In their first meeting, the Wildcat ran wild. Miami's star running back and New England's head coach tackle the unorthodox formation. Plus, news and notes from Wednesday's practice.
The Patriots head into Sunday's game at Miami tied with the Dolphins for second place in a highly competitive AFC East. The winner of the contest will answer a few questions heading down the stretch toward the postseason. For all the other questions surrounding the Patriots we bring another wide-ranging edition of Ask PFW.
After seeing the Dolphins' Wildcat formation rip it to shreds in Week 3, New England is doing everything it can to prevent a repeat performance this weekend.
Joey Porter's running his mouth again. Read all about that and the other news and notes leading up to this weekend's Patriots-Dolphins game in today's Patriots.com News Blitz.
22 Asante Samuel CB
Height: 5-10 Weight: 185 Year: 5 Yrs/Pat: 5 Acquired: D4b-03(120th overall) School: Central Florida Major: Business Born: Jan 6, 1981
Personal
Asante Samuel was born the son of Jasper and Christine Samuel on Jan. 6, 1981 ... Attended Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.) High ... Was a versatile athlete, playing quarterback, defensive back, kicker and punter in football in addition to being a member of the basketball and baseball teams ... On the gridiron as a junior, he saw considerable action at quarterback where he threw for 1,800 yards and rushed for 500 yards ... Concentrated on defense his senior year and earned All-Broward County honors from the Miami Herald as well as All-State honors ... Considered one of the county's top pass defenders, tallying 75 tackles and four interceptions and earned an invitation to the North- South Shrine Game ... Also saw limited action as the backup quarterback, completing 18 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns in his final year ... Majored in business at Central Florida.
Career Transactions
Asante Samuel was selected by the New England Patriots in the fourth round (120th overall) of the 2003 NFL draft … Signed by the Patriots (07/15/03).
Career Highlights
Career GP/GS: 59/39 (11/8)
Samuel has started 39 of 59 career regular-season games and has notched 184 tackles (162 solo), 16 interceptions for 224 yards and two touchdowns, 63 passes defensed and three forced fumbles.
Samuel has shown an ability to consistently find the end zone, having returned four interceptions for touchdowns in four NFL seasons. He returned one pick for a score in both the 2003 and 2004 regular seasons and also found the end zone in the 2005 and 2006 playoffs.
In 2005, Samuel started all 15 regular-season games in which he played and tied for the team lead with a career-high three interceptions and led the team with a career-high 18 passes defensed. He also notched a career-high 53 tackles (41 solo).
Samuel's two career playoff interceptions are tied for fourth in Patriots playoff history – only Rodney Harrison (6), Ty Law (4) and Fred Marion (3) have recorded more playoff interceptions for New England.
Samuel played in 13 games with eight starts in 2004 and led the team with 12 passes defensed.
Samuel started all three postseason contests for the Patriots in 2004 and finished tied for the team lead with four pass breakups.
Samuel tallied his second career touchdown with a 34-yard interception return for a score against Cincinnati (12/12/04).
Samuel was named NFL rookie of the week for his performance in the Patriots' victory over the Jets in New England's 2003 home opener. He returned his first career interception 55 yards for a touchdown to seal a 23-16 Patriots victory.
Samuel spent much of his rookie season as the Patriots' fifth defensive back, and earned his first career start in place of an injured Ty Law in the Patriots' 19-13 overtime win at Miami (10/19/03).
2006 Season
2006 (15/15/0/1): Finished tied for first in the NFL and led the team with 10 interceptions ... Led the team with 24 passes defensed ... Led the team or tied for the team lead in passes defensed 11 times in 2006 (at NYJ, vs. DEN, vs. MIA, at BUF, at MIN, vs. IND, vs. CHI, vs. DET, vs. HOU, at JAX, at TEN) ... Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after collecting eight tackles (7 solo) and career-high three interceptions in the Patriots' 17-13 victory over Chicago (11/26/06).
