Putting in some option plays

Cornerback Asante Samuel is mulling his options after a contract extension could not be reached with the Patriots before Monday's deadline. Samuel could hold out until the final six games of the season, and the Patriots would have to consider options on how to replace him.

A sampling of the Patriots' choices:

Play it straight -- If the season started today, third-year man Ellis Hobbs and 11th-year veteran Chad Scott would probably be the starters. Both started nine games last season. A third-round draft choice in 2005, the confident Hobbs has been credited by coach Bill Belichick for playing bigger than his size (5 feet 9 inches, 190 pounds), and is the fastest cornerback on the team. He's totaled five interceptions in his first two seasons (17 starts). Scott (6-1, 205) is a sturdy corner the Patriots like because of his ability to support the run defense. A former first-round draft choice of the Steelers (1996), he enters his third season with the Patriots and is respected by coaches and players for his professionalism and smarts.

Turn back the clock -- Remember 2004? The Patriots experienced injuries at cornerback and rookie free agent Randall Gay started nine games, plus three in the playoffs as New England captured Super Bowl XXXIX over the Eagles. Gay has been limited to eight games the last two seasons because of injuries, but he's 100 percent heading into training camp and will push Hobbs and Scott. Durability will remain a concern with the 5-11, 190-pound Gay, who as a restricted free agent drew interest from the Jets this offseason.

Tory's story -- When the Patriots signed 34-year-old Tory James to a one-year, $900,000 contract in April, they landed a player who has not missed a game the last four years with the Bengals, totaling 21 interceptions. James is nearing the end of his career and does not run as well as he once did, but he did go wire-to-wire as a starter last season and has a knack for being around the ball. He figures to be working with one of the top groups in training camp.

Safety switch -- When he entered the 2003 NFL draft out of the University of Illinois, Eugene Wilson was viewed as a cornerback. But when the Patriots faced an emergency situation after Lawyer Milloy was cut, Wilson made a seamless switch to safety. After four seasons primarily at safety, could he switch back? The team will likely give him some repetitions in training camp.

Drafting a plan -- One NFL scout felt cornerback would be University of Miami defensive back Brandon Meriweather's best fit in the NFL. Meriweather, a hard-hitting safety in college, started three straight games at corner during his senior season, one of which came against Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson (5 catches, 68 yards, TD), who was the second pick in the NFL draft. "He played that position and did well, and I think he can do well with it at the next level," former Miami coach Larry Coker told the Globe last month. "He's smart and has good cover skills. He has good flexibility in his hips and some experience at corner with us."

Long shots -- Other cornerbacks on the roster include rookie Mike Richardson (sixth-round pick), fourth-year veteran Eddie Jackson (recovering from a torn ACL, likely not ready until October), second-year players Antwain Spann and Gemara Williams; and rookie free agent Larry Anam of Boston College. Richardson, who played at Notre Dame, is the most likely to emerge. Safeties Willie Andrews (2006 seventh-round pick) and Artrell Hawkins are possibilities in an emergency.

The Patriots finalized a one-year contract with receiver Troy Brown. The sides agreed to financial terms last week and had been working out final language . . . The team signed outside linebacker Justin Rogers and running back Justise Hairston, two sixth-round draft choices. Only three of the team's nine draft choices have yet to reach contract agreements: Meriweather (first round), defensive lineman Kareem Brown (fourth round), and offensive lineman Mike Elgin (seventh round).

Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@globe.com.