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Samuel's agents trying to work something out

Hey all --

We just got off the phone with Jay Bianco, one of the agents for Asante Samuel (thankfully he's not sick of us yet), and he indicated that Samuel could be in training camp sooner rather than later. Bianco, partner Alonzo Shavers and the Patriots are actively trying to work something out to get the corner back with the team.

“We’re trying to come up with something that is beneficial to everyone and get him in there as early as possible,” Bianco said yesterday. “We all feel it’s in the team’s interest and (Samuel’s) best interest to get him in there as close to on time as possible. The lines of communication are open.”

Bianco mentioned the deal that Lance Briggs and the Bears came to. Also unhappy with being slapped as his team's franchise player, Briggs was threatening to hold out. But Chicago gave him $1million of his $7.2 million up front and agreed not to franchise him again next year -- thus making him a free agent -- IF he plays in 75 percent of the Bears' defensive snaps this season.

“We’re trying to work to get things done like we always have,” Bianco said. “It has to be something that’s beneficial to everyone. Like (Chicago) did with Lance, we’re trying to come to something that’s good for everybody. Our goal is to get him there."

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 4:05 PM | Permalink | Comments 1

Training camp fact sheet

Here it is, the schedule for New England Patriots summer camp, which kicks off this weekend at Gillette Stadium and runs through Aug. 3.

Parking and admission are free.

Practices are open to the public Friday from 8:45 to 10:45 a.m. and from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The pro-shop is open all day.

Nothing is open to the public Saturday. An afternoon practice will be off-limits and the pro-shop will be closed.

But Sunday practice, from 8:45 to 10 a.m. and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., will be open. The pro shop will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

On Monday, there will be no scheduled morning practice, only an open 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. practice. There is also the first Patriots Experience. The pro shop will open at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m.

The Patriots Experience is a theme park "designed to provide football fans with a first hand NFL experience," according to the Patriots Web site. "The interactive games allow fans to test their kicking, passing, and tackling skills on a variety of obstacle courses, football tosses, and other similar challenges.''

It's also free.

Patriots Experience is next to the West Suite/Clubhouse lot on the way to the practice fields.

There will be open practices Tuesday from 8:45 to 10:45 a.m. and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The pro shop will return to a 7:30 a.m. opening.

Wednesday -- Aug. 1 -- will offer no morning practice, but there will be open 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. practice. There is also a 1 to 5 p.m. Patriots Experience, while the pro shop will open at 10 a.m. and close at 6 p.m.

On Thursday, there will be the open 8:45 to 10:45 a.m. and 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. practices. The pro shop will open at 7:30 a.m. but close earlier, at 5:45 p.m.

And Friday, Aug. 3, there will be one open practice, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. There will be a 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. "Patriots Experience," and the pro shop will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

There's also a long list of concessions, from the First Down Franks to the Pats Brats to the popcorn.

For more information, go to www.patriots.com or call the training camp hotline, (508) 549-0001.

-- projo.com staff writer Michael P. McKinney

Posted by Peter Phipps  at 12:33 PM | Permalink | Comments 1