He is good, but is not Champ Bailey, for a large part of his success was due to the excellent coverage schemes of the New England Patriots. Samuel gives the impression that the Patriots did not make him a respectable offer, but he was offered a long term contract of at least 6 million a year with hefty bonuses. What does he want? Does he expect to be the second highest player on team after Tom Brady? Does he deserve more that Seymour? I do not think so.
He is good, but once again I must reiterate the Patriots coverage schemes are very effective, whereas Champ Bailey can line up against ANY receiver in the league without help from the safeties. I mention Champ because I have heard fools say that because Samuel had the same number of picks it put him at the same tier, but that is not the case.
Perhaps he wants to make the big bucks that Bailey and Clements are making. Clements played on a Bills team that could not do anything on the defensive side of the ball, which can explain Clements’s lack of big numbers the last two season, but considering he was the only health star on defense proved his worth. I think the 49ers overpaid Clements – just a little – but he is an investment that will payoff, for he is playing on a new and improved 49ers defense (faster, stronger, and younger).
I thought the Jets might have been interested in him, until I discovered that they would have to give up 2 first rounders and then fill the greedy man’s pockets. He is just not worth it. Samuel will be smart to take the Patriots next offer, which I am sure will be a more than generous offer, for he will not get his asking price which seems to be in the 8 to10 million dollar a year range.
I love reading analysts’ predictions of the NFL’s season to come. The funny thing is they are usually wrong, but hey it is exciting so keep them coming guys.
Remember the Jets were supposed to win no more than 4 games, and the Dolphins were expected to dominate (maybe with the exception of the Patriots) the AFC East? Well we all know what happened, but hey I am a Jets fan. I was ecstatic!
This year everyone has been saying the Jets have no shot because their schedule is comprised of teams that are serious contenders. SIX different teams in their schedule made the playoffs, THREE came off of solid seasons, but missed the playoffs because they cooled toward the end of the season or heated up too late, and the remaining teams had magnificent drafts where many of the players are potential starters.
For these reasons I am not concerned about the Jets going (let us say) 8-8. I do not think there will be a team that wins more than 11 games next season in the AFC.
The AFC West is going to slaughter each other, and if the Johnson and Bowe are as productive as I think they will be, and if the Raiders are as solid defensively as last season, then both the Chargers and the Broncos will not have any divisional sweeps under their belts.
The AFC South looks weak, but only time will tell. Many doubt that Young can lead his team, but I must say he has a way of winning when there is little going his way. If Young’s line holds up he will be fine, and with the addition of a solid receiver in the free agent market then Young doubters will find he does not go down so easily. The Colts’ D held up in the playoffs, but will it hold up next season? Nothing has given me reason to think that it will. The heal of the Texans is their O-line because they had a good QB in Carr, but if Schaub is solid, and with the addition of Black (former Chiefs OT), Schaub may be able to get things done. Ahman Green and Andre Johnson (a top 5 receiver) will be very productive, and their solid young DB, Danta Robinson, will now have some help on in the secondary and the Williams has a young DT to help out, and there is now some depth in the LB position.
The AFC North is up in the air. The Ravens will be good there is no doubt about that (if the lose of Thomas does not impact their D). I do not know what will happen to the Bengals, for as long as players keep getting arrested the team will suffer, and last season they really lost a lot of steam. The negative end of last season for the Bengals may impact them this year, and Palmer will be frustrated once again. The Browns had an excellent draft. And Tomlin is a serious coach with a solid receiving core (Ward and Holmes) and an solid running back in Parker.
The AFC East have two excellent teams (Patriots and Jets). The Bills have potential and the Dolphins have a solid team, but they never seem to get it together. The Patriots are a potential bust.
And for all of the above reason the AFC will be hell every week for every team. There really are no holes in the AFC this year. The NFC will be tough to I might write on that later.