Buffalo (9/10): Started at cornerback ... Registered four tackles (3 solo) in the Patriots' 19-17 victory over the Bills ... Teamed with Eugene Wilson to stonewall Willis McGahee for a 2-yard loss on a rush off right end in the first quarter ... Combined with Rosevelt Colvin to stop McGahee for a 2-yard loss on a rush in the third quarter. at N.Y. Jets (9/17): Started at cornerback ... Collected two solo tackles and two passes defensed in the Patriots' 24-17 win over the N.Y. Jets ... Read Chad Pennington's eyes perfectly and knocked down a short pass intended for Derrick Blaylock in the first quarter ... Deflected a pass intended for Laveranues Coles in the second quarter. Denver (9/24): Made the start at cornerback and tallied four solo tackles and a pass defensed ... Broke up a pass intended for Rod Smith in the second quarter. at Cincinnati (10/1): Started at cornerback ... Notched five solo tackles in the Patriots' commanding 38-13 victory over the Bengals. vs. Miami (10/8): Started at cornerback ... Collected seven solo tackles and two interceptions in the Patriots' 20-10 win over the Dolphins ... Picked off a Joey Harrington pass intended for Wes Welker in the second quarter and returned it 26 yards to the Miami 10-yard line ... Recorded his second interception of the afternoon, when he grabbed a deflected pass intended for Welker in the fourth quarter ... Teamed with Rosevelt Colvin to stonewall Ronnie Brown for a 3-yard loss on a screen pass in the fourth quarter. at Buffalo (10/22): Made the start at cornerback ... Recorded two solo tackles, an interception and three passes defensed in the Patriots' 28-6 road victory over the Bills ... Stepped in front of Lee Evans and intercepted a JP Losman pass, halting a Bills scoring opportunity at the end of the first half ... Saved a touchdown by administering tight coverage on a deep pass intended for Evans in the end zone in the fourth quarter ... On the next play, knocked down a third-down pass intended for Evans. at Minnesota (10/30): Started at cornerback and collected three solo tackles and a pass defensed in the Patriots' commanding 31-7 road win against the Vikings ... Broke up a deep pass intended for Bethel Johnson in the end zone during the opening stanza. Indianapolis (11/5): Made the start at cornerback ... Registered eight tackles (7 solo), a pass defensed and a forced fumble ... Batted down a sideline pass intended for Reggie Wayne in the third quarter. vs. N.Y. Jets (11/12): Started at cornerback and recorded five solo tackles. at Green Bay (11/19): Inactive. vs. Chicago (11/26): Started at cornerback ... Named AFC Defensive Player of the Week after collecting eight tackles (7 solo) and career-high three interceptions in the Patriots' 17-13 victory over the Bears ... Recorded his first interception of the afternoon when he stepped in front of a Rex Grossman slant pass intended for Bernard Berrian in the first quarter ... Intercepted a Grossman pass intended for Desmond Clark and returned the pick 27 yards in the third quarter ... Teamed with Tedy Bruschi to stuff Thomas Jones for a 2-yard loss on a short pass in the fourth quarter ... Sealed the victory with a leaping interception in front of Rashied Davis with 1:52 remaining in the fourth quarter. vs. Detroit (12/3): Started at cornerback ... Notched two tackles, an interception and four passes defensed in the Patriots' 28-21 comeback victory over the Lions ... Batted down a pass intended for Roy Williams in the end zone on a third-and-seven play during the second quarter ... Intercepted a Jon Kitna pass that was intended for Corey Bradford late in the second quarter ... Knocked down a deep pass intended for Mike Furrey in the third stanza ... Broke up a deep pass intended for Williams at the end of the third quarter. at Miami (12/10): Started at cornerback and registered four tackles (3 solo) ... Stonewalled Wes Welker for a 1-yard loss on a short pass in the second quarter. vs. Houston (12/17): Started at cornerback ... Notched three tackles, an interception and two passes defensed in the Patriots' commanding 40-7 victory over the Texans ... Broke up a pass intended for Eric Moulds in the second quarter ... Stepped in front of Owen Daniels, intercepted a David Carr pass and returned the pick 33 yards to the Houston 5-yard line in the fourth quarter. at Jacksonville (12/24): Started at cornerback ... Notched three solo tackles and a pass defensed in the Patriots' 24-21 division-clinching win over the Jaguars ... Knocked down a David Garrard pass intended for Reggie Williams along the sideline in the first quarter. at Tennessee (12/31): Started at cornerback ... Posted two solo tackles, two interceptions and four passes defensed in the Patriots' 40-23 victory over the Titans ... Batted down a deep pass intended for Brandon Jones in the third quarter ... Defended another deep pass down the left sideline intended for Jones in the fourth quarter ... Intercepted a Vince Young deep ball intended for Courtney Roby in the fourth quarter ... Picked off another Young pass that was intended for Roby along the sideline late in the final stanza.
