Asante Samuel wants to get paid like one of the top corners in the NFL.

The Providence Journal / Mary Murphy Mary Murphy

The start of training camp is 19 days away, but there’s another date on the calendar that’s even closer for the New England Patriots and cornerback Asante Samuel: July 16.

Four p.m. next Monday is the deadline for the team and Samuel to come to terms on a multiyear contract; otherwise, Samuel can play out this season on the one-year, $7.79-million franchise tender, or choose to hold out.

The deadline usually is July 15, but because that is a Sunday this year and the NFL does not accept transactions made on the weekends, the date was pushed back.

But whether the extra 24 hours makes a difference for New England and Samuel is unknown — the two sides have not met for some time, and when they did, they were not close to coming to an agreement.

“The clock is ticking and we’re hoping we can get back to the drawing board, if you will, but nothing’s happened yet,” agent Jay Bianco said this week. “There’s been phone messages to see if we can open dialogue.”

Bianco’s partner, Alonzo Shavers, has been in contact with the Patriots’ brass in recent weeks, trying to reopen the lines of communication. Bianco noted that many of the team officials have been on vacation recently, which prevented the sides from getting to the bargaining table.

Shavers is with Samuel at his Florida home, where he has been working out.

Bianco said Samuel is “doing fine. He’s in great shape.”

Coming off a career-best year: a league-high 10 interceptions, plus two more in the postseason, as well as 65 tackles and a forced fumble, Samuel wants to get paid like one of the best corners in the NFL.

But while Samuel was one of the top players at his position last season — both of his picks in the playoffs were returned for touchdowns — he was not selected for the Pro Bowl, and his contract year was far and away the best of his four-year career. Samuel totaled six interceptions in his first three seasons.

Last month, Samuel told the Boston Globe that he was not happy with the way he was being treated by the team and stated that he might hold out until the 10th week of the year, the last date players can get credit for an accrued season.

But doing that means Samuel will also leave more than half of that $7.79 million — nearly $5 million — on the table. The former fourth-round pick out of Central Florida has made about $2 million in his career.

According to Bianco, there has been no further discussion between the agents and Samuel since the player said that he would hold out. Now, the 26-year-old Florida native is waiting for the deal to get done, Bianco said.

Samuel’s deal is just one of the tasks New England has to take care of — there is also the matter of signing its draft picks in time to get them into training camp.

While Pats players have said publicly that they would like to have Samuel back but would move on without him — a frequent refrain with any New England player in a similar situation — his absence could be the one weakness on an otherwise strong roster.

Without Samuel, third-year corner Ellis Hobbs and either veteran Chad Scott, Randall Gay (who is coming off a second straight season ended by injury), free agent signee Tory James or rookie Brandon Meriweather would be lined up at the position.

Several corners have signed contracts this offseason, giving a gauge of where Samuel might fit in. San Francisco signed former Buffalo corner Nate Clements to the richest deal for a defensive back in league history, 8-years, $80 million, with $22 million guaranteed. But it is highly unlikely Clements will see the final year, making it more like a 7-year, $64-million contract.

Clements was named to the Pro Bowl once, in 2004, but is a physical presence who has never missed a game in his six-year career. He had 23 interceptions and 13 forced fumbles with the Bills.

Dre Bly signed a five-year extension with Denver for $33 million ($16 million guaranteed) after being traded to the Broncos from the Lions. The two-time Pro Bowler has 33 career picks.

A couple of weeks ago, Chicago agreed to an extension with Nathan Vasher. Vasher, who had one year remaining on his rookie contract, got five years and $28 million from the defending NFC champions, with $14 million guaranteed.

Vasher has been to one Pro Bowl.

smanza@projo.com