Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Asante Samuel Doesn't Feel Appreciated


Asante Samuel is a damn fine football player. He knows it. The Patriots know it. So does the rest of the NFL, so that's why they slapped the franchise tag on him.

If he signs the tender, it will earn him 7.79 million freaking dollars. But that's not good enough. He's pissed. He wants a long term contract. He's going to sit out. Not just training camp. Not just preseason. He's going to bake cookies and watch the kids until week 10 of the regular season, according to ESPN.com:
"I'm not coming to camp. I'm not showing up until the 10th week [of the season]. I feel unappreciated. The way they're treating me is just wrong."

So now, as average-joe football fan, I am pissed. Pissed that the franny tag even exists in it's current form.

It used to be a nice compromise between players and teams. But not anymore. There is so much money involved in the contracts these days that when a player in his prime signs a one year tender, it presents a tremendous financial risk. If they sustain an injury, the prospects of them receiving good contacts in future years is relatively meager.

But I'm admittedly torn, however. The flip side of this -- you're a freaking millionaire, Asante. Shut up and play the game.

It's time that the NFL revise the franchise tag system. Richie Cunningham, are you listening?

6 comments:

  1. BULLSHIT!

    There's nothing wrong with the Franchise Tag, and it should stay exactly like it is.

    The rest of the NFL just needs to take notice of how PROFESSIONAL football players react to being tagged, and follow suit.

    I offer two Seahawks as evidence of this remarkable behavior, Walter Jones and Josh Brown.

    Big Walt didn't like being franchised and wanted the long term deal, just like these other malcontents, but he didn't go all cry baby to the media about it.

    He just skipped training camp and worked his ass off on his own, and then showed up in Week 1 and dominated at his position. Two years in a row. Finally, he and the Seahawks came to terms, and he got the l.t. deal and huge signing bonus that he desired and deserved.

    Exhibit 2 is Josh Brown, who considers it an "honor" being franchised. I wouldn't be surprised to see he and the Seahawks work out a deal before the July deadline.

    The problem with guys like Samuel and Briggs is that the want their cake and eat it too.

    I'm sure the Pats and Bears would gladly lock them up to a multi-year deal if they came down off their asking price, but their agents would never let them do that.

    So it's not that the TEAM is disrespecting the PLAYER, it's the other way around.

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  2. BULLSHIT, BULLSHIT!!!

    First of all, Walter Jones held out every preseason and training camp when he had the tag, while his personal development was largely unaffected, is affected the other players on the line who had to fill in for him. They did not get to train at their natural position. He also is superhuman, and even if he sustained serious injury, once he recovered even partially he would be worth a helluva lot of money to another team in the long term. He's going to get his.

    Second, Josh Brown doesn't stand the risk to injury that the real football players do. A one-year deal is fine. He'll be up for another one next year.

    Samual should be happy, he's playing a game for millions, but the franchise tag doesn't even remotely compare to a long-term deal in cases like his.

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  3. Would you have rather seen Big Walt walk in free agency two years before helping the Seahawks get to the Superbowl?

    Teams need SOME protection against losing EVERY good player they draft and develop.

    And it's not like they'd have to play for the veteran minimum to work out a LTD with their club.

    Half a loaf is better than none. If they're so concerned about getting hurt, make the best deal possible with your current club, and keep playing.

    It's just the lottery mentality of the SUPER HUGE payday that keeps these guys from doing the right thing.

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  4. No what I would like to see it the one year tender the way it is, but an option for the player that would extend the term for three years if he signs it at 85% value for each year, with each season's total adjusting to the new salary standards.

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  5. The NFL has already put an escalator clause into the Franchise tag with the new CBA. I can't remember if it kicks in at year 2 or 3, but if you franchise the same player repeatidly, you have to pay him the average of the top 5 HIGHEST SALARIED players in the league.

    In other words, if the Seahawks want to continually franchise Josh Brown, in a year or two they'll be paying him QB money.

    I think now that the Vikings have effectively killed the Transition Tag, teams should be give TWO Franchise tags to use.

    I understand the player's rights to earn a decent wage, but let's not forget that this league was created by, nurtured by and will continue to thrive by the OWNERS.

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  6. Samuel is a good DB but the system he played in allowed him to put up these numbers and I really see a trade happening here before camp lets out.

    He'll end up in no man's land and wish he had taken that 7.79 million.

    Just look at Deion Branch. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

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