Official: Pats tag Cassel! (1 Viewer)

[TheBradyBunch]

Boston.com

Patriots franchise Cassel

Email|Link|Comments (0) Posted by Chad Finn, Globe Staff February 5, 2009 05:02 PM

The New England Patriots announced today that they have utilized their 2009 franchise designation on quarterback Matt Cassel.

He becomes the first offensive player and just the fourth Patriot to be franchised by the team, joining Adam Vinatieri (2002 and 2005), Tebucky Jones (2003) and Asante Samuel (2007).

"Matt has been a pleasure to coach his entire career and last season in particular, when his years of hard work and commitment resulted in a most impressive performance," said Patriots coach Bill Belichick in a press release. "We look forward to working with Matt again in 2009."

 

[teamroc]

That was a given. Trade talks should heat up before the draft.

 

[timschochet]

Interesting decision. It suggests several possibilities:

1. Perhaps Brady is not ready to come back healthy at the start of next year? We keep hearing conflicting reports on this.

2. The staff is not as enamored with O'Connell as some sports writers would have us believe?

3. Perhaps they're seeking to eventually trade Cassel or- gasp- Brady?

Of course this is all conjecture. They might just be doing this because Cassel proved to be a good QB and you keep your good QBs around. But it's an awful lot of money to pay if Matt is to be nothing more than an insurance policy.

 

[PatsWillWin]

Interesting decision. It suggests several possibilities:1. Perhaps Brady is not ready to come back healthy at the start of next year? We keep hearing conflicting reports on this.2. The staff is not as enamored with O'Connell as some sports writers would have us believe?3. Perhaps they're seeking to eventually trade Cassel or- gasp- Brady?Of course this is all conjecture. They might just be doing this because Cassel proved to be a good QB and you keep your good QBs around. But it's an awful lot of money to pay if Matt is to be nothing more than an insurance policy.

All this means it the Patriots aren't willing to let a valuable asset walk away without getting nothing.

 

[TheBradyBunch]

That was a given. Trade talks should heat up before the draft.

Definitely a given, but there was a lot of talk today regarding the Patriots past usage of the tag in trying to figure out how early they'd tag Cassel.

# Adam Vinatieri (2002) -- Designated franchise player on Feb. 21, 2002 (deadline day). Franchise designation removed on March 15, 2002 when he signed a multi-year contract.# Tebucky Jones (2003) -- Designated franchise player on Feb. 20, 2003 (deadline day). Traded to New Orleans on April 14, 2003.# Adam Vinatieri (2005) -- Designated franchise player on Feb. 22, 2005 (deadline day). Played the 2005 season under a 1-year franchise player contract.# Asante Samuel (2007) -- Designated franchise player on Feb. 16, 2007 (deadline was Feb. 22, 2007). Played the 2007 season under a 1-year franchise player contract.

The Patriots only tag him this early because they want to get a deal done asap. Talk of waiting on Brady's health is grossly overrated, imo, as it relates to the Patriots motives for franchising Cassel.

 

[Ron_Mexico]

Interesting decision. It suggests several possibilities:1. Perhaps Brady is not ready to come back healthy at the start of next year? We keep hearing conflicting reports on this.2. The staff is not as enamored with O'Connell as some sports writers would have us believe?3. Perhaps they're seeking to eventually trade Cassel or- gasp- Brady?Of course this is all conjecture. They might just be doing this because Cassel proved to be a good QB and you keep your good QBs around. But it's an awful lot of money to pay if Matt is to be nothing more than an insurance policy.

All this means it the Patriots aren't willing to let a valuable asset walk away without getting nothing.

Correct. This was a foregone conclusion.The next "interesting" move will be the move after this one.

 

[bcr8f]

That was a given. Trade talks should heat up before the draft.

I hope they don't. I hope they're stuck with him at $14 million.

 

[Ron_Mexico]

That was a given. Trade talks should heat up before the draft.

I hope they don't. I hope they're stuck with him at $14 million.

I think there will be a bidding war for him,which is why the Pats acted right away in tendering him.Now his agent can immediately start negotiating withother teams.He will probably be dealt for a tidy sum, imo.

 

[The Jacket]

He owes Bernard Pollard lunch.

 

[David Yudkin]

The Patriots are the most caclulated team in the NFL. They have a master plan and will be executing it. They either want to keep Cassel or trade him and will get what they want out of it. I highly doubt they would be "stuck" with him. IMO, if they wanted to trade him they already have that scenario mapped out and trade partner(s) lined up.

