Asante: "You make your bed ... deal with it"
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Asante: "You make your bed ... deal with it"
Jeff McLane
Asante Samuel said that he expects to be greeted warmly when he returns to Lincoln Financial Field as a member of the Falcons on Sunday.
"They better cheer for me," Samuel said to reporters in Atlanta. "They're going to cheer for me or we're going to have a problem right there in Lincoln Financial [Field]. All you all fans, all I did for you all, you all better cheer for me. Deuce here. Got nothing but love for you all."
Samuel returns with the undefeated Falcons. It was pointed out to the cornerback during a four-minute interview the struggles the 3-3 Eagles have had on defense this season.
"It’s kind of hard when 22 ain't there," Samuel said, referring to his jersey number. "Twenty-two keep things going for you. You just to deal with it. You make you bed. You got to deal with it.”
Samuel, of course, is referring to the Eagles' decision to trade him to Atlanta in April. The Eagles received only a seventh-round draft pick in return for the four-time Pro Bowler. Andy Reid said at the time of the deal that the Eagles made an effort to trade Samuel to a team of his choosing.
“Like I said in the beginning, it was a joint thing," Samuel said. "It was something we all had to agree on together. We had other choices that I was not going to pick. Atlanta was a place I wanted to come. They tried to not let me come to Atlanta, but we got it done."
Still, Samuel appears to harbor bitter feelings over the trade. When reports of Juan Castillo's firing surfaced last Tuesday, Samuel tweeted the following, interpreted by many to be about Reid:
"Sometimes you have to blame yourself. You can't try and always point the figure at someone else."
Samuel was asked about the tweet on Thursday.
“You all assumed that was about Andy," Samuel said. "I didn’t say this is for Andy. I just make a quote and then another quote and everybody said that was for Andy. You all did that."
Samuel, who played under Castillo for one season, was asked for his opinion of the firing.
"Juan’s my guy. Shout out to you, Juan," Samuel said. "He had the 12th defense in the league. Doing a good job as I could see. It’s just unfortunate he had to resign from his job or whatever."
Samuel, with typical bravado, took questions at his locker stall with his helmet on. He acknowledged that this was a big week and that Sunday's game was not just any game because Philadelphia "was like my home."
"It’ll be exciting, you know? They’ll be happy to see me," Samuel said of his teammates.
It remains to be seen if Michael Vick will be happy to see one of the NFL's top interception men. Samuel has 46 career interceptions, 23 coming while with the Eagles. He has one interception this season, one he took back 79 yards for a touchdown against the Raiders.
"I never really got to play against" Vick, Samuel said. "Every time I had to play against his team he was always hurt or something. I know he’s an explosive player. I know he’s an competitor, so it’s time to compete."
We absolutely should cheer for him. Despite any arguments you want to make about his tackling skills, Zant was/is one of the best defensive playmakers in the NFL and brought it each and every game.— proLogic- Agreed. He had a knack for getting a key pick to turn games around in the Eagles favor. And remember, they got rid of him. He didn't pull a Dwight Howard and beg and moan like a baby to be traded. If he gets booed, it would be very boorish of Philly fans.— moose_man
- They should....but you know the 700 level mentality....they would rathers boo a player than take on the archetect of this mess....Andy Reid....Never fear Asante....you deserve better than what you got here.....and AR will finally get some well deserved boos in the next few weeks....Thanks— nuggett
- 700 level mentality? they were priced out when they built the Linc — jjjimjjj
- Matt Ryan (who went to Penn Charter) is going to enjoy his homecoming a lot more than Assante !!
Atlanta offense is going to have a big day I'm sad to say.— Mike Boryla - Hes sorta like a Freddy Mitchell personality, but with talent. Nothing against him but on Sunday he is on the other team.— Sidewinder7
- He needs a grammar and tackling lesson.— cynbad
- wow. arrogant. philly doesn't like arrogant.— Zero
- I'm not cheering for the Eagles thats for damn sure. I just hope Asante has a pick 6 or 2 and runs right by the Eagles sideline. Asante is a good player. Andy Reid is just a terrible coach. Got nothing but love for Asante. I won't cheer/root for the Eagles until ANDY REID IS FIRED.— Apollo Creed
- If they are losing anyway does it matter. Because right now they are losing anyway. Since late 2010 they have lost more games then they have won with an amazing 11-14 record.
- lol, that doesnt even make any sense, but nice try. "Does it matter", by definition could be a yes or no depending on what "it" is. Keep working on your logic skills and rooting for a loser coach that already has a losing record over the last 25 freaking games no matter what the fans think. ITS A FACT. HES A LOSER OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. PATHETIC.
- Apollo you and Charlie Garner25 should go root for the Giants, Cowboys, or Skins. None of us want your or his support back even when Reid gets fired. We do not need fir weather fans!! The Eagles are 3-3 and most likely are going to bet the Falcons. Its after a bye week and it is what we do. So stay home and pick a new team both you and CG25. — mcalabrese
- As a player, Asante was awesome (minus some tackling issues). But it's him shooting his mouth off like this that makes me want to puke. And that tweet wasn't about Reid? Man up.— gjgreen3