2006 Postseason (3/3/0/0): vs. N.Y. Jets (1/7): Started at cornerback ... Collected three solo tackles, an interception return for a touchdown and three passes defensed in the Patriots' 37-16 AFC Wild Card victory over the N.Y. Jets ... Broke up a pass intended for Leon Washington in the third quarter ... Stepped in front of Justin McCareins, picked off a Chad Pennington pass and returned the interception 36 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, sealing the Patriots' victory ... Knocked down a pass intended for McCareins during the Jets' final drive of the game. at San Diego (1/14): Made the start at cornerback ... Registered two solo tackles and two passes defensed in the Patriots' 24-21 AFC Divisional playoff victory over the Chargers ... Broke up a pass intended fo Parker along the sideline in the fourth quarter ... Halted a Chargers' fourth-quarter drive by batting down a pass intended for Parker along the sideline on a thirdand- five play. at Indianapolis (1/21): Started at cornerback ... Collected two solo tackles, an interception and led the team with three passes defensed ... Broke up a pass intended for Marvin Harrison along the sideline in the first quarter ... Stepped in front of Harrison and intercepted a Peyton Manning pass that he returned 39 yards for a touchdown, giving the Patriots a 21-3 advantage with 9:25 remaining in the second quarter ... Knocked down a pass intended for Reggie Wayne in the third quarter.
2005 Season
2005 (15/15/0/1): Led the team with 18 passes defensed … Tied for the team lead with a career-high three interceptions. Oakland (9/8): Started at cornerback and tallied three tackles (2 solo) in the Patriots’ 30-20 victory over the Raiders on opening night … Stopped Lamont Jordan for a 1-yard loss on a screen pass in the fourth quarter. at Carolina (9/18): Started at cornerback and registered two passes defensed … Broke up a pass intended for DeShaun Foster in the second quarter … Batted down a pass intended for Keary Colbert along the sideline in the third quarter. at Pittsburgh (9/25): Collected three tackles (2 solo) and a pass defensed in the Patriots’ 23-20 victory over the Steelers … Batted down a pass intended for Antwaan Randle El at the goalline on third-and-15 in the first quarter. San Diego (10/2): Collected three tackles (1 solo) … Teamed with Willie McGinest to stop Darren Sproles for a 1-yard loss on a screen pass in the third quarter. at Atlanta (10/9): Registered two solo tackles and three passes defensed in the Patriots’ 31-28 win over the Falcons … Broke up a pass intended for Roddy White in the second quarter. at Denver (10/16): Tallied four tackles (2 solo) and a pass defensed … Broke up a pass intended for Jeb Putzier with a blistering hit in the first quarter. Buffalo (10/30): Notched six solo tackles, two passes defensed, including an interception in the Patriots’ 21-16 victory over the Bills on Sunday Night Football … Made a diving interception on a Kelly Holcomb pass intended for Eric Moulds in the third quarter … Batted down a pass intended for Josh Reed on third-and-three in the fourth quarter. Indianapolis (11/7): Recorded eight tackles (5 solo) and two passes defensed … Batted down a pass intended for Marvin Harrison along the sideline in the first quarter … Knocked down a deep ball in the end zone that was intended for Harrison in the third quarter … Partnered with Willie McGinest to stonewall Edgerrin James for a 2-yard loss on a rush off right end in the third quarter. at Miami (11/13): Notched five tackles (4 solo) and two passes defensed in the Patriots’ 23-16 road victory over the Dolphins … Deflected a pass intended for Marty Booker in the third quarter … Batted down a pass intended for Chris Chambers in the third quarter … Provided tight coverage on Chris Chambers and forced an incompletion on the Dolphins’ final fourth down chance in the fourth quarter. New Orleans (11/20): Notched four tackles (3 solo) in the Patriots’ 24-17 win over the Saints. at Kansas City (11/27): Registered four solo tackles. N.Y. Jets (12/4): Collected a tackle in the Patriots’ 16-3 victory over the Jets. at Buffalo (12/11): Collected three solo tackles and two passes defensed, including an interception in the Patriots’ commanding 35-7 road victory over the Bills … Batted down a pass intended for Roscoe Parrish in the first quarter … Halted a potential Bills’ scoring drive by intercepting a JP Losman pass intended for Sam Aiken in the end zone. Tampa Bay (12/17): Recorded seven solo tackles and a pass defensed in the Patriots’ 28-0 shutout victory over the Buccaneers … Batted down a pass intended for Joey Galloway in the second quarter. at N.Y. Jets (12/26): Started at cornerback and collected an interception and two passes defensed in the Patriots’ 31-21 victory over the Jets … Left the game in the first quarter with an injury … Batted down a thirddown pass intended for Jerricho Cotchery in the first quarter … Picked off a pass intended for Brooks Bollinger and returned the interception 15 yards in the first quarter. Miami (1/1): Inactive.
