Czar: Saints Favorite for Samuel
 

The asking price for Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel is somewhere between $10 and $11 million per season. The Saints are currently the leader to land Samuel, although that could change. Samuel's price got this high because Atlanta's disgruntled DeAngelo Hall is asking for $10 million. The Giants aren't really interested because they won't pay Hall's price, but there is no doubt Atlanta will trade him for a first-round draft choice.

FOX Sports on MSN - John Czarnecki - Talk isn't just about college stars at combine

Re: Czar: Saints Favorite for Samu
 

Asante Samuel, I would love to see him in a Saints UNI. Ijust wonder if there going to open there wallet.

Re: Czar: Saints Favorite for Samu
 

Steep steep asking price. I'm torn on Samuels as I know he's a really good corner but in the back of my mind... I have him as a system corner. 10-11 million dollars a year is a hell of a lot of money. We'll see what happens.

Re: Czar: Saints Favorite for Samu
 

Didn't we learn our lesson with Jason David? Why break our bank on a "system guy" when we can draft two CB's with all the upside in the world?

Re: Czar: Saints Favorite for Samu
 

To put David on par with Samuel is a joke.

Furthermore, can you put your finger on the "system" that the Pats run? The league sure hasn't been able to. Fact is, they run a complex system that incorporates man and zone concepts. And, we don't exclusively run an schemes either. I can't believe some are scoffing at an All-Pro corner possibly coming to New Orleans. Wow...

Re: Czar: Saints Favorite for Samu
 

I'd gladly take him... but it doesn't mean I can't be skeptical. It's not like there haven't been concerns about him possibly being a system corner.

Re: Czar: Saints Favorite for Samu
 

Color me skeptical. I think that the CB position is perhaps the most overrated position in football. That's not to say that it's not important but $10,000,000 a year? I want Samuel to play for the Saints but man, that's a LOT of dough.

Wait. I want playmakers on this defense. Cost be damned.
You've just witnessed a flip-flop.

Re: Czar: Saints Favorite for Samu
 

But where are the concerns founded from? The fact that he's excelled in such a complex scheme tells me that he's smart, and the 16 picks over the last two years tells me he's a ballhawk. None of the other CB's in New England have come close to his success (unlike a few years back in Cincy when it seemed everybody had at least 4 INT's) so maybe, it's him, not the system. Furthermore, when you look at what we have (and I remind you that David, Toast Thomas, and an injured Mike McKenzie are still on the roster), I don't see how there's any possible downside to Samuel signing on with the Saints.

Re: Czar: Saints Favorite for Samu
 

I don't see a downside besides the fact he's going to cost an arm and a leg. Even if he's a system corner, he's still would be better than anything we have. But hey there's a price to pay for high quality talent. Like I said, I'd glady take him.

Free agent Asante Samuel is rumored to be in search of a ten-year, $100 million contract, including $30 million up front.

Apparently he doesn't just want more than Nate Clements (seven years, $64 million), he wants much more. The way Samuel and his agent are speaking, it sounds like he doesn't have a preference of where to sign. Some GMs are pegging him as a system DB.

Source: Boston Herald

Re: Czar: Saints Favorite for Samu
 

Contracts are never what they appear, never, and Samuel's deal will be no different. He will get a boatload of cash but that $30M wouldn't come up front and if it did, it would still count over the life of the deal. Deals are now structured for guaranteed money over the life of the deal. Guaranteeing $30M over the first 4 or 5 years isn't too much to ask. It's not like he would get every dime. Actually, the player is the only person to lose when those inflated deals are signed. The team gets salary cap rebates the following year when those incentives aren't met (and a corner rarely leads the league in punting), and the agent gets his percentage up front for the total possible amount of the deal. The player pays the agent more even though they never see the full value of the deal. The guarantees were finally put into contracts (and the league owners resisted) to protect the players. I'm fine with that.

Re: Czar: Saints Favorite for Samu
 

Can the saints do anything right?

People on here holler that the saints never make any big moves and that Benson is being to cheap...then word breaks that the saints are the leaders for the number 1 free agent out there and you get upset that they are willing to spend too much money? Make up your mind people.

Re: Czar: Saints Favorite for Samu
 

The system the Patriots run is the "I saw it on tape" defense, or ISI-OT for short.

All kidding aside, this is what bothers me about Samuel:

1.- if it is true that the Patriots knew what play was coming to them because of all this taping, what happens when Samuel doesn't know what play is coming to him? Before you say anything, think about it: even if he, Samuel himself, had no idea of the taping and never saw any of that footage, his coach did, and his coach was able to call a play that was going to put Samuel in a position to make a play because the coach knew what offense was being called.

2.- Samuel is looking for a payday, sure just like any other player, however, any other player doesn't have SB rings. Is he going to play 100%?

Re: Czar: Saints Favorite for Samu
 

Damn if we land Samuel and still draft Talib 1st and Dre Moore 2nd I would be in Saints Heaven. I think we will end up with Morgan and Gold too!

Re: Czar: Saints Favorite for Samu
 

At very least he would bring a know how to win attitude.... much needed here in New Orleans

Re: Czar: Saints Favorite for Samu
 

well with Samuels comes less of a need for a first round CB, or maybe trade out of the 10 spot save money and get Cromartie

Re: Czar: Saints Favorite for Samu
 

We need the 10 spot to get a LB. I do hope DRC is still there in the second and we pick him up. Can't wait to see what he does today at the combine.

If anyone is home watching it, send us updates on the DB's.