 

[Da Guru]

Bradys injury opened the door for a nice payday for Cassell.

 

[crnerblitz]

That was a given. Trade talks should heat up before the draft.

I hope they don't. I hope they're stuck with him at $14 million.

I think there will be a bidding war for him,which is why the Pats acted right away in tendering him.Now his agent can immediately start negotiating withother teams.He will probably be dealt for a tidy sum, imo.

I'm not so sure of that. True, there is always a fish that will bite a bare hook. This hook is monstrously large though. Any team that would wish to sign Cassel will have to negotiate a huge payday for him. He is due to make $14 Mill this year. He wont want to give a penny of that up. On top of that $14 million signing bonus He is going to most likely demand a salary along the lines of one of the top 5 QB's, perhaps even more. So probably a 5 year deal $60 million dollar deal with over 40 million of it guarenteed. I could be way off here but I think i'm ballpark. The Patriots will no doubt also take a hard line. 2 Firsts or you can pound sand. When you total the final cost of aquiring an unproven player with little game experience and then hope that His brief success with TWO Pro Bowl wide receivers will translate into being a Franchise Player for years to come, well... IMHO I think most teams will sniff around but in the end choose to wait a year, thus only having to pay half of the Kings ransom.

 

[David Yudkin]

That was a given. Trade talks should heat up before the draft.

I hope they don't. I hope they're stuck with him at $14 million.

I think there will be a bidding war for him,which is why the Pats acted right away in tendering him.Now his agent can immediately start negotiating withother teams.He will probably be dealt for a tidy sum, imo.

I'm not so sure of that. True, there is always a fish that will bite a bare hook. This hook is monstrously large though. Any team that would wish to sign Cassel will have to negotiate a huge payday for him. He is due to make $14 Mill this year. He wont want to give a penny of that up. On top of that $14 million signing bonus He is going to most likely demand a salary along the lines of one of the top 5 QB's, perhaps even more. So probably a 5 year deal $60 million dollar deal with over 40 million of it guarenteed. I could be way off here but I think i'm ballpark. The Patriots will no doubt also take a hard line. 2 Firsts or you can pound sand. When you total the final cost of aquiring an unproven player with little game experience and then hope that His brief success with TWO Pro Bowl wide receivers will translate into being a Franchise Player for years to come, well... IMHO I think most teams will sniff around but in the end choose to wait a year, thus only having to pay half of the Kings ransom.

Cassel will want the same first year payout as the franchise tag, so in terms of signing bonus and first year salary it will have to be $14.5 million or better. He won't ask for Top 5 money because he clearly won't get it. He's nowhere even close to Brady, Manning, et al.I suspect the 5 years, $50M+ range might be accurate but something like $12-14M guaranteed with something like $7.5 million a season in salary.As for what the Pats will want/get. They would likely prefer an established position player a couple of picks, like a 2nd and 3rd or a 2nd and 4th. They won't want a Top 5 pick because they won't want to pat that much for an unproven commodity that will potentially take time to develop. It's not their style to seek out early, early picks.

 

[munchkin]

Since we are all working on conjecture here and we have pretty much exhausted the Pioli/Patriots connection how about we look at the Reese/Tennessee connection?

If the Titans are going to spend the money to sign a QB would they take the reigns away from Collins and give them to Cassel? I know there isn't much love between the two organizations on the field but could the front office's put on their Happy Faces and work something out. Again, I am not saying this is a strong possibility even but is it a possibility?

 

[David Yudkin]

Since we are all working on conjecture here and we have pretty much exhausted the Pioli/Patriots connection how about we look at the Reese/Tennessee connection? If the Titans are going to spend the money to sign a QB would they take the reigns away from Collins and give them to Cassel? I know there isn't much love between the two organizations on the field but could the front office's put on their Happy Faces and work something out. Again, I am not saying this is a strong possibility even but is it a possibility?

That would be a ton of coin going to Cassel and Young.

 

[tombonneau]

Since we are all working on conjecture here and we have pretty much exhausted the Pioli/Patriots connection how about we look at the Reese/Tennessee connection? If the Titans are going to spend the money to sign a QB would they take the reigns away from Collins and give them to Cassel? I know there isn't much love between the two organizations on the field but could the front office's put on their Happy Faces and work something out. Again, I am not saying this is a strong possibility even but is it a possibility?

That would be a ton of coin going to Cassel and Young.

