No deal: Deadline passes on Samuel talks
Sides were never close; holdout could be next step
The Patriots and cornerback Asante Samuel have not reached an 11th-hour contract agreement today, according to a source directly involved in the negotiation.
Today marked the deadline for franchise players to sign contract extensions. Samuel can only play for the $7.79 million tender if he decides to report to the Patriots.
In June, Samuel said he planned on holding out until the 10th week of the season.
The gap between the sides was significant, which essentially halted the progress of any negotiations. While Samuel's agent, Alonzo Shavers, noted that the sides had recent discussions, they weren't fruitful and never reached the point in which specific contract language was being discussed.
Samuel's camp had been focusing on the first three years of a contract, and was seeking around $30 million. The first three years of any deal are considered key, because players are generally guaranteed they will earn the money even though NFL contracts aren't guaranteed.
Meanwhile, the Patriots' most recent offer would have paid Samuel an average of about $6 million per season, with approximately $13 million in bonuses.
With the sides so far apart, the talks never reached a point in which a deal was close.
