Falcons Acquire Cornerback Asante Samuel From Eagles

“I wanted to be a Falcon, so we made it work,” Samuel said.

The Falcons gave up only a seventh-round draft pick Wednesday when they acquired the four-time Pro Bowl cornerback from the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Falcons announced the trade after Samuel agreed to restructure his contract to a three-year, $18.5 million deal. His contract with Philadelphia called for him to earn $9.9 million in 2012 and $11.4 million in 2013.

The Falcons were 10-6 last season and 13-3 in 2010, but lost their first playoff game each season.

“The Falcons already have an excellent team and excellent coaches and schemes and talent and all that good stuff,” Samuel said in a telephone interview. “I’m just going to add to the bunch to get the one common goal.”

Samuel noted he’s already had a warm reception from Falcons fans on his Twitter account.

“I’m getting (followers) every second of the minute,” he said. “It’s fun. Everybody is excited and pumped up. It feels like I’m a missing link, so we’ll see how this thing goes.”

The 31-year-old Samuel gives Atlanta a strong but high-priced trio at cornerback with Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes under new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan.

Grimes, who signed his franchise tag tender Tuesday, will make $10.262 million this season. Robinson will earn $6 million.

“Asante has established himself as a very productive player during his career,” Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff said. “He is a proven player in this league and we feel that this move upgrades the talent of our roster and improves our football team.”

Dimitroff was New England’s director of scouting when the selected Samuel in the fourth round in 2003. Samuel set a career high with 10 interceptions for the Patriots in 2006.

“He was a big part of making this deal happen,” Samuel said of Dimitroff. “He’s excited, too, you know? He knows what I bring to the table and I’m going to come in there confident.

“I knew he had a lot of familiarity with me. We talked every time we played each other. It definitely had a lot to do with it and he definitely made me comfortable.”

The Falcons are left with five picks but no first-round selection in the NFL draft.

Samuel became expendable when the Eagles signed Nnamdi Asomugha and acquired Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie last July, giving them three Pro Bowl cornerbacks. But the team couldn’t find a suitable deal for Samuel, so they kept him and used Rodgers-Cromartie in the nickel spot.

While Asomugha and Rodgers-Cromartie struggled in a new defense and new roles, Samuel was the most consistent of the trio. The outspoken Samuel probably sealed his fate in Philadelphia when he criticized the front office at the trade deadline, saying management was “playing fantasy football with the owner’s money.”

Perhaps the biggest surprise was the Falcons only lost a seventh-round pick in the trade.

“I wish Philly nothing but the best,” Samuel said. “I love the organization and Eagles Nation. I know it was sad to see me go. I know everybody can’t figure why this is happening and why it is going this way, but this is business.”

Philadelphia coach Andy Reid said Samuel “has been a very productive member of the Eagles for the past four years and we appreciate all that he has done for our organization.

“We obviously feel good about our cornerback situation moving forward with Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie as our starters. Those two played very well together in the latter part of the season and we anticipate that will continue as we head into the 2012 season.”

The Eagles, who were looking to clear payroll, now have 10 picks in the draft, including three of the top 51.

Samuel has 45 career interceptions in nine seasons, fourth among active players. He had only three interceptions in 14 games last season, but his 38 interceptions since 2006 lead the NFL.

“We just improved our team today,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “Asante Samuel is a good football player and you can never have enough good players on your team. Our game has become more of a passing game, and you have to have the players who can neutralize how offenses are trying to attack you.”

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AP Sports Writer Rob Maaddi in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

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AP Source: Falcons Hope to Acquire Asante Samuel

A trade for Samuel would provide a highlight to what has been a relatively quiet offseason for the Falcons, who have worked to retain their free agents instead of making a splash through trades or free agency.

The Falcons have six picks but no first-round selection in the NFL draft. They hope to acquire Samuel before the draft, according to a person familiar with the talks.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Tuesday because the deal, which may include a draft pick, is not complete.

Samuel, 31, is a four-time Pro Bowl pick. He would give the Falcons’ new defensive coordinator Mike Nolan a strong trio at cornerback with Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes, who Tuesday signed his franchise tag tender. Grimes will make $10.262 million this season.

Grimes’ agent, Ben Dogra, said the cornerback would like a deal that lasts beyond the 2012 season.

“We will continue to talk and the goal is to hopefully reach a long-term deal at some point,” Dogra told The Associated Press.

Samuel’s contract calls for him to earn $9.9 million in 2012 and $11.4 million in 2013. He might rework the deal to help the trade fit the Falcons’ salary cap.

The Falcons began their offseason program on Monday.

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff was New England’s director of scouting when the Patriots selected Samuel in the fourth round in 2003. Samuel set a career high with 10 interceptions for the Patriots in 2006.