How much money is Young costing 2009 and forward? All the buzz I was hearing is they might re-sign Collins and sell Young for $0.20 on the $1 like they did with Pac-Man. So trade compensation for Cassel aside, if they planned to go that route salary cap-wise with Collins & Young, why not with Cassel? I think the sticking point for them would be the draft picks, not the QB salary cap.ETA: I don't think the Titans are a possibility. I'd expect the Vikings & Bucs to be serious contenders, offering up their 2009 first (low- to mid-20s) and a 2010 conditional.

 

[tones]

The will look to trade him to an NFC team first: Detroit, Minnesota, San Fran (he is a California guy), Tampa, Carolina, maybe St. Louis or Seattle if they think their QB is done. I would not rule out an AFC team if the deal is better.

I keep reading up on and listen to scouts about the QBs in the draft are any of them ready? NO and will they be ready anytime soon? What will the cost a team if taken #1 or #3 in the draft at LEAST what you would pay Cassel if not more! There are a couple of other QBs that might find a home elsewhere Leftwich and Andersen. Minnesota is rumored to be interested in both. So I would keep an eye on where they end up.

 

[Boston]

Since we are all working on conjecture here and we have pretty much exhausted the Pioli/Patriots connection how about we look at the Reese/Tennessee connection? If the Titans are going to spend the money to sign a QB would they take the reigns away from Collins and give them to Cassel? I know there isn't much love between the two organizations on the field but could the front office's put on their Happy Faces and work something out. Again, I am not saying this is a strong possibility even but is it a possibility?

That would be a ton of coin going to Cassel and Young.

Also, I don't see the Pats trying to help an AFC team that is already good.

 

[David Yudkin]

Since we are all working on conjecture here and we have pretty much exhausted the Pioli/Patriots connection how about we look at the Reese/Tennessee connection? If the Titans are going to spend the money to sign a QB would they take the reigns away from Collins and give them to Cassel? I know there isn't much love between the two organizations on the field but could the front office's put on their Happy Faces and work something out. Again, I am not saying this is a strong possibility even but is it a possibility?

That would be a ton of coin going to Cassel and Young.

How much money is Young costing 2009 and forward? All the buzz I was hearing is they might re-sign Collins and sell Young for $0.20 on the $1 like they did with Pac-Man. So trade compensation for Cassel aside, if they planned to go that route salary cap-wise with Collins & Young, why not with Cassel? I think the sticking point for them would be the draft picks, not the QB salary cap.ETA: I don't think the Titans are a possibility. I'd expect the Vikings & Bucs to be serious contenders, offering up their 2009 first (low- to mid-20s) and a 2010 conditional.

7/27/2006: Signed a six-year, $58 million contract. The deal contained $25.74 million guaranteed, including a $2.64 million signing bonus and a $12.3 million option bonus in the second year. 2009: $2.16 million, 2010: $7.5 million, 2011: $8.5 million. Not sure what they paid out or what the cap hit would be to cut him.As for the Pats, with Cassel now franchised they are now less than $4 million under the salary cap and don't even have a full team signed (and obviously no rookies yet either). For those not fully aware, teams cannot be over the cap when signing free agents, so this will definitely limit their roster options until they move Cassel. If they don't trafe him, they will have to renegotiatie a lot of contracts to make more room, and I am not sure what the impact of having no more salary cap will have on the renegotiating/re-signing process.

 

[Da Guru]

I would not be upset if the Lions traded their second #1 for Cassell.

I would take Cassell over Stafford right now.

 

[SierraKiloBravo]

I would not be upset if the Lions traded their second #1 for Cassell.I would take Cassell over Stafford right now.

Cassel, on the other hand, would be livid ... while Stafford is jumping up and down and thanking the football gods for his luck.

 

[Jeff Tefertiller]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patr...cassel_ana.html

The Patriots’ decision to place the non-exclusive franchise tag on quarterback Matt Cassel today – on the first possible day – creates a larger negotiating window with teams that might be interested in acquiring Cassel in a trade.

The Patriots had until Feb. 19 to make the decision.

The Patriots could also give Cassel’s representatives permission to speak with interested teams about a possible contract – a key piece because any trade for Cassel would have to include a long-term contract extension.

With those pieces needed to fall into place – working out trade compensation, as well as Cassel’s representatives working out a new deal – the team might be thinking that "the more time, the better."

It also allows more time for a potential market for Cassel to take shape.

This is the time of year when most clubs are finalizing their free-agent and offseason strategy, the calm before the storm. The official start of free agency is Feb. 27.

