Samuel Won't Report To Camp

It's deja vu all over again for the New England Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick.

Another year, another disgruntled player holding out for a new contract. Last season it was Deion Branch. Now CB Asante Samuel is threatening to hold out all the way through mini-camp, training camp and up until week 10.

Samuel, upset after being assigned the team's "franchise" tag, was a no-show at the Patriots Charitable Foundation golf tournament on Monday at the The International Golf Club in Bolton, Mass. Reached by phone afterwards, he told The Boston Globe he is unhappy with the lack of progress in contract talks with the team.

"I'm not coming to camp," he told the newspaper. "I'm not showing up until the 10th week [of the season]. I feel unappreciated. The way they're treating me is just wrong."

Samuel has yet to sign the one-year, $7.79 million contract he was tendered when the Patriots franchised him, so he is technically not under contract and cannot be fined for missing minicamp. Under the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the players union, if a deal isn't reached by the afternoon of July 15, he can sign only a one-year deal and cannot have his contract extended until the regular season ends.

If he shows up for Week 10, Samuel will receive a pro-rated portion of that $7.79 million salary. If he sits out the entire year, he'll get nothing -- and the Patriots will be able to put the franchise tag on him again for 2008.

Samuel had a breakout year in 2006 with 10 interceptions and 65 tackles. Even so, the Patriots are a tough team to play hard ball with.

Belichick's teams and players are interchangeable. It's his system that has brought all the success to New England. The only untouchable on the team is Tom Brady. Players have come and gone and the Patriots have still won.

New England doesn't need superstars to win. Hell, the Pats went to the AFC title game last season with Reche Caldwell and Troy Brown as their starting receivers.

Samuel may be serious about holding out until week 10, but the Patriots are just as serious about playing without him if they must. Belichick has never allowed distractions like this to interfere with his gameplan and he isn't about to do so now.

Despite the fact the Samuel feels underappreciated, the truth is he had a great season, but he's only done it for a year. What he should do is prove he can perform at a consistently high level and then the money will come. One All-Pro year is not enough to deserve the kind of contract he wants.

The franchise is already reeling after the death of Marquise Hill and now Samuel's intentions have really put this team on the ropes. But if anyone can overcome this adversity, it's Belichick and his Patriots.

So a potentially long wait begins and the only question remaining is where will Samuel be in 2007?