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August 23, 2007

Samuel agent: "No agreement in place"

One of the agents for New England Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel said late tonight “no date has been set” for Samuel to sign his franchise tender and return to the team.

“I couldn’t confirm that at this time. No agreement is in place,” said Jay Bianco, who represents Samuel with Alonzo Shavers.

Bianco’s comments came in light of an NFL Network report that said the corner would be back with the team by the middle of next week.

Since he is not currently under contract with New England, Samuel is under no obligation to be with the team, and is not incurring fines for missing the first 28 days of camp.

Once he signs the one-year, $7.79 million guaranteed contract, Samuel will re-join the Patriots, seemingly set to prove that his 12-interception performance (including playoffs) of last season was not a fluke. He has been working out in his home state of Florida since the Pats’ season ended in January.

The deadline for Samuel’s agents and the Patriots to come to a long-term agreement passed several weeks ago, and the sides cannot try to work out a multi-year deal until after the coming season concludes.

New England also has the option of designating Samuel as its franchise player again for the 2008 season, which would cost the team an estimated $9.5 million. Players franchised for a second time receive a one-year tender equal to an average of the top five highest salaries at their position plus 20 percent.

Franchised Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs returned to the defending NFC Champions after reaching a deal in which Briggs was given $1 million of his $7.2 million contract upfront and the Bears agreed not to franchise him again in 2008 if he plays more than 75 percent of the team’s defensive snaps this year.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 11:31 PM | Permalink