gone due to his lack or inability to tackle but he is surely worth more then a 3rd or 4th rounder!— connorjr - The idea of Asante tackling is delusional. I don't think he now fits in what the Eagles have in mind. But he deserves more respect for what he has done in Phila than he seemingly gets on these boards.
I'm a Eagles homer and know it's a tough town, but whether you love him or hate the guy he's given good effort and his best and has been league wide recognized for his play.
The Eagles can draft a similarity talented CB for a lot less to begin grooming and trade Asante to save on their payroll. At his salary in a league where the pass is the strategy of choice, he's a bargain somewhere else. I will be willing to bet in another zone system he's back in the pro bowl next year.
— Dexter - Hey, lonewolf -- where do we trade you to?— Richard S
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