When we go back and think on the last 15 years of the NFL, Asante Samuel’s name is often left off the list of some the top cornerbacks. Not recognizing him as one of the best in the game during his time in the league is a disservice to his career.
Samuel was drafted in the fourth round of the 2003 draft by the New England Patriots. He may not have been drafted as the replacement for Ty Law, but he worked himself into that position. It’s tough to follow the career of another (potential) Hall of Fame CB, but Samuel did it. He helped the team win Super Bowl XXXVIII and XXXIX, and after Law left, he was all on his own.
#22 was left to be one of the only true talents in the CB meeting rooms. In 2006, Samuel intercepted 10 passes in the regular season, the first Patriot to record double-digit INTs in a season since they moved to Foxboro. During this season he also received a 95.1 rating from PFF, the highest of any Patriots CB since (a list that includes Stephon Gilmore, Malcolm Butler, and Darrelle Revis). That season is the fourth-highest graded season by any CB since PFF was established, behind Corey Webster’s 2008 (95.3), Chris Harris’ 2014 (95.4), and Darrelle Revis’ 2009 (97.6).
The CB left New England after the 2007 season that left a sour taste in the mouths of Patriots fans. Knowing Samuel could’ve sealed the game with an interception soiled his reputation, similar to Wes Welker after Super Bowl XLVI. People forget that 2007-08 was the first of four consecutive Pro Bowl nominations. He also earned a First-Team All-Pro nomination that year.
Samuel spent his remaining six seasons between the Philadelphia and Atlanta, where he continued to put up stellar numbers. In 2009 with Philadelphia, Samuel recorded nine interceptions to tie the franchise record for most interceptions in a season.
Usually, when making the case for someone to make the Hall of Fame in their sport, you take a look at their career accomplishments and compare them to others already enshrined. Samuel finished his career with 51 regular season INTs, 7 postseason INTs, and 2 Super Bowls.
In 33 fewer games, he has more interceptions than Deion Sanders, arguably the greatest CB of all-time. He has four more interceptions than former Patriot CB and Hall of Famer Mike Haynes. He’s tied for sixth in career playoff interceptions and he’s second for career CBs.
At the end of the day, Samuel will probably be on the outside looking in. His career numbers, however, speak for themselves and may surprise some people who watched him play. In New England, before Darrelle Revis, there was a drought that felt like decades where there was no true number one CB. Before that drought, there was Asante. Don’t let that one missed interception overshadow all the great things he did in his career.