Falcons trade for cornerback Asante Samuel
Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel runs with the ball after intercepting a pass during a game against the Falcons last season. Associated Press.
FLOWERY BRANCH — For Asante Samuel, it was a simple business matter.
Once his agent, Alonzo Shavers, and Falcons negotiator Nick Polk finished their numbers crunching, the Falcons traded a seventh-round pick in this year’s draft to the Philadelphia Eagles to complete the deal for the four-time Pro Bowler on Wednesday.
“I’m happy to be a Falcon,” said Samuel, who’ll be expected to help improve the team’s pass defense. “I know the city is embracing me. I’m excited. I know the Falcons already have an excellent team, excellent coaches, schemes and talent. I’m just going to add to [that and] try to get to the one common goal.”
The Falcons re-structured Samuel’s contract that called for him to make $9.9 million in 2012 and $11.4 million in 2013. They agreed to a three-year, $18.5 million deal.
“What was important for us was that he become a Falcon,” Shavers said. “From that standpoint, it was about as extensive as it gets. We were able to come up with something that they can live with and we can live with.”
Samuel said he doesn’t have a preference as to whether he plays left or right cornerback.
“I’m a confident guy,” Samuel said. “I’m going to always have confidence, and that’s how I play and how I operate on a daily basis. I’m going to come into this thing and be ready to compete.”
Over the past two seasons, Brent Grimes has played on the left side and Dunta Robinson has started on the right. The Falcons have struggled at nickel back as Brian Williams, Christopher Owens, Dominique Franks and Kelvin Hayden all played that spot over the past two seasons.
Falcons coach Mike Smith considers the nickel back to be a starter.
The Falcons have a lot of their salary cap tied up at cornerback, with Samuel and Robinson averaging $6 million apiece. On Tuesday, Grimes, signed his one-year, $10.281 million franchise tender.
Samuel believes the trio will work together just fine.
“I think it’s going to be good,” Samuel said. “Those guys are very talented and well-established. Brent Grimes is coming off the last two years. He’s adjusted and is making some big plays. Dunta has been doing his thing since he’s been there. … We are all going to come in and work together to make this thing the best that it’s ever been.”
Samuel, 31, was with the Patriots when Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff was the director of college scouting there. Dimitroff coveted Samuel last season, but the Eagles’ asking price — a second-round pick — was considered too steep at the time.
He was drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round (120th overall) of the 2003 draft out of Central Florida.
“We talked every time that we played each other,” Samuel said of Dimitroff. “That definitely had a lot to do with it. He definitely made me feel comfortable.”
Dimitroff was elated to pull of the trade. “Asante has established himself as a very productive player during his career,” Dimitroff said. “He is a proven player in this league, and we feel that this move upgrades the talent of our roster.”
Samuel’s days in Philadelphia were numbered after they signed Nnamdi Asomugha and acquired Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in July. The Eagles had tried to trade him since.
Samuel didn’t endear himself to management when he said the Eagles were “playing fantasy football with the owner’s money.”
However, Samuel said he enjoyed his time with the Eagles and had no hard feelings toward the organization.
“I know everybody can’t figure why this is happening and why it is going this way, but business is business,” Samuel said.
Samuel has 45 career interceptions in nine seasons, fourth among active players. His 38 interceptions since 2006 lead the league.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
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317 comments Add your comment
Kudos
April 25th, 2012
3:22 pm
Kudos to Dummytroff for somewhat making amends for dealing away too many draft picks for Julio (no knock on Julio, who is great, we just overpaid given the many needs we have elsewhere). This looks like a steal to me. My question to you DOL is why would Samuel, who was slated to make $21.3 million over the next two years, sign for $18.5 million over the next three? There must be a much larger portion guaranteed or something. Could you give us more than just the basic facts?
