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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Falcons Bolster Secondary With Sanders, Hayden

He’s buried himself in an unfamiliar playbook. He’s trying to become familiar with different terminology. He’s struggling to learn everyone’s name on his new team, including the coaches for the Atlanta Falcons.

The cornerback called up one of the assistants a couple of times over the weekend, going over calls and formations. Now, if only he could remember who was on the other end of the line.

“It’s a challenge,” Hayden said Monday, standing in front of a locker that was identified as his by a handwritten placard. “I’m still learning the coaches’ names.”

Hayden is one of two experienced defensive backs signed last week by the Falcons to bolster their thin secondary, another step toward building a team that can make a run at the . In the very next locker was safety James Sanders, who landed in Atlanta under similar circumstances.

Both were dumped by their previous teams — Hayden in Indianapolis, Sanders in New England — more for salary cap reasons than their performance on the field.

Hayden starred in the Colts’ Super Bowl win in 2007, clinching the victory with his return of an interception for a touchdown. Sanders started 49 games for the Patriots and is coming off a season in which he set career highs with three interceptions and six passes defended.

“You can’t coach depth. You can’t coach experience,” Falcons linebacker Mike Peterson said. “Anytime you get a chance to add that to the mix, it’s a plus.”

Given their resumes, both could eventually challenge for extensive playing time, maybe even a starting job. The current starters look forward to getting pushed by the newcomers.

“They are two proven players in this league,” safety Thomas DeCoud said. “Competition always breeds success. It will make us better as a team and as individuals.”

First, Hayden and Sanders have to learn the ropes with a new organization. They only signed with the Falcons in time to watch the final preseason game from the sideline. They practiced for the first time Monday, a dreary day in the Atlanta area as the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee made their way northward.

“Of course, I want to get out there and play,” said the 27-year-old Sanders, who got a locker right beside Hayden and had lunch with him before practice. “But right now, my focus is on learning the playbook and this team. Without that, there’s no way I can even be on the field.”

Sanders was quickly scooped up by the Falcons after being cut by the Patriots. The 28-year-old Hayden took a little longer to find a new job, having missed the final four games last season with a neck injury that reportedly scared off some teams.

Hayden said he’s fully recovered from the latest in a series of injuries that have kept him from playing a full season since 2007.

“My neck is fine,” he said. “I feeling good and ready to go.”

The Falcons lack significant depth behind DeCoud and William Moore. Second-year player Shann Schillinger is the only other safety on the roster, so Sanders should get extensive playing time once he’s familiar with the system.

Pro Bowler Brent Grimes and Dunta Robinson are set at the cornerback positions, but Hayden could fill a valuable role at nickel back. Chris Owens is still on the roster, but has yet to live up to expectations heading into his third season. He was picked on mercilessly by Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay’s playoff romp over the Falcons.

After a winless preseason, Atlanta opens the regular season Sunday at Chicago in a matchup of division champions from 2010.

“I’m trying my best to get out there,” Hayden said. “I might miss the first game, but then I feel like I’ll be ready to go.”

Sanders was pleased to wind up with another winning organization after leaving the Patriots.

“This is a good, young, up-and-coming football team,” he said. “They have great players, great management, everything you could want in an organization. I’m thankful for the opportunity to be here. I’m thankful to be an Atlanta Falcon. I look forward to helping us win some games.”

Notes: Coach Mike Smith confirmed that Garrett Reynolds will start at right offensive guard. He was No. 1 on the depth chart throughout the preseason, so the announcement following Monday’s practice was no surprise. Reynolds beat out Mike Johnson for the spot held last season by Harvey Dahl, who signed with St. Louis. … The Falcons filled out the last remaining spot on their practice squad Monday, signing tight end Marquez Branson. A day earlier, the team brought back quarterback John Parker Wilson, safety Rafael Bush, offensive guard Andrew Jackson, offensive tackle Jose Valdez, linebacker Robert James and receivers Kevin Cone and Drew Davis. … With Wilson demoted to the practice squad, Atlanta plans to open the season with only two quarterbacks on the active roster: starter Matt Ryan and Chris Redman.

