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Samuel not yet signed

Hey all -

Wanted to post an update on the Asante Samuel situation. We have had it confirmed that he has not yet signed his one-year franchise tender. He has reported to Gillette Stadium.

The NFL Network has reported that Samuel's agents are trying one last time to get New England not to franchise the 26-year old again in 2008.

We'll post more as we know more.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 9:36 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Warren wins Burton Community Service Award

Hey all --

We're just leaving the Patriots annual Kickoff Gala, where Stanley Morgan was inducted into the Patriots' Hall of Fame and Ty Warren won the fifth annual Ron Burton Community Service Award.

Morgan, who won an online fan vote over Burton and Ben Coates, said he was very excited for the honor -- though he felt it was a little overdue -- but thanked all of the fans who voted for him.

New England's career leader in receiving yards, Morgan believes the 2007 Patriots are the team to beat this year, and said that had last year's team had the wideouts that this team does, the team would have won the Super Bowl last year.

Warren and his wife, Kesha, founded the First and Goal Foundation last year, dedicated to helping children from Boys & Girls Clubs, an organization near to the couple's hearts. Last year, a group of children from the Yawkey Boys & Girls Club in Roxbury, Mass. were brought to the Bob's Store in Framingham, Mass. and given $300 to spend however they wanted -- after they bought themselves suitable cold-weather gear. Warren also attends many of the Patriots' charity events.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 8:39 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Samuel not on field

Hey all -

We have just been kicked off the practice field, and Asante Samuel was not on the field. It could be has hasn't yet done his conditioning run, but we will try to get an answer for you.

There were several players on the field we had not seen in a while, including Ty Warren, Kyle Brady, Jabar Gaffney, and Larry Anam.

Those among the missing were Eugene Wilson, Randy Moss, Sammy Morris, Mike Richardson, Mike Wright and Russ Hochstein.

Wilson apparently was injured on Carolina's 48-yard touchdown pass on Friday night; Richardson was spotted in the locker room after the game with his left arm in a sling.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 1:36 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Morning wrap: Coach says Samuel 'going through the process'

Hey all --

Bill Belichick acknowledged that Asante Samuel has arrived at Gillette Stadium in his opening statement this morning, but he didn't give much beyond that when it came to the cornerback.

"Asante came in this morning, I spoke with him. He's going through the process any player would go through at the beginning of camp -- taking his physical, conditioning run, all of that," Belichick said.

He was then peppered with several questions about Samuel, including whether it might not take him as long to re-integrate into the team since he's been with the Patriots for four years; if he is the type to let bygones be bygones; and if Samuel's return means Brandon Meriweather might see more time at safety.

The answers to those questions: "I don't know, we'll take it day to day like everything else"; "All I do as coach is coach the team. That's my job, that's what it's been, that's what it's going to be"; and "Asante hasn't been on the practice field yet."

Along other lines, Belichick praised rookie linebacker Oscar Lua (we know he's a fan favorite; we're partial too having spoken with him a couple of times), saying "he gets better out there every day."

The coach said he does not yet know who will make the 53-man roster come Saturday, and affirmed that Thursday night's preseason finale against the Giants is an opportunity for every player to increase his standing, whether it be making a case to get more playing time or simply to make the roster.

In the locker room, today was slightly better than the day last year that Deion Branch was traded. There weren't a whole lot of players around to talk to, though the ever-accommodating Ellis Hobbs and Mike Vrabel did talk. Neither would address the situation with Samuel.

Practice access begins at 1:10 p.m.; we'll let you know who is and isn't out there shortly thereafter.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 12:24 PM | Permalink | Comments 0

Samuel is in the building

Hey all -

Asante Samuel is indeed here at Gillette Stadium and has re-joined his Patriots teammates.

Bill Belichick is scheduled to address the media at 11:15 am and we'll post more afterwards.

shalise

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 10:36 AM | Permalink | Comments 0