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'''Asante Samuel''' is a [[National Football League]] cornerback for the [[New England Patriots]]. He was born on January 6, 1981 in Fort Lauderdale, [[Florida]]. Asante is "5-10" (tall) and weighs 185 pounds.

'''Asante Samuel''' is a [[National Football League]] cornerback for the [[New England Patriots]]. He was born on January 6, 1981 in Fort Lauderdale, [[Florida]]. Asante is "5-10" (tall) and weighs 185 pounds.

The following season, 2004, Samuel essentially became the Patriots starter at cornerback as both of the original starters at the position ([[Ty Law]] & Tyrone Pool] went down with season ending injures. Samuel was not exempt from the injury bug that hit the Patriots secondary as he himself missed three games due to a shoulder injury [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=1918110 suffered] in a game vs the [[Saint Louis Rams]] on the first play of the game. He still managed to make a impact when he played however, starting ten games and playing in thirteen. In the Patriots week thirteen matchup with the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] he provided the winning points in a 35-28 victory when he intercepted Bengals quarterback [[Carson Palmer]] and returned the interception 34 yards for a touchdown. He started all three of the Patriots 2004 postseason games and in the AFC Championship game batted down an amazing 5 passes.  

The following season, 2004, Samuel essentially became the Patriots starter at cornerback as both of the original starters at the position ([[Ty Law]] & Tyrone Pool] went down with season ending injures. Samuel was not exempt from the injury bug that hit the Patriots secondary as he himself missed three games due to a shoulder injury [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=nfl&id=1918110 suffered] in a game vs the [[Saint Louis Rams]] on the first play of the game. He still managed to make a impact when he played however, starting ten games and playing in thirteen. In the Patriots week thirteen matchup with the [[Cincinnati Bengals]] he provided the winning points in a 35-28 victory when he intercepted Bengals quarterback [[Carson Palmer]] and returned the interception 34 yards for a touchdown. He started all three of the Patriots 2004 postseason games and in the AFC Championship game batted down an amazing 5 passes.  

In 2005, Samuel started all 15 games he appeared in and set then personal career highs for a season in almost every one of his statistical defensive category's.  In the Patriots come from behind win on ESPN's [[Sunday Night Football]] he made a key diving interception that helped the Patriots win 21 to 16... In the 2005 postseason Samuel was the Patriots unofficial MVP as he made 2 interceptions, including one that he returned 73 yards for a touchdown, 6 knocked down passes, and 7 tackles in the Patriots two postseason games. In 2006, his production exploded as he set career highs for total tackles (64), interceptions (10 - tied  for best in the NFL with [[Champ Baily]]), and passes defensed (14). In the 2006 season he started 15 games (he missed one due to injury) and three multiple interceptions games. He had the best game of his career on the week eleven matchup with the NFC best [[Chicago Bears]] when he had 3 interceptions, 9 solo tackles and 3 passes batted down. The last interception he recorded in the game sealed a 17-13 Patriots victory over the Bears. He was named AFC Defensive player of the week for his effort.. Many New England fans were disappointed to see him not receive a Pro Bowl spot that they thought he was worthy of as he surprisingly did not make the AFC Pro Bowl team. However as always Samuel saved his best playing time for the playoffs and in the 2006 Patriots playoff run Samuel had in three playoff games, 2 interceptions, both returned for touchdowns (tying an NFL [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs06/news/story?id=2738507 record] for most int's returned for TD's in the playoffs), 7 tackles, and 7 passes defensed.  

In 2005, Samuel started all 15 games he appeared in and set then personal career highs for a season in almost every one of his statistical defensive category's.  In the Patriots come from behind win on ESPN's [[Sunday Night Football]] he made a key diving interception that helped the Patriots win 21 to 16... In the 2005 postseason Samuel was the Patriots unofficial MVP as he made 2 interceptions, including one that he returned 73 yards for a touchdown, 6 knocked down passes, and 7 tackles in the Patriots two postseason games. In 2006, his production exploded as he set career highs for total tackles (64), interceptions (10 - tied  for best in the NFL with [[Champ Baily]]), and passes defensed (14). In the 2006 season he started 15 games (he missed one due to injury) and three multiple interceptions games. He had the best game of his career on the week eleven matchup with the NFC best [[Chicago Bears]] when he had 3 interceptions, 9 solo tackles and 3 passes batted down. The last interception he recorded in the game sealed a 17-13 Patriots victory over the Bears. He was named AFC Defensive player of the week for his effort.. Many New England fans were disappointed to see him not receive a Pro Bowl spot that they thought he was worthy of as he surprisingly did not make the AFC Pro Bowl team. However as always Samuel saved his best playing time for the playoffs and in the 2006 Patriots playoff run Samuel had in three playoff games, 2 interceptions, both returned for touchdowns (tying an NFL [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs06/news/story?id=2738507 record] for most int's returned for TD's in the playoffs), 7 tackles, and 7 passes defensed.  

After the 2006 season, Asante's contract with the Patriots ran out but the Pats decided to place their [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2768800 franchise] tag on him. The franchise tag effectively makes the only team he can do contract negations with the Patriots who must at pay him at the minimal a NFL set predetermined price. At first contract negations between Samuel and the Patriots [http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/01/23/price_goes_up_on_cornerback_samuel/ appeared to be going well but recently they seem to have [http://patriots.scout.com/2/633030.html soured] as they reached [http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/10108712 difficulty's] in reaching a common price on his value. How the outcome of the contract situation will turn out or whether Samuel will play for the Patriots next year is uncertain.         

After the 2006 season, Asante's contract with the Patriots ran out but the Pats decided to place their [http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2768800 franchise] tag on him. The franchise tag effectively makes the only team he can do contract negations with the Patriots who must at pay him at the minimal a NFL set predetermined price. At first contract negations between Samuel and the Patriots [http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2007/01/23/price_goes_up_on_cornerback_samuel/ appeared] to be going well but recently they seem to have [http://patriots.scout.com/2/633030.html soured] as they reached [http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/10108712 difficulty's] in reaching a common price on his value. How the outcome of the contract situation will turn out or whether Samuel will play for the Patriots next year is uncertain.         

      

      

=== NFL Stats ===  

=== NFL Stats ===