by Scott Benson
scott@bostonsportsmedia.com

Despite weekend reports that gave hope to the contrary, the league deadline passed earlier today without a long-term deal between free agent corner Asante Samuel and the New England Patriots. Mike Reiss of the Globe was first with the details, including the dueling contract proposals that articulate the gulf between the sides.

For the second consecutive season, the Patriots - in probability - will open training camp without a key (and not easily replaceable) starter. And the door is ever more open for another last-minute trade of a surprisingly determined holdout, and another last-minute hole in New England’s starting lineup.

As the Herald’s John Tomase reported this weekend, Samuel could still decide to sign his one-year franchise tender and report to camp on time, with thoughts of a big season and a bigger payday down the line as an unrestricted free agent. This would naturally require assurances by the Patriots that they would remove the franchise tag after the season.

Or the cornerback could decide to carry out on his threats to stay away until week 10 of the regular season, which would almost certainly bring about the abrupt end of his Patriots career. Do we really think the team would react passively to such an action?

The beef here isn’t the dollars and cents the team is offering Samuel. Quick - how many of you think Samuel will ever equal the season he had in 2006? Then why should he be getting thirty million bucks over the next three years? He most certainly has been a starter on a Super Bowl champion, but come on - who thought of this guy as an upper echelon cornerback 12 months ago? He should be paid like one based on one big year?

No, I trust them to spend their money wisely. What I’m starting to wonder is if they know a lost cause when they see one.

by Scott Benson
scott@bostonsportsmedia.com

Eric McHugh of The Patriot Ledger has the surprising news today of new optimism for a long term deal between the Patriots and semi-holdout Asante Samuel, who had vowed to sit out most of the coming season rather than sign his tender as the team’s franchise designee.

McHugh has agent Glenn Toby singing the praises of the Patriots and Bill Belichick, and claiming Samuel is “past (the) stage” that led him to tell the NFL Network earlier this year that he wanted to be traded.

Toby says both sides “are fighting to get it done collectively,” and expressed optimism, even confidence, that a deal could be completed this weekend. Monday is the deadline for NFL teams to reach long-term agreements with their franchise players.

One question: where the hell did all this come from? The picture to date, painted by the player himself, has been of a rapidly deteriorating situation. Even with the impending deadline, today’s story - in which Toby attests that Samuel “is a Patriot” - is jarring, juxtoposed against the cornerback’s earlier comments.

In related developments, John Tomase of the Herald reported this morning that Samuel may end his holdout before the season, even if a deal cannot be struck. The cornerback, who had his finest year in 2006, would return in time for opening day in exchange for the team’s agreement that he would not be franchised again after the season.

by Scott Benson scott@patriotsdaily.com

A good bit of Patriots history left this mortal coil Tuesday when legendary scout and 64 year NFL veteran Bucko Kilroy passed away at his Foxborough home. He was 86 years old.

Kilroy worked for the Patriots for 36 years, and as personnel director during the 70’s, he was responsible for some of the most talented teams in the history of the franchise.

He led a scouting team that drafted Hall of Famers John Hannah and Michael Haynes, and an honor roll of New England legends like Julius Adams, Sam Cunningham, Darryl Stingley, Ray Hamilton, Steve Nelson, Russ Francis, Steve Grogan, Pete Brock, Tim Fox, Raymond Clayborn, Stanley Morgan and Mosi Tatupu.

Kilroy later served as GM (early 80’s), VP, and since 1994, as a consultant to the Patriots’ scouting department.

He had already enjoyed a full NFL life before he even joined the Pats. A six-time All-Pro as a player/coach with the Eagles, Kilroy went on to be an acclaimed ‘Super Scout’ with the Cowboys of the 1960’s. He is credited as a prime mover in the establishment of cooperative scouting services like BLESTO, and perhaps most importantly, the annual college scouting combine.

Too often these days, it seems as though the New England Patriots were born in 1993, not 1960. Too often, in the flood of distorted ‘laughingstock’ remembrances, it seems to slip our minds that there were once brilliant men like Kilroy and Chuck Fairbanks who plied their trade on Route One, to great effect.

We should not forget. The great Bucko Kilroy was here.