Rumblings: Asante Samuel to the Birds?

It's been talked about quite a bit this week but on the eve of free agency, the rumblings of cornerback Asante Samuel coming to the Eagles have grown rather strong.  Comcast Sportsnet's Derrick Gunn was heavy with the rumors this evening and Pro Football Talk is also quoting WIP's Gary Cobb as saying a deal is a real strong possibility but warns of the lessons learned in the LeCharles Bentley midnight madness.  PFT gets about as many things wrong as they do right, so we'll take that with a grain of salt.  But it looks like this is more of a possibility than we had originally thought.

Depending on the size of the deal, this is a move that could have many Birds fans scratching their heads but I'm assuming most will be happy to see the Eagles starting the FA period aggressively.

Updates below.

Update: 610 WIP's Mark Eckel is saying he's hearing Saints or Eagles and seems to be of the opinion that $10+ million is too much for Samuel.

Update 2: As of 1:21 a.m. Friday, there is no official deal, but Fox Sports is reporting Samuel will be in Philadelphia today.  This pretty much means Samuel will be signing with the Eagles today.

Comments

[Matt P.]

"I believe the Eagles will have Asante Samuel wearing midnight green."

--Derrick Gunn

[benjamin]

Is it 12:01 a.m. Feb 29th yet? I'm going to bed, can't wait to wake up, like it's Christmas morning and there's a potential superbowl under the tree to drool over, and get psyched about till training camp.

[Jonn]

Hopefully they start aggressively and don't just stop there. Free agency time... mm... so many hopes and dreams... I can't wait for my expectations to raise higher so that the fall is that much more painful. I'd almost prefer about how much our Philly teams suck rather than have them do well.

[John Guilfoil]

We reported this story earlier this evening. Hope you'll check it out!
http://blastmagazine.com/2008/02/source-asante-samuel-eagles/

[enrico]

WTF is blast magazine and why are they talking about the Eagles?

[John Guilfoil]

We're a lifestyle magazine -- we do sports, entertainment and tech. Our sports editor got this story up first, so don't knock us unless it doesn't happen :)

[Jonn]

I still don't know what to think about this. My only guess is that the get him so they can move Lito. There have been rumors that Brown can play safety? Is this true? If so, good God, let it happen. No more white boys in the back field.

[ricky]

I agree, 10 mil is way too much

[HLH]

I just want to know why everyone crys about how cheap the f.o. is. But when it comes time to sign a probrowl player those fans don't want to see them get paid?

[Kulp]

Just because the Eagles sign Samuel doesn't mean Lito will be traded. Teams generally carry four cornerbacks, and Lito's contract is structured in such a way that they can keep him even with an addition like this.

I mentioned something recently about the possibility of Brown moving to safety. That is definitely an unknown, but we know he can hit and plenty of corners have made successful transitions to safety. The club hasn't made any statements about this to my knowledge.

As for the money, it's not that they don't deserve to be paid. We're talking about a record contract though. Not just record salary, but record GUARANTEED money. Is he worth that? Is anyone worth that?

I'm really on the fence. Everything I've seen indicates Samuel is one of the top corners in the league, but I've read some things to the contrary. It's perfectly fair for fans to be concerned that he gets hurt or it just doesn't work out because we're not just talking about 2008, we're talking about something that will impact this club beyond that.

[Nick]

looks like the rumors might be true this time, fox sports is reporting that samuel's visiting the birds later today.

[Lenny]

Who cares if he gets $10 mil; the Birds wouldn't spend the extra cash anyway.

[tw]

It's a savvy move: if Samuel is on your team, Eagles QB 1 (whether McNabb or Feeley) can't throw a hat-trick of interceptions. Very clever, Joe Banner, very clever.

[Castor&Cottman]

And now it comes to fruition....we sign Asante Samuel and then trade Lito to move up in the draft and get a stud DE. If this doesn't work here is my FA wish list:

Smith, DE
Stallworth, WR
Wilson, S

Come on Banner...is this REALLY too much to ask!

