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Side ways

UPDATE
I just wanted to add a correction to my Asante Samuel piece, courtesy of astute reader Ed Bryant of West Springfield, Mass.

Bryant pointed out that Samuel actually has four postseason interceptions, three of which have gone for touchdowns. I had written that he had three, all of which he had returned for scores. I mistakenly omitted an interception he recorded against the Denver Broncos in a playoff game on Jan. 14, 2006. Mea culpa.

(Original post)
It has been pointed out that comparing Nathan Vasher of the Chicago Bears and Dre' Bly of the Denver Broncos to Samuel is not fair because Samuel is a left cornerback and the other two are primarily right cornerbacks.

Don't get sidetracked by the sides. Last season, Samuel spent the first nine games starting at right corner, recording three of his 10 interceptions there. He switched to left cornerback in the 11th game of the season and promptly shined, pulling down three interceptions in a win over the Chicago Bears on Nov. 26 at Gillette Stadium. He played on the left side the rest of the way, including three playoff games, intercepting a total of nine passes -- two in the postseason -- in nine games as a starter on the left side.

Samuel obviously played better at left corner and has gone on record saying he feels more comfortable playing that side. However, the Patriots are big on versatility, so theoretically the left vs. right argument could be used by both sides in negotiations.

Then there is this fact: Nate Clements, the big-money corner Samuel is believed to be basing his contract stance on, started all 16 games at right cornerback last season for the Buffalo Bills.