Comments on: Asante Samuel wants to play for a winner http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/asante-samuel-wants-to-play-for-a-winner/ People don't think it be like it is, but it do. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 02:42:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.7 by: Cliffy http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/asante-samuel-wants-to-play-for-a-winner/#comment-1132 Tue, 11 Mar 2008 02:41:08 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/asante-samuel-wants-to-play-for-a-winner/#comment-1132 You may be right... I may be crazy... but even at that: How much better are the Eagles chances than every other team willing to talk deal with Asante? I would not consider the Eagles to be on the cusp of greatness. If anything, their window has closed. They made four consecutive NFC Conference Championship Games - and actually won one to get the honor of being fodder for the Patriot machine (since derailed, but I'm living in the glory days now... you understand). If Samuel was going to *that* team? I get it. But he's coming to a team with a big question mark at QB, no NFL WRs, coming off an 8-8 year so its not like they'll get a top impact player (drafting in the middle of the first round). They should add talent, but so will everyone else (who drafts well). The Eagles are a good organization with a good head coach - but they finished last in their division last year, and their injured QB is just another year older... and their stud RB (who seemingly misses time every year) is another year worn down. Any Johnson defense should be formidable, but I can think of at least a dozen teams that - at this point, when Samuel signed - are more likely to be Super Bowl contenders next year, and for the foreseeable future. Sure, anything can happen from year to year in the NFL - look at Tom Coughlin and the Giants, 2007 vs. 2008. But all that means is you hope to get lucky... and that's what Samuel did... in addition to signing for what he believed was going to be the best contract offered (IMHO). I'm picking nits, probably - but I just would've rather that he said, "They gave me the most money" (even if he did it euphemistically with, "They showed me the most respect" and/or "They made me feel wanted the most")... and then follow up with, "I hope to help this wonderful organization to a championship for these deserving fans" - as opposed to basically saying, "I came here cuz I feel they give me the best (and/or a great) chance to win a championship." It's just not the case. You may be right… I may be crazy… but even at that: How much better are the Eagles chances than every other team willing to talk deal with Asante? I would not consider the Eagles to be on the cusp of greatness. If anything, their window has closed. They made four consecutive NFC Conference Championship Games - and actually won one to get the honor of being fodder for the Patriot machine (since derailed, but I’m living in the glory days now… you understand). If Samuel was going to *that* team? I get it.

But he’s coming to a team with a big question mark at QB, no NFL WRs, coming off an 8-8 year so its not like they’ll get a top impact player (drafting in the middle of the first round). They should add talent, but so will everyone else (who drafts well).

The Eagles are a good organization with a good head coach - but they finished last in their division last year, and their injured QB is just another year older… and their stud RB (who seemingly misses time every year) is another year worn down. Any Johnson defense should be formidable, but I can think of at least a dozen teams that - at this point, when Samuel signed - are more likely to be Super Bowl contenders next year, and for the foreseeable future.

Sure, anything can happen from year to year in the NFL - look at Tom Coughlin and the Giants, 2007 vs. 2008. But all that means is you hope to get lucky… and that’s what Samuel did… in addition to signing for what he believed was going to be the best contract offered (IMHO).

I’m picking nits, probably - but I just would’ve rather that he said, “They gave me the most money” (even if he did it euphemistically with, “They showed me the most respect” and/or “They made me feel wanted the most”)… and then follow up with, “I hope to help this wonderful organization to a championship for these deserving fans” - as opposed to basically saying, “I came here cuz I feel they give me the best (and/or a great) chance to win a championship.”

It’s just not the case.

]]> by: shtiny http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/asante-samuel-wants-to-play-for-a-winner/#comment-1130 Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:32:21 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/asante-samuel-wants-to-play-for-a-winner/#comment-1130 I think you are reading too much into it. It seems to me, he didn't have the option of going back to New England without leaving a lot of money on the table. So, out of the teams able to pay him a salary, he chose one of the ones that has the ability to go to the Super Bowl. He isn't saying that the Eagles are the favorites, just that they had as good a chance as any that could pay him the money. If he signed the contract with Oakland, he likely wouldn't have made the quote, but signing with the Eagles, and saying he is looking for a chance to win a Super Bowl is very non-committal, but may instill a little bit of confidence in his teammates. I think you are reading too much into it. It seems to me, he didn’t have the option of going back to New England without leaving a lot of money on the table. So, out of the teams able to pay him a salary, he chose one of the ones that has the ability to go to the Super Bowl. He isn’t saying that the Eagles are the favorites, just that they had as good a chance as any that could pay him the money. If he signed the contract with Oakland, he likely wouldn’t have made the quote, but signing with the Eagles, and saying he is looking for a chance to win a Super Bowl is very non-committal, but may instill a little bit of confidence in his teammates.

]]> by: Gonzo http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/asante-samuel-wants-to-play-for-a-winner/#comment-1125 Thu, 06 Mar 2008 18:08:41 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/asante-samuel-wants-to-play-for-a-winner/#comment-1125 Well, that's why the old joke started - when players/agents say it's not about the money, it's ALWAYS about the money Well, that’s why the old joke started - when players/agents say it’s not about the money, it’s ALWAYS about the money

]]> by: Dutch http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/asante-samuel-wants-to-play-for-a-winner/#comment-1124 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 20:30:50 +0000 http://www.oscargamblesociety.com/asante-samuel-wants-to-play-for-a-winner/#comment-1124 He said, and I quote "I just want a chance to win and to get back to the Superbowl. That's why I chose the Philadelphia Eagles." I guess the Giants weren't hiring? I'm not a fan of the Patriots, but just about anybody would agree that the Pats clearly have the best shot at getting back to the Superbowl next year. I agree with Cliffy - Samuels would get a lot more respect if he just fessed up and said it was the money. Who among us hasn't changed jobs to get paid more? By the way, I found the press conference video on the Eagles' web site: -Go to www.philadelphiaeagles.com/multimedia/index.html -Select "2008 Free Agency" from the menu -Then choose the last item on the list, "Asante Samuel, Lurie, Reid PC: Feb. 29" He said, and I quote “I just want a chance to win and to get back to the Superbowl. That’s why I chose the Philadelphia Eagles.” I guess the Giants weren’t hiring? I’m not a fan of the Patriots, but just about anybody would agree that the Pats clearly have the best shot at getting back to the Superbowl next year. I agree with Cliffy - Samuels would get a lot more respect if he just fessed up and said it was the money. Who among us hasn’t changed jobs to get paid more?

By the way, I found the press conference video on the Eagles’ web site:

-Go to www.philadelphiaeagles.com/multimedia/index.html
-Select “2008 Free Agency” from the menu
-Then choose the last item on the list, “Asante Samuel, Lurie, Reid PC: Feb. 29″

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