Samuel signed a six-year deal with the Eagles in 2008. The Eagles acquired cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie before the 2011 season, creating a trio that didn’t mesh.

An Atlanta trade of one or more draft picks for an established veteran such as Samuel would be another sign Dimitroff’s focus is on 2012 instead of the future.

That’s fine with quarterback Matt Ryan.

“I’m certainly in a win-now mode,” Ryan said Tuesday. “I think that’s the only way you can approach the NFL. Every time you suit up and every time you play, it’s for one reason and that reason is to win.”

Ryan said Samuel, who had 30 tackles and three interceptions in 2011, has been a difficult opponent.

“As far as Asante Samuel, I can only speak for having played against him a number of times and I know that’s he’s been extremely difficult to play against and has done a great job against us when we’ve played him in the past,” Ryan said.

The Falcons were 10-6 last season and 13-3 in 2010 but lost their first playoff game each season. An improved secondary would boost the team’s hopes for 2012.

Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon called Samuel “a player who would improve anyone’s defense.”

Samuel has 45 career interceptions in nine seasons. His three interceptions in 14 games last season was his low total since 2005.

Dimitroff was preparing for the draft and was not available for comment on Tuesday.

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Eagles Lose Vick, Lead Falcons 31-21

Matt Ryan threw three touchdown passes, including two to Tony Gonzalez, to give Atlanta a 21-10 early in the third quarter.

Vick, making his much-anticipated return to Atlanta, regrouped after two fumbles and an interception to lead two quick scoring drives that gave the lead back to the Eagles.

Vick, who had a 5-yard scoring pass to Maclin in the first half, added a 36-yard touchdown pass to Maclin in the third quarter. An interception by Philadelphia’s Asante Samuel set up a short drive that ended with McCoy’s scoring run on first down from the 8.

Vick was knocked out of the game with about 3 minutes remaining in the third quarter, when he was knocked into one of his linemen. He appeared to spit blood out of his mouth as he was escorted off the field.

With backup Vince Young inactive with a hamstring injury, the Eagles turned to third-string quarterback Mike Kafka.

McCoy’s 2-yard touchdown run pushed the lead to 10 points.

Soon after the score, Vick was escorted off the field. There was no immediate update on his status.

Ryan’s second scoring pass to Gonzalez, his veteran tight end, gave Atlanta a 21-10 lead.

The Eagles answered with two quick scoring drives.

With the Eagles leading 10-7, Vick’s 29-yard pass to tight end Brent Celek had Philadelphia back in Falcons’ territory.

On first down from the Atlanta 4-yard line, Falcons defensive tackle Peria Jerry surged through the line to hit Vick before he could hand the ball to McCoy, forcing the fumble.

Defensive end Ray Edwards picked up the loose ball at the 12 and rambled 64 yards before he was caught from behind by DeSean Jackson at the Eagles 24.

Ryan completed a 13-yard pass to Gonzalez before passing to the tight end again on third down from the Eagles 4.

Gonzalez reached high with his right hand to bring down the pass at the back of the end zone. An officials’ review confirmed he had control of the ball and both feet in the end zone.

Vick, scrambling for a gain on the Eagles’ next possession, fumbled again when hit by John Abraham. The fumble was recovered by linebacker Stephen Nicholas.

Vick, capped a 12-play drive that covered 84 yards with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Maclin early in the second quarter. Vick dropped back and looked to his left before stopping and throwing to Maclin, who lined up left before crossing the field to his right at the goal line to make the touchdown catch early in the second quarter.

Vick had a 29-yard pass to Jason Avant on his next drive to help set up a 22-yard field goal by Alex Henery that gave the Eagles a 10-7 lead.

Henery was not close on a 63-yard field goal attempt at the end of the half.

Ryan’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Roddy White gave the Falcons a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

Vick, the former Falcons star, was making his first trip to Atlanta as a starter for another team. He made his first return as a backup in 2009, and ran and threw for touchdowns as a backup in the Eagles’ 34-7 win.

Vick’s return generated a strong turnout of his No. 7 jerseys, both in Eagles green and in red or black from his days with the Falcons.

An officials’ review negated a 28-yard pass from Ryan to rookie Julio Jones in the second quarter.

The pass hit Jones’ hands, went up in the air and was touched by Coleman before hitting the ground and bouncing back to Jones.

The officials initially ruled Jones made the catch, but the replay clearly showed the ball hitting the ground. Ryan was unsuccessful in his attempt to call a quick play before play could be stopped for the review.

Four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters started for the Eagles after suffering an ankle injury in practice on Friday. He had been listed as questionable.

As expected, the Falcons were without center Todd McClure, who missed his second straight game with a knee injury, and defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux, who injured his knee in last week’s loss at Chicago.

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