[theKrisheim]

The Philadelphia Eagles have announced that cornerback Asante Samuel will visit the team on Friday. He will be made available to the media at 4:30 p.m. EST.

[gootman]

Signing Samuel makes sense for this team because they do put a premium on the CB position. Having good corners that don't need any extra LB/Safety help gives Jim Johnson more freedom with his blitz packages.

Also so the Chargers cut Lorenzo Neal, I know he's old and doesn't catch passes, but if he hassomething left in the tank it would be nice to give Westbrook a true lead blocker.

[timm]

more and more teams are running 3 wr offenses so it is a good thing to have 3 solid cbs. plus in the event of lito going down for 10 games again it is a lot better feeling knowing you still have a 2 good cbs back there. it will also open up the lbs to blitz more. would be a quality signing. i also wouldn't mind taking a shot at Lorenzo Neal. He is up there in years but still a good fb. would help bwest spring even more runs up the middle. plus he is good on short yardage.

[johndewar]

I refuse to get too excited just yet. The Eagles have let me down before with having free agents in for some heavy petting only to spurn the Iggles at the last minute. LeCharles Bentley, anyone?

Also: By looking at the picture of Samuel above, he may want to forgo the dread locks. He's going bald in the front. Bald in the front, dreads in the back are not a good look.

[timm]

gootman, you posted just before me. i think Neal would be a quality signing. would also be a good rb to keep in for blitz pickups.

[Mike]

Les Bowen is reporting that the Eagles will make Asante Samuel available to the media at 4:30pm. Looks to be pretty close to a done deal.

[GreggyD]

I got a text message from ESPN last night saying that Neal was released and my eyes widened real big. He definitely is older, but he has been opening holes for LT for years and he would be a fantastic addition (and he might come pretty cheap too because of his age). An old Lorenzo Neal is ten times better than Thomas Tapeh. I say they bring him in and try to sign him to a 1, maybe 2 yr deal to see how it goes with him. His leadership would be impeccable and how can you argue against signing someone who has opened holes for a guy who quite possibly might end up being the best RB this sport has ever seen.

[eric]

no, just cause a press conference is scheduled doesnt mean its a done deal. I remember Ron Dayne coming in a few years ago, and they gave him a press conference at 430. They give all the FA's press conferences at the end of the day.

Still, all other signs point to him signing

[GreggyD]

Giving him a press conference doesn't mean anything, you're right, but for possibly the first time in my life I agree with Dave Spadaro. He said in his blog this morning that the Eagles need to get a deal done today and get him off the market as soon as possible because if he leaves Philadelphia and goes somewhere else, it will probably be very hard to sign him. I am anxious to hear what he has to say at his press conference (unfortunately I will be taking a practice grad school exam...damn you education). Either way, the Birds really need to sell him hard today on the fans, the organization, and the city. I don't want him leaving without a contract in hand.

[DSD]

I don't really understand why the Eagles made this deal, unless it opens up avenues for them to make a possible trade with another team for Lito. I didn't think their secondary was the biggest off season need for them. Maybe depth was a concern, but their starting corner bacs did a good job. Health has always been an issue with Lito, though, and Asante is a VERY GOOD player. The only way I can justify this deal, like I said before, is if they are now free to make a trade with a team by tangling some very enticing bait (Lito) in front of them.

Eskin is also reporting now that they are close to a deal with a defensive end from Oakland whose name escapes at the moment. He had 8 sacks last year.

[Castor&Cottman]

If we pick up a stud defensive end to complemenet Trent Cole we will have one of the best defenses in the leauge on paper.

[Kulp]

DSD, nothing wrong with having three good corners. Lito only makes $2 million this year, and I bet Sheldon's contract is similar, so it's not exactly a financial burden to keep all three. As one person just explained, more and more teams are using three wide sets. We also discussed above the possibility of Sheldon seeing some time at safety, which of course is speculation, but maybe not a bad idea. The point is, while this move would make it easier to part with Lito, that's not automatically going to happen. I still think he's worth a lot to this team.

