Any buzz that the Detroit Lions are interested in pursuing a deal for Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel has been swiftly muted and unplugged.
It apparently rates a zero on the noise meter.
“Not a chance,” a league source with knowledge of the Lions’ interest said Thursday.
The Lions have been seeking to upgrade the cornerback position since the end of the season, and Samuel’s name has been mentioned prominently in potential trade talks.
There also was talk a year ago about Lions general manager Martin Mayhew pursuing a possible trade for Samuel.
At the annual NFL meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., earlier this week, Eagles GM Howie Roseman told reporters that cornerback is a position of strength, leading to speculation that Samuel will be on the trading block.
Samuel’s age (31) and salary ($9.5 million in 2012) would be stumbling blocks for any deal involving the Lions. It has been reported that Samuel is willing to restructure his contract to lower his salary-cap number for 2012, thus making it easier for a team to acquire him.
Mayhew has built the roster through any means possible — the draft, trades, free agents and waiver claims.
However, Samuel does not fit the mold for the way Mayhew has done business. Almost exclusively, he has acquired relatively young players who are coming up on their second contracts.
Guard Rob Sims, tight end Tony Scheffler and cornerback Chris Houston all were in that category. There have been exceptions, such as wide receiver Nate Burleson, defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch and backup quarterback Shaun Hill.
The Lions lost starting cornerback Eric Wright to free agency, leaving one void in the secondary. Wright signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after playing for the Lions last season on a one-year contract.
Samuel spent five seasons with the Patriots and the last four in Philly. He has 45 career interceptions, but only three in 2011.
