Samuel To Look At Saints, Bucs, Jets

The Jets are also setting their sights on Samuel, but the free-agent cornerback appears to be favoring the Saints and Bucs at this point, according to multiple reports. "Tampa Bay is a situation that makes sense," Alonzo Shavers, Samuel's agent, told The Tampa Tribune. "Tampa Bay is definitely worth considering. It was an organization that was in the Super Bowl not too long ago. It is an organization Asante wants to play for. It's definitely something that makes perfect sense for everybody." It's unclear how many teams are willing to offer Samuel the kind of salary the Pro Bowl cornerback will command. Samuel made $8 million last season with the Patriots and is believed to be seeking a 10-year, $100 million deal.

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Philidelphia Eagles Rumors

The free-agent buzz surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles for the last few weeks has been that they are going to pursue New England Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel. That might end up happening, but it seems more likely, and perhaps even more logical, that they are going to make a strong attempt to sign New York Giants safety Gibril Wilson, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. It's more likely because Samuel is considered the premier defensive player on the open market, and he is going to command a top contract — probably at least $12 million per season with a $20 million signing bonus — and there's going to be a line of teams bidding for his services. Wilson, a 26-year-old free safety, doesn't figure to get nearly as much money as Samuel and probably fits better with the Eagles in terms of need. Source: Philadelphia Inquirer

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More Spygate News...

The New England Patriots' pattern of illicitly videotaping the signals of opposing NFL coaches began in Coach Bill Belichick's first preseason with the team in 2000, a former Patriots player said. The information was put to use in that year's regular-season opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Belichick's debut as New England's coach the New York Times reported.
The secret taping of signals, which is against league rules, continued at least through three championship seasons to the 2007 season opener against the Jets, when the Patriots were caught and subsequently sanctioned by the league. As coaches and executives gathered here Thursday for the NFL scouting combine, many saying they were satisfied with the league's investigation and ready to move on, new details were emerging about the history of the Patriots' videotaping. According to several executives in the league, the season opener against the Jets was not the first time the Patriots had been spotted taping another team's defensive coaches at Giants Stadium. In the final preseason game of 2006, the Patriots were caught taping a Giants defensive assistant giving signals, the executives said. Source: New York Times

In other news, Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel plans to test the free agent market after failing to sign a long-term deal with the Patriots.

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Samuel Wants BlockBuster Deal

Asante Samuel said "it's gonna take a lot" to keep him a New England Patriot the Boston Globe reported. But the 27-year-old unrestricted free agent cornerback, who has spent his five-year career in New England, added that on a scale of 1 to 10, he'd probably rate his chances of coming back a 10. Samuel had six interceptions during the regular season and has 22 in his career. He's returned three for touchdowns. Samuel made $7.79 million this season after being designated the team's franchise player. "It's gonna take a lot to make me happy and my family happy," said the first-time Pro Bowler after an AFC practice session at Kapolei High Wednesday. "It's no secret I'm looking for a big, huge, blockbuster deal." Source: Boston Globe

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