Chilly reception for Samuel

FOXBOROUGH - It was all about terms for Asante Samuel. He wanted to sign for better terms with the Patriots, but didn't get an offer he liked and left on less than great ones.

He traded in his chowder for cheesesteak and signed a massive deal with Philadelphia in the offseason - a six-year, $57 million contract with $20 million guaranteed.

Samuel returned to Gillette Stadium last night, and though he wasn't the star he was in last year's regular-season game between the teams (the Eagles' special teams outshined everyone last night), he still received an introduction that, if anything, showed how little fans remembered of his five years with the Patriots.

"I was kind of doing an interview on the sideline with somebody, some TV network, and they were chanting [negatively] over there," Samuel said after the game.

The catcalls began after the Patriots' first play from scrimmage. They ran a wide receiver reverse with Randy Moss, who was barreling around the right side but was met by Samuel. Moss tried to shimmy out of a tackle, but Samuel didn't dance and upended Moss for a 5-yard loss.

When Samuel's name was announced after he made the tackle, boos rained down. "They love to hate me," he said. "They love me, they miss me, but I'm not with them so they hate me."

Despite the unwelcome crowd, Samuel was upbeat and joked with the media.

"You think they'll let me go to the New England side and get something to eat? I'm starving," he said.

(Samuel was seen heading out of the Patriots' buffet after postgame interviews.)

The Patriots didn't throw toward Samuel until 4:19 remained in the second quarter. On first and 10 from the Patriots' 20, Matt Cassel fired deep for Moss, who was on a go route on the right side. Samuel and safety Sean Considine ran with him. As the ball arrived, Samuel and Considine mobbed Moss. An interference penalty on Considine resulted in a 47-yard gain.

Samuel had his best game in this matchup last season in the Patriots' 31-28 win. He intercepted two passes, one of which came on the third play from scrimmage and was returned 40 yards for a touchdown. His other interception came in the fourth quarter and sealed the victory.

Last night, Samuel played the first half and finished with two tackles: the reverse stop on Moss and another on Moss on a 6-yard reception late in the second half.

Samuel joined his new team on the first day of free agency, Feb. 29. It was unlikely he was going to return to the Patriots after he held out in the 2007 training camp. He signed a $7.79 million tender on his franchise tag, with the stipulation he couldn't be franchised if he played 60 percent of the defensive snaps or the team won 12 games - both of which happened; the Patriots went 18-1 and Samuel had a team-leading six interceptions and made his first Pro Bowl.

Samuel didn't spend much time lamenting what could've been with the Patriots.

"Everybody knows the situation was about the Patriots and how they do business," he said. "It's not nothing to talk about. I'm not a guy that's going to keep controversy going. Life goes on."