"Hush up; it’s different over here" - Matthew Judon snaps back at Asante Samuel over Lamar Jackson-Patriots trade
Former Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel took to Twitter to warn Lamar Jackson about heading to his former home. Even though the New England Patriots are done pursuing Jackson, it seems the saga between them is not over.
Current Patriots linebacker Matthew Judon, who was Jackson's teammate during the quarterback's first three years, snapped back, implying that the team culture in Foxborough is different now.
Earlier this month, Jackson requested a trade out of the Baltimore Ravens, citing his desire to receive a big contract. The franchise tag he subsequently received allowed him to talk to other teams, but he hasn't come close to negotiating a deal yet.
The closest Jackson has come is with the Patriots, but recently, New England instead chose to recommit to Mac Jones, splurging on offensive weapons like JuJu-Smith Schuster and Mike Gesick. If a former franchise cornerstone is to be believed, it was to be expected.
Samuel tweeted:
"Lamar Jackson, my brother. Trust me you don't want to play for Bellchick."
Lamar Jackson, my brother trust me you don’t want to play for Belichick
However, linebacker Judon snapped back:
"Hush up. It’s different over here."
Hush up. It’s different over here twitter.com/pick_six22/sta…
Who is Asante Samuel, and what is he best known for?
Asante Samuel was chosen 120th overall by the New England Patriots in 2003. He barely played in his rookie season but did win a Super Bowl. The next year, he initially rode the bench but was elevated to a starting spot after injuries to Tyrone Poole and Ty Law.
Samuel would hold the starter spot for most of his career. In 2006, he tied the franchise single-game record (3) against the Chicago Bears. He would end that regular season tied for most interceptions with Champ Bailey (10).
Besides the Patriots, he also played for the Philadelphia Eagles, where he made three straight Pro Bowls, and the Atlanta Falcons. Samuel's most memorable season came in 2007, when the Patriots franchise-tagged him. He initially held out, wanting a better contract, but just as the preseason wound down, he agreed to the franchise tag.
Once again, Samuel played a key role in the Patriots' undefeated season, picking off six passes, one of them returned for a touchdown. However, during Super Bowl XLII, with New England up 14-10, he dropped what would have been a game-sealing interception off New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
On the next play, Manning connected on the "Helmet Catch": a 32-yard heave that wideout David Tyree caught by pinning the ball to his helmet. Two plays after that, Manning found Plaxico Burress for the game-winning touchdown.
Samuel has a son, Asante Jr., who plays cornerback for the Los Angeles Chargers.