BamaGuy
April 25th, 2012
3:24 pm
Just Looking: Abe was already on our team…Osi isn’t coming to the ATL on a discount? Someone will overpay him and give a high pick as well…Not to mention, We probably get into a bidding war since it seems that there are suitors out there and maybe we come up empty handed when we just improved our team for sure with Samuels by only giving up a 5 or 6 round pick and maybe 18 mill as opposed to 40 mill…
Just Looking
April 25th, 2012
3:25 pm
Pick six here is Brees numbers..he torched that secondary…….
Passing: D. Brees (NO) – 462 YDS, 4 TD, 2 INT
G Money
April 25th, 2012
3:27 pm
Get the Asante Jerseys ready Baby!!!!!!!!!!!
tyger
April 25th, 2012
3:27 pm
Ok, we’re all giddy over Asante Samuel…
but we were only $1.7M under the cap….
so, where is the money coming from?…
who got cut? who restructured? who got traded?
BIGDBALLS
April 25th, 2012
3:29 pm
The Falcons will not make the playoffs and Samuel is garbage.
BamaGuy
April 25th, 2012
3:29 pm
Just Looking
April 25th, 2012
3:22 pm
10 million/yr for guy who had 13 sacks and SHOWS UP IN BIG BIG BIG BIG PLAYOFF GAMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now wait a second…You don’t get JPP, Tuck and the other boys as well…Not as easy to be dominate without the whole crew from the G men…Ask Abe how tough it is without 5 people that can also pressure the QB…No double teams
zachreb
April 25th, 2012
3:29 pm
DLED any word on if the Falcons are going to pick up Abreyou Franklin?
Just Looking
April 25th, 2012
3:30 pm
Bama, why are you making excuses for not getting a quality proven player on the DLine?
BamaGuy
April 25th, 2012
3:34 pm
Just looking…I am not…I just do not think OSI is worth what it will take to get him and even then we still may not get him…I just don’t…I also do not see anyone else out there that makes us better on the DL that will not cause us problems for the long haul…I think Abe, Edwards, Peters, Babs, Spoon and Beer man will be much improved in this agressive D..I also think you see corners coming from everywhere as well at times….I do
Just Looking
April 25th, 2012
3:36 pm
Bama, Osi have been a quality player years before JPP got there and he was a quality player before Tuck became a household name.
RJ Falconian
April 25th, 2012
3:37 pm
Go after Bobby Massie from Mississippi (an outstanding underclassman) hopefully still available w pick #55.
Just Looking
April 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Bama, so a 35yr old Abes will be much improved playing along the SIDE OF average talent like Peters, Edwards and Beerman….GTFOH
BamaGuy
April 25th, 2012
3:40 pm
Giants have a great front….Osi has been a great player but do not fool yourself into thinking that he hasn’t benefitted from not being double teamed as a result of the other guys…Plus, OSI, like everyone else is getting older and want one more payday as health has not been top notch…He is just too Risky for that kind of dough and giving up that high of a pick…OSI at 26 yoa…I am all for it
Just Looking
April 25th, 2012
3:41 pm
Bama, stop making excuses…so let me guess..you think Ray Edward was a good pick up….explain why
BamaGuy
April 25th, 2012
3:42 pm
Just Looking
April 25th, 2012
3:39 pm
Bama, so a 35yr old Abes will be much improved playing along the SIDE OF average talent like Peters, Edwards and Beerman….GTFOH
How about Lets give Nolan a chance with them before you tell Nolan to GTFOH?
GregKennesaw
April 25th, 2012
3:42 pm
Could Dunta play safety? he hits pretty hard, tackles well
jalex49
April 25th, 2012
3:42 pm
Good move. Hope something can be worked out with Franklin. He would really help the Falcons. Need him to sign if it can be worked out.
Still have the faith in the Falcons executive and coaching staff to bring in players that fit their scheme.
Just Looking
April 25th, 2012
3:42 pm
who benefit on the falcon front 4 right now? NO FREAKING ONE!!!!!