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Throw Toward Falcons CB Grimes at Your Own Risk

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga.. Brent Grimes is easy to pick out, even though he’s usually the shortest guy on the field.

He’s the guy every opposing quarterback tries to pick on.

The Atlanta Falcons cornerback is only 5-foot-9 — “five-foot-nine-and-a-half,” he’ll quickly correct, making sure one doesn’t forget that extra half-inch — and his resume is hardly the kind one expects from an NFL starter.

Grimes went to a Division II school, Shippensburg State. He was overlooked in the NFL draft. He spent time playing in Europe. He’s been cut or waived at least three times.

He just kept coming back for more.

Now, Grimes is an established starter in the Falcons secondary, a guy with a short memory and a knack for making big plays. Throw his way at your own risk.

“You have to be careful when you go at him. I’ve learned from experience in practice,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said Wednesday. “You’re thinking you can fit some things in. He’s not the tallest guy. But his athleticism is impressive. He can jump and make plays.”

Grimes said he doesn’t think teams pass at him anymore than they do the rest of the secondary, but the statistics tell a different story. He’s got three interceptions, broken up another 11 passes and made 45 solo tackles, many of them after giving up the inevitable completion here and there.

The other corner is Dunta Robinson, the Falcons’ major free-agent signing during the last offseason and considered one of the league’s best at his position. With teams rarely throwing in his direction, he’s broken up just three passes, has yet to make an interception and has 28 solo tackles.

“I don’t think they target me anymore than they do anyone else,” Grimes said. “But if that’s what it is, fine. It just gives me a chance to make plays.”

He’s made plenty of big plays for the first-place Falcons (8-2), such as knocking down a season-high three passes in last week’s 34-17 victory over the .

Not bad for a guy no one gave much a chance to ever make it to the NFL.

“Of course, I heard that I was from a small school, that I was too small to play in the pros,” Grimes recalled. “I could make plays, but they didn’t really believe in me because I was from a small school.”

A native of Philadelphia, he wound up at Shippensburg State because no major school even bothered to offer him a scholarship. He set a school record with 27 interceptions, which only made it more obvious to Grimes that he was capable of playing at the highest level.

“I feel like I could’ve played somewhere else. I could’ve played at one of the bigger schools,” he said. “But I was at a D-2 school and I made the best of it.”

Coming out of college, he earned a look from the Falcons in 2006 but failed to make the team. He re-signed the following year and was assigned to the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europa, which got him another shot in training camp. This time, he made the practice squad.

Grimes finally made his NFL debut for the final two games of the 2007 season, and the next year he started six games for a team that went to the playoffs as a wild card. He also began to impress his teammates with his prolific feats in the weight room and other tests measuring various athletic skills.

His determination wasn’t too bad, either.

“He’s feisty, there’s no question about that,” Falcons receiver Brian Finneran said. “With all the bigger receivers in the league these days, they’re going to try to attack him because of his size. But what he lacks in height, he more than makes up for with his athleticism, his ability to jump, his quickness, his ball skills. He’s fun to watch.”

Other teams have taken note, and not just because they think he’s an easy mark.

“He’s pretty short,” Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco said a couple of weeks ago, before the lost to the Falcons, with Grimes making his third pick of the season. “But he can go out and play. He can be a little aggravating, too.”

On Sunday, Grimes will be facing ‘s Aaron Rodgers, coming off a 301-yard, four-touchdown performance, and the Packers’ deep, talented groups of receivers.

Like Flacco, Rodgers went out of his way to bring up Grimes.

“He’s very impressive,” the quarterback said Wednesday. “Obviously, bringing in Robinson was a big addition. … But I’ve got to give Grimes his props. He’s the kind of guy you pull for. He’s been released a couple of times and been a practice squad guy. He’s paid his dues. Now, he’s playing very well.”

Just don’t forget that other half-inch.

He’s 5-foot-9 — and a half.

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