Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

POSTED 9:03 p.m. EST, February 26, 2008

SAMUEL SAID TO BE A "DONE DEAL" IN NEW ORLEANS

There's increasing chatter in league circles that the Saints have worked out a deal with cornerback Asante Samuel.

Yeah, it's tampering. But no one seems to care about that.

Samuel supposedly is looking for a contract with an average value in excess of $10 million per year.

Here's the link
ProFootballTalk.com -- The Best Pro Football Scoop on the Internet

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

hmmm..... interesting OH PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE SIGN HIM ! ! !

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

I hope it's true. I guess will know come friday.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

I'd lose a teaspoon in my boxers if we got him.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

Asante is an exciting pickup, and has been a good corner for New England.

My only concern is that I feel like the ghost of Tebucky Jones is coming back to haunt our secondary (Given that they both come from N.E.).

I know their positions are different, so spare me that... But, both were/are believed to be in the prime of their careers, both coming from a Super Bowl winning Patriots team, both had a lot of HYPE and N.E. let them go...

Is this a homerun? 10 million a year? I gots concerns...

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

This Would Be Historic! I Hope It Happens!

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

If we don't get more pressure up front, and a better LB corps, then we could have Champ Bailey, AND Asante Samuels, and we would still have major problems. I hope that we do get him, but not at the expense of our front seven.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

our d line is going to rape this season.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

"The Saints are currently the leader to land Samuel, although that could change"

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

"One problem with tampering is that teams sometimes lose verbal agreements when the real thing starts. It fortuiosly happened to the Eagles in 2006 when they thought they had LeCharles Bentley signed. Samuel may have a great offer from New Orleans, but another team could always jump in."

Fantasy Football Breaking News - Rotoworld.com

I'm not just saying.... I'm just saying....

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

my god i hope so.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

That's not what I've been hearing. I hope it's true though. Even if he has benefitted from the "system", he still has 16 INTs over the last two seasons. Also, if he worked so well in that system, maybe we should just adopt that system. Eh?

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

Friday morning can't come soon enough.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

yeah, for real XD.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

I would like to use Green Bay's defense as a reference point. They signed Woodson from Oakland, and have Harris on the other side, but they got most of their picks, and defenses, because they had Hawk in the middle of the field, backing up the D line. For any of these secondary stars to have any effect, we HAVE to get a stud MLB, to give them those opportunities. I will also use Urlacher, and the Bears as a reference as well. Hawk, and Urlacher both have sideline to sideline speed, and are tackling machines. Our lbs are so subpar, that we have to bring up the safeties, to watch their back.

MLB, and CB, are definately the two biggest weaknesses on defense. Hopefully, we can get a CB, and a MLB in FA, that way, we can take a ball hawk safety in the first round. At least, that's the way I would play it.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

theres a rumor now that samuel is really interested in Tampa and that it will be his first stop when FA opens

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

that rumor is older than this rumor...

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

He is good BUT he is no Champ and should not get paid more than him. This is like Clements last year. Just because he is the best of the FA does not mean he should set a new record for salary. Sorry but I would pass more on the dollar amount than anything to do with his play. 8 million yes.
I would rather go down the long road of youth in the draft, If we do well so be it.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

The only thing that really scares me about signing Samuels is that if you thought David aka Toast got targeted by opposing QB's last season just wait. As with Samuels on one side and David on the other your gonna see bombs rain down on Toast like a September rain all season long... His signing will only make our real weakness at CB even more critical.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

Not if we sign and draft the RIGHT WAY this year... ;)

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

If we get Samuel and Cromartie falls into the 2nd round I would like to see us still draft him. I do, however, think that this clears us up to take a DT or LB, so if Ellis or Dorsey falls for whatever reason(Ellis made zero impressions at the combine and Dorsey was in the medical room throughout) then we can snag one or the other. Then we can wait for the 3rd or 4th round to pick up Woodard from kentuky

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

SaintPaul, as always is the calmer head of the bunch.

Ellis and Dorsey still have Pro-Day to show their value. Don't count on them dropping. The only one I see dropping into our lap is Rivers; and that's almost asking too much. Gholston would be my next choice.

The Samuel signing IS a big deal and not just for the reason you think.

1. It means this team is ready to spend some money (FINALLY)!
2. If they don't go after Vilma, a LB will be drafted 1st. By either trading
up or down.
3. David may not be the other starter.
4. I may not even be close to the reality of what is about to happen.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

I agree completly.Grant played poorly to the 10th degree.

Both Grant and Smith seemed to be 20 pounds over-weight.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

LMAO :phat:

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

Someone on here yesterday said he waited a table on Grant and that he had lost some weight. So, I am not too sure he can play every down at DT. I don't know, maybe it's just me.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

I know JD would play in some coverages but wouldnt Mike M be playing most of the time?? Why is everyone hell bent on David?

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

If we pick up Asante, JD is an spacefiller. MM might not be ready for the begining of the season. Usama needs to really kick butt at training camp. Again, IF we pick up Asante.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

I was thinking along the same lines. If we can get the deal done with Samuel and trade for Vilma or Ian Gold of Denver, then that gives us a little leeway to possibly draft a Vhernon Golston and move Grant inside on passing downs or even permanently. We could then address corner in the second round as this looks to be a deep corner draft.

Samuel and Vilma/Gold would add instant impact to our defense. There are certainly still upgrades to be made, but with those two, Grant, Smith, and few role players here and there, our defense could once again be at the least credible, if not better.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

That would be a dream signing! Now Get Vilma!!!

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

Unfortunately, The same website that is reporting Asante to the Saints is reporting Vilma to the Lions.

Which rumor would you rather be right?

"VILMA TO LIONS?

The New York Jets are shopping linebacker Jonathan Vilma, a 4-3 defender who has struggled in coach Eric Mangini's 3-4 system.

A league source tells us that the current favorites to land Vilma are the Lions.

Another question mark regarding Vilma is a knee injury that significantly limited him in 2007. If healthy, he's capable of creating real havoc."

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

True- and don't forget Big Play Ray from NE

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

let em be 50/50, getting asante right and the lions wrong. besides, you can always count on matt millen to screw things up

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

I certainly would not count on Samuel being a done deal. It is great news to hear that the Saints are determined to fix this mess of a defense, but there is no way the Samuel deal is done and there is still plenty of work to do even if they get samuel. Getting samuel, trading for Vilma and still loading up on young playmakers on defense is a must. Another CB, DT, LB and safety are still needs. But this whole thing is encouraging to see that they are giving maximum effort.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

Good point about Matt Millen. Never count the Lions out of screwing up as long as that joker is there.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

One problem with Samuel is he's going to eat up all of the cap just for one guy. It would be great to have him, but only if Loomis can swing a deal and still have money to strengthen some other missing links.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

agreed...and i think the best way to save a couple bucks is to hope that we convince someone to move up to the 10th pick so we could move back a few spots and still get the LB or CB they want and load up on some picks in round 2 or 3. That would give us so many more options but finding someone to move up is going to be next to impossible unless someone starts to inexplicably slide on draft day.

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

I was going to say something, but scott406's avatar made me forget...

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

At least the front office is talking to defensive players for a change. Don't forget Coach is a very offensive minded. Give him a chance to snag a good player and he will.

Samuel will improve the position of CB on this team. Next address DT and at least two LB's

Re: Asante to Saints a "done deal"
 

update?

Saints in Lead to Sign Asante Samuel - FanHouse - AOL Sports Blog