3 hours 15 minutes for NE and Samuel to come to a long term deal. If they can't Samuel can only play for the 1 year Franchise tag tender...tick tock, tick tock..... Cornerback Could Play Under 1-Year Deal POSTED: 8:21 am EDT July 16, 2007 UPDATED: 8:23 am EDT July 16, 2007 FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Monday marks a key deadline in the talks between the Patriots and cornerback Asante Samuel. The two sides have until 4 p.m. to reach agreement on a long-term contract. If they don't, Samuel, who was given the franchise tag earlier this year, could only play in 2007 under a one-year deal that would pay him $7.9 million. Samuel has indicated that he might hold out for training camp and much of the season if forced to play under the franchise tag. His agent, Alonzo Shavers, said he hasn't given up hope that a long-term deal could be struck before the deadline, but he dismissed reports that an agreement was at hand. Samuel tied for the league lead in interceptions last season with 10, and returned two more interceptions for touchdowns in the playoffs.
thanks for posting this, this is one of the few significant news pieces to come around lately. doesnt the same apply for Langston Walker and the Bills. if not hes shipped back to the Eagles
Franchise players Samuel, Briggs fail to reach deals By Len Pasquarelli ESPN.com (Archive) Updated: July 16, 2007, 4:23 PM ET Comment Email Print As anticipated, neither New England cornerback Asante Samuel nor Chicago weakside linebacker Lance Briggs reached a contract agreement before Monday's 4 p.m. deadline for franchise players to sign multi-year deals. Now, the two standout defenders are limited by league rules to signing just a one-year tender. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2938730 Earlier in the day, Detroit defensive tackle Cory Redding beat the deadline, signing a seven-year, $49 million contract that makes him the NFL's highest-paid player at his position. Briggs and Samuel have both indicated at various times in the offseason that they will wait until the 10th week of the season to sign the one-year qualifying offer tendered to them at the outset of the free agency period. That is the latest possible point at which a player can sign and still receive credit for an accrued season toward the NFL pension plan. Samuel reportedly has softened his stance a bit in recent days, amid rumors that he might report to the Patriots early in training camp. Even if true, Samuel now would be precluded from signing a multi-year contract because of new stipulations included in last year's extension to the collective bargaining agreement. The one-year tender for Samuel is $7.79 million, and for Briggs it is $7.206 million. Once a player signs the tender, the money becomes guaranteed. A team can also rescind the qualifying offer, but there have been no indications the Bears or Patriots plan to do so. There were seven veterans designated as franchise players this year. Three of those players Indianapolis defensive end Dwight Freeney (six years, $72 million), New Orleans defensive end Charles Grant (seven years, $63 million) and Redding signed long-term contracts. Cincinnati defensive end Justin Smith ($8.64 million) and Seattle kicker Josh Brown ($2.078 million), signed the one-year tenders for their respective positions. Both the Patriots and Bears were steadfast in negotiations with their franchise players. While there were some discussions between New England officials and Samuel's representatives on a long-term contract, the two sides never were close on the overall numbers. The Bears, on the other hand, made it clear that they had no interest in signing Briggs to a multi-year deal and were interested only in a one-year qualifying offer for the two-time Pro Bowl performer. Chicago did discuss a potential trade of Briggs to Washington at the March league meetings -- the Redskins actually reached an agreement in principle on a contract that would have paid the linebacker $20 million in guarantees -- but the teams could not agree on compensation. Those trade discussions were revisited during draft weekend in April, but again the teams could not strike a deal. One potential compromise in the cases of Briggs and Samuel -- although not a guaranteed remedy -- would be for the teams to stipulate that they would not invoke the franchise tag again next spring on the players if they sign the one-year tender.
it is so dumb for a guy who made $500,000 last year to turn down $7+MILLION(!!!) because he feels slighted by not getting a longterm deal, grow up and accept your HUGE paycheck. how much money is he going to lose by holding out until week 10, and what can he really achieve from that, other than ensuring they don't franchise him next year. STUPID.
What is to prevent the Patriots from Franchising him again next year? It really wasn't the paycheck that he turned down but he most likely wanted a huge signing bonus that was too unreasonable for the Patriots. The JETS can have him for 2 1st round draft picks if they want.