BamaGuy
April 25th, 2012
3:47 pm
Just Looking
April 25th, 2012
3:41 pm
Bama, stop making excuses…so let me guess..you think Ray Edward was a good pick up….explain why
Jury is out on Edwards as far as a pass rusher…No doubt…However, I believe a lot of our players were stunted by the schemes are lack of them that Van Gorder ran…I believe a great coach can turn what you call average players into great players and will give us a great D…Nolan has done it eveywhere he has been. Van Gorder? Not so much…I believe the talent is there and that we lacked coaching and look at all sports…coaching makes a BIG difference…That is why the top ones are so sought after….
bIG cORNER
April 25th, 2012
3:48 pm
YYYEEEAAAHHH!!!!!!!
Just Looking
April 25th, 2012
3:50 pm
Bama, as you said with Osi. I hope you remember who Ray Edwards played next too. Wild kid name Jared Allen and that big wall. Even then he didn’t have wow numbers.
D. Orlando Ledbetter
April 25th, 2012
3:51 pm
See you all are having some fun. I’m talking to Asante at 5:30 p.m. I will have up the transcript later tonight. Feel free to send along your questions.
Falcon Jin
April 25th, 2012
3:52 pm
Nice. The way the NFL is now, you need three good corners. Probably nickel is played 50% of the time. My son argued that we now had two good corners…………….he dissed Dunte. I asked him why teams didn’t throw his way. ………………….DA ! ! ! !
DC Dirty Bird
April 25th, 2012
3:53 pm
Just looking, the logic is, better corners=coverage sacks for avg pass rushers. In this league you have to have one or the other; guys that can cover or guys that can really rush the passer. NYG has the latter. Nolan obviously prefers the former.
Kudos,
You restructure the two years for three such that you can increase your chances of being on the roster and getting all or most of the money on your contract. If he didn’t restructure, he would risk getting cut after the upcoming season. With the restructure, he likely gets more guaranteed money over the next three seasons than he would have had in the remaining two years of the deal. Most NFL contracts are backloading with heavy salaries to make the deal look bigger than it really is.
kingdaddy
April 25th, 2012
3:54 pm
Just looking
Why don’t you be just looking at all of these positive post and then just look in the mirror and ask yourself why are you such a loser without a friend in the world. Over 90% of the posters on this blog say you are wrong. Let’s see, should I go with the 90% or the 10%??? Let’s see, I think I’m smarter than everyone else, I’ll go with the 10%, yep, yep!!!
BamaGuy
April 25th, 2012
3:55 pm
Has he been told if he is expected to play outside on the corner or inside nb? I am sure he clarified our intentions before agreeing to terms…thx DLED
Statick
April 25th, 2012
3:59 pm
Yeaaaaaaaah, buddy!
Joe Tess Fish House
April 25th, 2012
3:59 pm
Now dis seels da rooster to shuut down the deep throat.
Just Looking
April 25th, 2012
4:03 pm
Kingdaddy…im talking football not life, there is a difference. this is a football topic stop confusing life with it.
Also at one point in time the majority thought the earth was flat, sun was center of universe, so on and so on. Moral of story, the majority is not always right.
Matt Ryan highly overrated
April 25th, 2012
4:05 pm
Asante Samuel The Eagles wanted nothing for him just a late round draft pick. you gotPipe put to you . And now you read management has done a great .Fact the man has not played a down and they wanted nothing for him . You do the math!!
Mickey Loomis
April 25th, 2012
4:05 pm
I wanted to go after Samuel, but I’m sitting home suspended:(
kingdaddy
April 25th, 2012
4:05 pm
D. Led.
I’ve got a serious question for Asante. Please ask him if at 31 years young, he’s ready to be a leader and to help elavate Atl. to a physically punishing secondary that no W/R wants to face. Ask him if he’s willing to do this week in and week out???
Joe Tess Fish House
April 25th, 2012
4:06 pm
an da Saints go machin along………………….
Joe Tess Fish House
April 25th, 2012
4:09 pm
Da Flacons dunt no what da bi doin. DA SAINTS DO ! ! ! !
kingdaddy
April 25th, 2012
4:12 pm
Just looking
Are you daft? You want to talk about life go to Ophras blog site. Once again, the rest of us are talking football. Come back to this planet spaceman. Go back and read this blog and count the negative statements. But just the ones about football ok???
