Asante Samuel had no comment when asked if he felt underappreciated during his five years in New England. But he definitely felt the love during his one and only free-agent visit in Philadelphia on Friday.
Almost 17 hours after the marketplace opened, it was announced that the former Patriots cornerback had signed a lucrative six-year deal with the Eagles worth a reported $57 million.
"They say your first visit they normally don't let you leave. That's what ended up happening," Samuel said. "I came here with an open mind. Everybody treated me like I belong here, like I'm wanted. It's a great situation."
Indeed.
One of the league's top cover men, the 27-year-old Samuel brings an impressive résumé --including 16 interceptions over the last two years -- to Philadelphia and adds more star power to an already talented secondary.
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CB Asante Samuel is proud to be an Eagle
Where does he fit in, you ask? Head coach Andy Reid said Samuel will be his starting left cornerback for 2008. Beyond that, Reid said "we'll work things out from there."
It's been nearly four years since the Eagles added top-shelf talent in free agency, and Samuel fits that criteria.
A fourth-round draft pick in 2003 out of Central Florida, the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Samuel was considered the top player to hit the free-agent market after emerging as a playmaker with the Super Bowl Champion Patriots. In five seasons in New England, he recorded 22 interceptions in 75 career regular season games and five more interceptions in 14 career postseason games. He was an integral part of New England's NFL history-making perfect regular season in 2007 and has won two Super Bowls with the Patriots.
In 2007, Samuel earned his first Pro Bowl selection after registering six interceptions (one return for a touchdown on Nov. 25 vs. the Eagles), 44 tackles, and 18 passes defensed. He also earned first-team All-Pro honors.
"Being a fourth rounder, you're not going to be given anything in this league," Samuel said. "I just worked my way up and kept working hard and I'm finally getting the respect that I deserve."
Reid said Samuel was the team's number one priority when the free-agent signing period opened.
"We're obviously trying to strengthen the defense," Reid said. "Obviously, I think the cornerback position is very important. When you have an opportunity to get the best one in the business, then you need to look at that. I welcome him aboard, and I know [defensive coordinator] Jim Johnson has great plans for Asante.
"Jim does a heck of a job coordinating the defense and, obviously, the more great defensive players that you add into the mix the better you'll be. Asante is a great player and he'll make great plays for us."
Samuel believes he'll fit right in with Johnson's scheme.
"What I know most is that it's an aggressive defense and they like to get after the quarterback," he said. "[Last year], our offense played against them first-hand, when we played them in the regular season. They gave us some trouble on offense. They were pressuring and getting after the quarterback and playing an aggressive style of defense. I think I fit right in."
Reid and Johnson believe the addition of Samuel -- teamed with Lito Sheppard, Sheldon Brown and Brian Dawkins -- will help the team compete against the exceptional receivers in the NFC East, including the Cowboys' Terrell Owens and the Giants' Plaxico Burress.
Nearly four years after making an opening-day splash with the signing of defensive end Jevon Kearse in 2004, the Eagles were again among the first-day players in free agency. Of course, the 2004 season ended with the franchise's first trip to the Super Bowl in 24 years. Ironically, the team fell to Samuel and the Pats.
In adding Samuel, the Eagles boast one of the deepest and talented secondaries in the NFL as he joins fellow Pro Bowl players Sheppard and Dawkins.
Selected with the 120th overall pick in 2003, Samuel became a starter in 2004 when injuries sidelined Poole and Ty Law. He started for the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXIX and started at corner the following season as well.
Teaming with Ellis Hobbs, the pair held down the secondary for the Patriots in 2006. By the end of the regular season, Samuel had intercepted a career-high 10 passes, which tied Denver's Champ Bailey for the NFL lead in interceptions during the regular season. Samuel then intercepted two passes and returned them both for touchdowns in the playoffs.
A year ago, the Patriots locked him up for one season with the franchise tag. Samuel played under the tag with the agreement that the team would not place the franchise tag on him again for 2008.
New England did not and now Samuel is an Eagle.
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