Samuel Playing Patriot Games

Unhappy that the Patriots have given him the "franchise" tag for 2007, a one-year deal worth $7.78 million, cornerback Asante Samuel has threatened not to show up for work until Week 10 of the 17-week NFL season.  With 10 picks last year, he feels he deserves a more lucrative, long-term contract.

"The way they're treating me is just wrong," said Samuel, who is dredging up memories of Deion Branch's holdout last year.  Branch, a Super Bowl MVP, ended up getting traded to the Seattle Seahawks for a third-round pick. (More NFL stories.)