Asante Samuel Wants Out of New England

This time, he's sure. The NFL Network's Adam Schefter talked to Samuel, another guy who isn't at all happy with his "franchise player" tag. From Schefter:

"This is to let everybody know that I'm not happy anymore and things are not going well," Samuel said in his first public comments since the Patriots franchised him. "At first I thought it was going well, but it's not.

"We have a difference of opinion in my value. They think I'm worth one price and the other teams think I'm worth a lot more. If a long-term deal can't be done at fair numbers for me and New England, then I want to be traded."

If a long-term deal cannot get done with New England and a trade to another team does not happen, Samuel said he also is prepared to take steps he would rather not and sit out this season.

"If it's best for me and my family," Samuel said, "I will do that. Absolutely."

Something tells me, Asante, that your family would rather you played for the $7,790,000 this year and tried to win a Super Bowl with an incredible line-up. If I was in your family, that's what I'd say was best.

Of course, it's hard not to see his side of things, too. He's been a long-time contributor to the Pats, and he wants a long-term deal, they won't give it to him. Meanwhile, the Patriots go out and spend big money on a ton of free agents this off-season, paying just about everyone but Asante Samuel. I could see where that would be frustrating.

Still, I wouldn't bet on him actually missing any time. What he says sounds good in theory, but actually leaving close to $8 million on the table ... not a ton of guys are actually willing to do that.