-
Matty Ice has been anything but solid in the playoffs but I think they turn it around
this year against rookie QB Russell Wilson and the Seahawks.
Prediction: Falcons Win 28-14
-
The Texans travel to Foxboro to face Tom Brady and the Pats. There only chance
is a heavy dose of Arien Foster just to keep Brady off the field but I don’t see it happ-
ening…
Prediction: New England Wins 31-21
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Paul Domowitch took a trip down to Atlanta to see his good friend and erstwhile foil Asante
Samuel, who seems to be enjoying himself with his new team. It’s hard not to love Samuel,
who was always a straight shooter (if not as often a sure tackler) in Philadelphia.
Talking about his dissatisfaction with the Eagles front office last year, Asante explained how
quickly he fell out of favor:
“When they first traded for DRC, I got a call from upstairs and everybody was excited. ‘We
got DRC. You and him are going to be great together.’ Then, no sooner did they hang up then
I got another call telling me they had signed Nnamdi (Asomugha) and that people were call-
ing and wanting to trade for me. First, they said, ‘You’re not up for trade. Those are just
rumors.’ But at the end of the day, it was all a lie. They did have a trade on the table (at the
October trade deadline). But it broke down at the last minute. So we just kind of played the
season out, seeing how it went.”
A year ago around this time I was praising Howie Roseman and company for pulling off
the rapid series of stunning offseason moves. Only later did it become clear that despite all
the planning they did to take advantage of the post-lockout free agency, the Eagles decision-
makers had gotten too greedy. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Samuel might have
made a great one-two punch at cornerback. But adding Asomugha caused as many problems
as it solved — especially after they botched an attempt to trade Samuel.
It was stunning mismanagement. You can’t take one of the most critical members of the
team and first praise him, then try to trade him, then allegedly lie and try to piece the egg-
shell back together again. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro, Jr. has (rightfully) received plenty of
flak, but at least when he pulled off the “trade for Halladay, trade away Lee” deals he was
decisive. He didn’t yank one of his star pitchers in and out of limbo. Not only did that fail-
ure anger Samuel, it ruined his trade value. As a make-up gift, Reid let his Pro Bowl corner-
back have some say in the trade decision:
“Coach Reid and I sat down and considered the options,” he said. “He let me pick and choose
where I wanted to go. This was the No. 1 place I wanted to go. There were a couple of other
teams interested. But ultimately, this is where I wanted to be.”
We know (or at least heard rumors) that Reid did the same thing for Donovan McNabb and
Kevin Kolb. I’m not sure how practical it is for every player, but Reid’s collaborative approach
helps everyone leave the negotiating table happy — a skill the team has sorely lacked in matters
like this.
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“THE SPORTS LEEK!”
BY: MALIKCHARLTON/@LEEKthePOET_215
AZZIMC215@AOL.COM
The Eagles defense right now, has taken an upgrade at every positionso far these past
couple months, except at the position that they neededmost-in the secondary. At line-
backer, they added former pro bowler Demeco Ryans and recently drafted Linebacker
Mychal Kendricks out of CAL. They also upgraded at the defensive line, drafting defen-
sive end Vinny Curry from Marshall, and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox out of Mississi-
ppi State, whom many people considered him to be a steal in the draft. But the area
they didn’t address was the secondary, which they actually lost one of their best pieces
in Asante Samuel, whom they really gave up for nothing-a seventh round pick. Through
all the mishaps last year from their secondary, the Eagles are still contend with their se-
condary and their young safeties. “I don’t think we need someone with more experience,”
Roseman said at the NovaCare Complex Monday. “We feel very comfortable with our
group. I think that the intangibles of all the players that we [have] are very strong. So
you’re talking about really good leadership from that position and we feel confident that
these guys come in and play at a high level.,” said Howie Roseman, Eagles General Man-
ager.
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The Atlanta Falcons acquired Philadelphia Eagles Pro-Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel
on Wednesday for a seventh-round pick in the 2012 draft. As part of the transaction, Sam-
uel restructured his contract, agreeing to a three-year, $18.5 million deal with the Falcons,
league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Samuels’ contract with the Eagles
had called for him to earn $9.9 million this season and $11.4 million in 2013. The Eagles
now have 10 selections in the draft, which begins Thursday with the first round and con-
tinues until Saturday. Samuel, 31, is a four-time Pro Bowl pick. He gives new Falcons defen-
sive coordinator Mike Nolan a strong trio at cornerback with Dunta Robinson and Brent
Grimes, who Tuesday signed his franchise tag tender. Grimes will make $10.262 million
this season. “We just improved our team today,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said in a state-
ment. “Asante Samuel is a good football player and you can never have enough good players
on your team. Our game has become more of a passing game, and you have to have the play-
ers who can neutralize how offenses are trying to attack you.” Falcons general manager Tho-
mas Dimitroff was New England’s director of scouting when the Patriots selected Samuel in
the fourth round in 2003. Samuel set a career high with 10 interceptions for the Patriots in
2006. Samuel became expendable when the Eagles signed Nnamdi Asomugha and acquired
Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie last July, giving them three Pro Bowl cornerbacks. But the
team couldn’t find a suitable deal for Samuel, so they kept him and used Rodgers-Cromartie
in the nickel spot. While Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie struggled in a new defense and
new roles, Samuel was the most consistent of the trio. The outspoken Samuel probably sealed
his fate in Philadelphia when he criticized the front office at the trade deadline, saying man-
agement was “playing fantasy football with the owner’s money.” Eagles coach Andy Reid
wished Samuel well in the team’s statement announcing the trade and said he is confident
the Eagles will be covered well in the secondary going forward with Asomugha and Rodgers-
Cromartie “We obviously feel good about our cornerback situation moving forward with
Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie as our starters. Those two played
very well together in the latter part of the season and we anticipate that will continue as we
head into the 2012 season,” Reid said in the statement. Samuel has 45 career interceptions
in nine seasons. His three interceptions in 14 games last season was his lowest total since
2005.
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“THE SPORTS LEEK!”
BY: MALIK CHARLTON/@LEEKthePOET_215
During this off-season, the Philadelphia Eagles were keeping andtaking care of their
own…well, not in the case if your name is Asante Samuel.
It has been surfacing from many reports that the Eagles are tryingto trade Samuel
before April’s upcoming NFL Draft. All of the Eagles cornerbacks played poorly last
season, but since Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is the youngest and Nnamdi Asomugha
was signedprior to last year, Samuels, 31, is the most obvious to be the odd man out in
the crowded Eagles cornerback position. Since Samuel didn’t make the Pro Bowl last sea-
son, his trading stockhas fallen. Farewell Asante Samuel, thanks for the many years in
Philadelphia,besides last season.
