Update:
Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer writes the Panthers are unlikely to be sign recently released CB Asante Samuel, despite his connection to defensive coordinator Sean McDermott.
Instead, Person believes the Panthers are more likely to try to re-sign CB Captain Munnerlyn who is considerably younger than Samuel. Person refers to Samuel as an “emergency fall-back option at best.”
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The news of the day came from the Atlanta Falcons when it was first reported by Alex Marvez of Fox Sports that they had released four-time Pro Bowler CB Asante Samuel and LB Stephen Nicholas.
Atlanta obviously could use the cap space, and Samuel is coming off of an underwhelming 2013 season and would have counted $5.25 million against the team’s 2014 salary cap.
Brent Sobleski of USA Today mentions that Samuel could catch on with a “playoff-caliber team” such as the Broncos, Packers, Bears or Patriots.
One other interesting option could be the Carolina Panthers, as Sobleski points to the fact that he played for their current defensive coordinator Sean McDermott while in Philadelphia.
Sobleski adds that Samuel could be forced to sign a short-term contract now that he’s an unemployed veteran cornerback coming off of a down year.
Samuel, 33, produced 30 tackles, one interception and a forced fumble over the course of 11 games. He was rated as the No. 56 cornerback in the league this season, according to Pro Football Focus.
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