2005 Postseason (2/2/0/0): Jacksonville (1/7): Registered four solo tackles, an interception and three passes defensed in the Patriots' 28-3 AFC Wild Card victory over the Jaguars ... Batted down a pass intended for Ernest Wilford on third-and-nine in the first quarter ... Deflected a third-and-10 pass intended for Jimmy Smith in the third quarter ... Sealed the game when he picked off a Byron Leftwich pass and returned the interception 73 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. at Denver (1/14): Notched three solo tackles, an interception and three passes defensed ... Provided tight coverage on Ashlie Lelie on a fourth-and-one fade route on the goalline in the second quarter ... Intercepted a Jake Plummer pass intended for Lelie with a tip-toe grab along the sideline in the second quarter ... Knocked down a pass intended for Lelie in the second quarter ... Batted down another pass intended for Lelie in the third quarter.
2004 season
Indianapolis (9/9): Saw extensive action in the secondary and notched three solo tackles and a pass defensed in the Patriots' 27-24 victory over the Colts ... Batted down a Peyton Manning pass intended for Reggie Wayne in the second quarter. at Arizona (9/19): Collected two solo tackles and a pass defensed in the Patriots' 23-12 victory over the Cardinals ... Broke up a Josh McCown pass intended for Karl Williams in the fourth quarter. at Buffalo (10/3): Saw action as the fifth defensive back in the Patriots' 31-17 victory over the Bills. Miami (10/10): Started at cornerback and tallied four solo tackles, a pass defensed and a forced fumble in the Patriots' 24-10 victory over the Dolphins ... Batted down a deep ball intended for Marty Booker in the second quarter. Seattle (10/17): Saw significant action at cornerback in the Patriots' 30-20 victory over the Seahawks ... Stopped Mack Strong for a 2-yard loss on a screen pass late in the fourth quarter. N.Y. Jets (10/24): Started at cornerback and notched three solo tackles, two passes defensed and a forced fumble in the Patriots' 13-7 win over the Jets ... Forced Justin McCareins to fumble in the first quarter, but the loose ball was recovered by the Jets ... Batted down a pass intended for Justin McCareins in the third quarter ... Knocked down another pass intended for Justin McCareins in the fourth quarter. at Pittsburgh (10/31): Made his second consecutive start at cornerback and collected three solo tackles against the Steelers ... Forced Antwaan Randle-El to fumble in the second quarter, but the ball rolled out of bounds. at St. Louis (11/7): Started at cornerback and tallied a solo tackle in the Patriots' 40-22 road win against the Rams. Buffalo (11/14): Dressed but did not play in the Patriots' commanding 29-6 victory over the Bills. at Kansas City (11/22): Collected four solo tackles and two passes defensed in the Patriots' 27-19 Monday Night victory over the Chiefs ... Tipped a pass intended for Eddie Kennison down the right sideline in the second quarter ... Batted down a Green pass intended for Kennison during the Chiefs final drive of the game. Baltimore (11/28): Inactive. at Cleveland (12/5): Inactive. Cincinnati (12/12): Registered a solo tackle and three passes defensed, including an interception return for a touchdown in the Patriots' AFC East clinching 35-28 victory over the Bengals ... Knocked down a Carson Palmer pass intended Chad Johnson in the first quarter ... Picked off a Carson Palmer pass intended for T.J. Houshmandzadeh and scampered down the sideline for a 34-yard interception return for a touchdown in the second quarter ... Batted down a pass intended for Tony Stewart in the end zone during the third quarter. at Miami (12/20): Collected five solo tackles and a pass defensed ... Knocked down an A.J. Feeley pass intended for Marty Booker in the second quarter ... Teamed with Willie McGinest to stop Sammy Morris for no gain on a rush in the fourth quarter. at N.Y. Jets (12/26): Registered five solo tackles in the Patriots' 23-7 victory over the Jets ... Stopped Justin McCareins short of the first down on a fourth-and-six play in the fourth quarter. San Francisco (1/2): Started at cornerback and collected three tackles and a pass defensed in the Patriots' 21-7 victory over the 49ers ... Batted down a Ken Dorsey pass intended for Curtis Conway on third-and-five in the first quarter.
