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2 Pats not interested in being tagged as franchise player

Kaiser Toro

Kaiser Toro

Native Mod
The window for NFL teams to designate franchise or transitional players opened yesterday, and will close on Feb. 22.

But there was no news on which player the Patriots might tag for the upcoming season. Of the 14 soon-to-be unrestricted free agents New England has on its roster, there are two, corner Asante Samuel and tight end Daniel Graham, that would most likely be designated as the team’s franchise player.

http://www.projo.com/patriots/content/sp_fbn_patriots09_02-09-07_BV4BI96.17ac39c.html
 
With the cap number for CBs set at around $7.8 mill, I don't think the Pats will franchise Samuel. My guess is that they let him walk and resign Graham, but not at the franchise number of $4.8 mill for a TE. That's a lot to pay for a TE known more as a blocker than a pass catcher. You can always pick up blocking TEs late in the draft...
 
GoPats said:
With the cap number for CBs set at around $7.8 mill, I don't think the Pats will franchise Samuel. My guess is that they let him walk and resign Graham, but not at the franchise number of $4.8 mill for a TE. That's a lot to pay for a TE known more as a blocker than a pass catcher. You can always pick up blocking TEs late in the draft...
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I think that is the play as well. Samuel was a 4th rounder and the Pats seem to have a never ending supply of 1st day draft picks that always pan out. Moreover, the genius of coaches forte is the secondary.

They will get over the loss of Samuel better and quicker than most teams.
 
GoPats said:
With the cap number for CBs set at around $7.8 mill, I don't think the Pats will franchise Samuel. My guess is that they let him walk and resign Graham, but not at the franchise number of $4.8 mill for a TE. That's a lot to pay for a TE known more as a blocker than a pass catcher. You can always pick up blocking TEs late in the draft...
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Why would they resighn Graham when they already have Watson (one of the best TE's in the NFL) & Thomas (2nd best TE in the draft, IMO)?

That wouldn't make any sense at all.

I think they are gonna let Graham go & if they dont tag Samuel then they will let him walk also & draft a top CB in the draft.
 
Slim and none I think. There's a lot of teams out there that have more money to throw at him than we do. Since our owner is now on record as wanting to make prudent FA acquisitions, getting involved in a bidding war for his services doesn't make sense.
 
bah007 said:
Why would they resighn Graham when they already have Watson (one of the best TE's in the NFL) & Thomas (2nd best TE in the draft, IMO)?

That wouldn't make any sense at all.

I think they are gonna let Graham go & if they dont tag Samuel then they will let him walk also & draft a top CB in the draft.
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Graham is a team captain and one of the most respected guys in the locker room. Plus, if you play a lot of two TE sets, which the Pats do, you really need three TEs to rotate in and out. There's also that little injury thing that seems to creep up all the time...

Samuel had a great year, but it was just that. One... great... year. He may or may not continue to play at that level, and the Patriots aren't big risk-takers in those situations. CBs are expensive. TEs, typically, aren't.

NE has used the franchise tag once (on Vinatieri), but I don't see them doing it again. When you tag a player, I believe his full salary counts against the cap (no bonus). If they do franchise Samuel, it will be for the purpose of a sign-and-trade deal so they retain his rights and get something back for him.

Just my opinion, mind you. I'm not Scott Pioli or anything. :winky:
 
Samuel is gonna be back in NE next season. People point out how they let Law walk, but he was long in the tooth, was asking for a ton of money, despite NE giving him fair offers, and they had depth who could relace him when he left.

It is a different situation for Asante though. He is a young, and obviously great, cornerback. Plus, NE has a lot of cap space. NE doesn't have good depth at CB either, so I don't see anyone on that roster who could fill the void if Samuel were to leave.
 
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