BamaGuy
April 25th, 2012
4:15 pm
Matt Ryan highly overrated
April 25th, 2012
4:05 pm
Asante Samuel The Eagles wanted nothing for him just a late round draft pick. you gotPipe put to you . And now you read management has done a great .Fact the man has not played a down and they wanted nothing for him . You do the math!!
Cmon, man do your homwork or better yet just read an article every now and then…The stats clearly show that Samuel was the Eagles best cover corner last year…Period…They made this change because of money (like10 mil per season next year), and the fact that he would not renegotiate a deal with the Eagles…Reason being, he had run ins with the GM and the D coach about his role and wanted out of there…Believe me, or better yet go read about it, Samuels was their best corner LAST SEASON.
Eastside
April 25th, 2012
4:18 pm
Great move Falcons
What did we give the eagles for this move?
BamaGuy
April 25th, 2012
4:18 pm
Joe Tess Fish House
Give it a rest….Grow up or just find something else to do…Just so you know you were never funny…
section322
April 25th, 2012
4:18 pm
@Khaos First of all, good DBs make the DEs job easier. If they can cover for an extra secondthe pass rush can get to the QB. Secondly, moves have been made on the OL to protect Matt but cap issues(Dahl), age, injuries (McClure)and draft picks that havent panned out. Nothing in the draft is guaranteed. DEs and LTs dont fall out of the skies so hopefully new coaching will allow a quicker passing scheme for Matt
kingdaddy
April 25th, 2012
4:19 pm
So you think we are as smart as flat-earthers, huh? You just want to argue, don’t you???
Drew Brees
April 25th, 2012
4:20 pm
What about my deal?
kingdaddy
April 25th, 2012
4:27 pm
D. Led.
Ask our DLs what they think about this move. If anyone would know what this move will mean for the D., our D.Linemen should know. Honest Abe has a pretty good idea…
TB
April 25th, 2012
4:30 pm
This is a good trade to help the secondary, espically for 6 round pick but you need pass rushers to make your secondary flourish. Thats Why their defense ranked 20 in pass defense and people who think the new coach will make them a top 5 pass defense next year are very optimistic. It takes about 2 to 3 years for everything to click with a new coach. Plus the falcons will not win a superbowl until they change their offense of style or get a quaterback with an arm and then they will be a elite team.
Jeremy Shockey
April 25th, 2012
4:32 pm
Coach Williams had a bounty on me in practice, who’s laughing now HAHAHAHAHAHa
Sports Facts » Eagles Trade Asante Samuel to Falcons for Draft Pick, ESPN Says – Bloomberg
April 25th, 2012
4:33 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
atlnative
April 25th, 2012
4:41 pm
Great job by Falcon management acquiring Assante Samuel from the Philadelphia Eagles.The Falcons need to replace Todd McClure at center,and another big offensive guard would protect Matt Ryan.The center from Northern Illinois U. is a big,imposing athlete who is durable if Ben Jones of UGA is not on the draft board.
TB
April 25th, 2012
4:50 pm
This is a good trade because it was only worth a 6 round pick, but falcons need a pass rush to help secondary flourish. I know some falcons fans think the new defense of coach will help this team defense become better, and he might have to see first, but it takes about 2 to 3 yrs for stuff to click with a new coach. plus either the falcons change their offense of gameplan or get a QB with an arm to throw to the WR deep and hit them in stride until then falcons will never make it to superbowl.
My Thoughts
April 25th, 2012
4:58 pm
ESPN reports that it is a 7th round pick !!!! It might even be that compensation pick which was rumored earlier. Now do you think any chance on God’s greene arth we could get anything better than A.S. for a 7th round pick ?????
FalconFreak
April 25th, 2012
5:17 pm
It’s a start. Now for a monster OLT and then back to defense.