Asante Samuel Reports to Patriots

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

One of the NFL’s best cornerbacks, New England Patriots DB Asante Samuel, returned to his team yesterday, ending a month-long holdout. The Patriots applied the franchise tag to Asante in February, guaranteeing him a one-year, $7.79 million contract. But it prevented him from becoming an unrestricted free agent. He missed much of training camp when he and the Pats failed to agree on a long-term contract by the July 17 deadline. After that date, he could only re-sign with the Patriots for one year. And while the ink is not dry on this contract yet, Asante was at Pats headquarters getting a physical yesterday and is expected to be at practice today. I guess Asante sucked it up and realized nearly $8 million to play for the Pats this year wasn’t so bad, even if there was no guarantee on his football future beyond 2007. His agent, Alonzo Shavers, declined to say whether the Patriots had gotten Asante to report by promising they would not apply the franchise tag to him again next year.

Asante’s return bolsters an already potent New England D. The Patriots’ starting defense has been sharp in the preseason. For example, last Friday, despite missing starting defensive ends Richard Seymour and Ty Warren, New England limited the Carolina Panther’s offensive starters to three-and-outs on three of the their first four possessions. Cornerback Randall Gay had replaced Asante in the starting lineup alongside Ellis Hobbs. And veteran free agent Tory James and rookie first-round draft pick Brandon Meriweather were the top reserves. The Patriots’ defensive backfield is now fully loaded and I continue to name the Pats as my Super Bowl favorite.