2004 Postseason (2/2/0/0): Indianapolis (1/16): Started at cornerback and collected three solo tackles in the Patriots' 20-3 victory over the Colts. at Pittsburgh (1/23): Recorded four tackles and four passes defensed in the Patriots' 41-27 AFC Championship victory over the Steelers ... Deflected a Ben Roethlisberger pass that was then picked off by Eugene Wilson in the first quarter ... Used a corner blitz to stop Duce Staley for no gain on a rush up the middle in the first quarter ... Batted down a Roethlisberger pass intended for Plaxico Burress in the second quarter ... Broke up a Roethlisberger pass intended for Burress in the third quarter ... Deflected a Roethlisberger pass intended for Hines Ward in the third quarter ... Knocked down another pass intended for Burress in the end zone during the fourth quarter.
2003 Season
2003 (16/1, 3/0): Played in all 16 games at cornerback with one starting assignment … Made his NFL debut at Buffalo (9/7) … Named NFL Rookie of the Week for his performance against the N.Y. Jets (9/21). N.Y. Jets (9/21): Named NFL Rookie of the Week for his performance against the Jets … Registered his first career interception when he picked off Vinny Testaverde and returned it 55 yards for the game-winning touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter … It was the first time a Patriots rookie returned an interception for a touchdown since Oct. 17, 1999 when Andy Katzenmoyer picked off a Dan Marino pass and scampered 57 yards. Tennessee (10/5): Tallied six solo tackles, his second highest tackle total of the season. Miami (10/19): Made his first career start and made two solo tackles … Deflected a Jay Fiedler deep pass that was intended for Derrius Thompson … The tipped ball was then intercepted by Eugene Wilson. Denver (11/3): Sealed the Patriots’ fifth straight victory by intercepting a Danny Kanell pass intended for Ashley Lelie with seven seconds remaining in the game. Indianapolis (11/30): Registered a career-high eight tackles (7 solo) … Made a nice tackle to keep Edgerrin James out of the end zone on a seven-yard run, setting up the Patriots’ goal line stand late in the fourth quarter. Tennessee (1/10): Collected two solo tackles in the Patriots’ 17-14 divisional playoff victory over the Titans … Sealed the victory by breaking up a pass intended for Drew Bennett on fourth-and-12 with 1:38 remaining in the game. Indianapolis (1/18): Tallied three solo tackles and a pass defense in the Patriots’ 24-14 AFC Championship victory over the Colts. Carolina (2/1): Saw action as the fifth defensive back in the Patriots’ 32-29 Super Bowl XXXVIII victory over the Panthers.
Honors and Awards
2006
AFC Defensive Player of the Week - Week 12
College
Samuel recorded 127 tackles (102 solos) with eight interceptions, 38 pass deflections, 63 punt returns for 673 yards (10.8 avg) and 10 kickoff returns for 168 yards (16.8 avg.) … His 38 pass break-ups broke the old school career-record of 34, set by Greg Atterberry (1981-85) … Moved from free safety to cornerback after his freshman year and immediately found a home … Provided solid leadership in the secondary as well as on special teams where he was chosen by his teammates to be the captain. 2002 (Senior): All-Mid American Conference first-team selection … Started all year at weak-side cornerback, recording 48 tackles (42 solos) with three stops for losses of 5 yards … Deflected a team-high 15 passes and also led the squad with four interceptions for 26 yards in returns … Caused and recovered a fumble … Returned 19 punts for 233 yards (12.3 avg). 2001 (Junior): All-Independent first-team selection by Football News … Started all year at left cornerback, making 41 tackles (31 solos) with two interceptions and a team-high 13 deflected passes … Recovered two fumbles and blocked a kick … Returned 19 punts for 165 yards (8.7 avg). 2000 (Sophomore): Played in every game, starting the season opener vs. Georgia Tech at strong-side cornerback … Recorded 26 tackles (23 solos) with two interceptions and six pass deflections … Totaled 25 punt returns for 275 yards (11.0 avg.) and 10 kickoff returns for 168 yards (16.8 avg). 1999 (Freshman): Played in every game at free safety, earning his first collegiate start vs. Eastern Illinois … Recorded 12 tackles (6 solos) with four pass deflections and a forced fumble.
Extra Points
Asante's father gave him his first name, which means "Thank You" in Swahili.
Asante was a jack-of-all-trades for his high school team, playing at defensive back and quarterback, as well as handling the kicking and punting chores.
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