Also, you can't trade Lito to move up in the first round of the draft. I don't think he's even getting traded, but the moves I've seen are just crazy. Lito for Fitzgerald, Lito for Chad Johnson, Lito for a higher draft pick... are you kidding me? What do you think Lito Sheppard is even worth? They might find a team out there that really likes Lito and would be able to swap a decent player or maybe even get a second rounder, but it's not going to be a blockbuster.

Another Stallworth plea above... geez, I wish the guy would just sign somewhere already so people stop asking for him back.

[gootman]

Kulp, you're really being a negative nancy this free agency period. Come on, we were 8-8 last year, let's dream BIG!

[Kulp]

gootman, we were 8-8 last year, but it should have been at least 10-6 and maybe even 12-4. This team is not bad, definitely has some holes, but they are close.

I want them to go out and do big things as much as the next guy. At the same, you have to have a concept of how this all works.

There is one little rumor that wasn't even true about Lito getting traded, and everyone comes out of left field with these trades that are just not going to happen. I would love to have Larry Fitzgerald, he's one of the top 5 or 10 receivers in the NFL. That's why you can't trade Lito Sheppard for him!! Not only that, but financially you can't sign an Asante Samuel and have a Fitz on the payroll because you would barely have enough to even sign the rest of your rookie pool.

We should dream of a great off-season, but we should be realistic, too. If you have your hopes set too high, you might be let down even if they actually do some nice things.

[Paul D]

It looks like Asante Samuel will be an Eagle once he passes a physical - although this is just speculation on my part.

I'm OK with this move. Samuel is a stud that I didn't expect them to sign. He is a prohibitively expensive player with a tattoo of "GET PAID" on his arm. This wouldn't seem to jive with Banner/Reid etc. and their cap space management but what the hell - we absolutely positively NEEDED a cornerback this year. I think it was our #1 need. If we keep Sheppard/Brown and add Wilson or a wide receiver this team will be in a prime position to address D-line in the draft.

[theKrisheim]

marck eckel has something to say about this that differs from the eagles' take?

whoa

[ColeHamelsIn2008]

Ok here are my three speculations.

1) Lito and Asante at the corners and Dawk and Brown at safety, giving us the best secondary in football (if healthy). Keep in mind they are very high on Hansen as a nickelback.

OR

2) Asante and Hansen are the corners and Brown moves to safety and they trade Lito for something in the draft and sign Javon Walker.

OR LONGSHOT

3) Asante and Brown are our corners with Hansen as the nickel and Lito (and a high pick) becomes a Bengal and Ocho Cinco becomes an Eagle!!!! WOOOO!!!

[mike]

IF the cockroach cowgirls actually get randy moss like some rumors are saying, we are gonna need all the help at CB that we can get.

[Bud]

WILL SOMETHING HAPPEN ALREADY!!!! ESPN HASN'T UPDATED THEIR SITE IN FOREVER

[DSD]

If Asante signs, Lito is gone...simple as that. Why would you sign him if you were planning on keeping Lito....it doesn't make sense. They want Sheldon to play opposite Asante. Sheldon is a physical corner and Asante is more of a straight-up cover guy, like Lito. I doubt they would have Lito and Asante play opposite each other...they want that physical corner... so, logic says that Lito will be traded. I don't think they have any plans to make sheldon a safety unless emergency calls for it...I might be wrong, but like i said in a previous post, Lito is very enticing trade bait for them to get whatever they think they need.

[Len Rosen]

Unless the Eagles' four-man pass rush improves by a factor of a lot, you could have a Night Train Lane clone plus three better Trains (not really possible) in the secondary and it would be beaten more regularly than a meringue drum or a Republican in Philadelphia. Recent history, boys and girls: The Giants demonstrated that a secondary, already just average, can sustain injuries and still not lose the Super Bowl if a front four is applying consistent pressure and, periodically, knocking a future Hall of Fame quarterback on a face that may, as a result, attract a few less models. The Eagles just released a salary-cap Kearse but retain the curse of a pass rush that's tepid unless blitzers unsettle the quarterback before he or another skill player finds the vacated spaces. Apply harsh, consistent pressure without regular gambling on defense can easily enough generate a warm glow around your Superless ring finger.