 

[munchkin]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patr...cassel_ana.html

The Patriots’ decision to place the non-exclusive franchise tag on quarterback Matt Cassel today – on the first possible day – creates a larger negotiating window with teams that might be interested in acquiring Cassel in a trade.

The Patriots had until Feb. 19 to make the decision.

The Patriots could also give Cassel’s representatives permission to speak with interested teams about a possible contract – a key piece because any trade for Cassel would have to include a long-term contract extension.

With those pieces needed to fall into place – working out trade compensation, as well as Cassel’s representatives working out a new deal – the team might be thinking that "the more time, the better."

It also allows more time for a potential market for Cassel to take shape.

This is the time of year when most clubs are finalizing their free-agent and offseason strategy, the calm before the storm. The official start of free agency is Feb. 27.

So Jeff/David do you believe there is a REASONABLE chance this gets done before the start of free agency? If, as David stated, the team is 4 mil under the cap do they feel even moderately (and I hate to suggest this) pressured to make a trade sooner rather than later? Is there an advantage for a perspective team to get this behind them also?

 

[Ditkaless Wonders]

Presume Brady can pass a physical. What would he be worth to Detroit or Kansas City? How many first round choices would he be worth? Would the pats be better off with Cassel and that comepensation, or Brady and the Cassel compensation, or keeping both?

 

[bostonfred]

I think you guys are writing off the possibility of the Pats keeping Cassel way too soon.

As much as I hate to say it, the Patriots' window is closing. They still have a very good defensive line, but it's no longer the best in the NFL. They still have Belichick, but we don't know how long he's planning on staying, and the brain drain in the organization has been substantial. Moss has been a fantastic addition, but he's aging.

Brady may come back from injury, but even if he does, it's going to be tough for him to be 100%. He's got to overcome the Carson Palmer factor AND the Tony Romo in love factor. That's a lot to overcome in one offseason.

Another thing to consider - there's still a real possibility that the NFL has an uncapped year. Maybe Kraft, one of the more influential owners, knows that and knows that he could afford to keep both of them if that came up. Maybe he wants to try to squeeze another (or more than one) championship out of this window, and is willing to pay to do it.

Even if we assume that the Pats are trying to keep this team going long term, remember that they've lost Pioli, and there's a cap on how long Belichick will stay. Are they going to be looking for draft picks, or trying to win now? I think Yudkin's absolutely right that they'd prefer a proven defensive player to an early draft pick. Trading away their top backup QB and receiving an early pick back is basically saying, we sure hope things work out with Brady and this first rounder early in the season, or we may get squozen out of a playoff spot once again. Remember, this is one of the few teams ever to miss the playoffs with 11 wins. Do they want to risk missing the playoffs again while they wait for Brady to shake off the rust and a first round pick to develop?

That's not to say that they don't want to trade Cassel. It's entirely possible that they do. But it's not the foregone conclusion I think people are making it out to be. The Pats have very real reasons to consider keeping both QBs for one year, especially when the only cap ramifications for keeping Cassel appear to be the (admittedly huge) one-year salary cap hit.

 

[bostonfred]

Presume Brady can pass a physical. What would he be worth to Detroit or Kansas City? How many first round choices would he be worth? Would the pats be better off with Cassel and that comepensation, or Brady and the Cassel compensation, or keeping both?

A lot of people have called in to Boston sports radio asking the same question. The answer has generally been (and I agree with this) that you just plain don't trade a Hall of Fame quarterback in the middle of his career, while you're in the middle of a dynastic run, no matter how much you'd get back for him.

 

[bostonfred]

He becomes the first offensive player and just the fourth Patriot to be franchised by the team, joining Adam Vinatieri (2002 and 2005), Tebucky Jones (2003) and Asante Samuel (2007).

lolOne of these kids is not like the others.

 

[bcr8f]

That was a given. Trade talks should heat up before the draft.

I hope they don't. I hope they're stuck with him at $14 million.

I think there will be a bidding war for him,which is why the Pats acted right away in tendering him.Now his agent can immediately start negotiating withother teams.He will probably be dealt for a tidy sum, imo.

Only if Randy Moss goes with him. He could be very well a one year wonder, in that case the Vikings should bid up for him.

 

[munchkin]

That was a given. Trade talks should heat up before the draft.

I hope they don't. I hope they're stuck with him at $14 million.

I think there will be a bidding war for him,which is why the Pats acted right away in tendering him.

Now his agent can immediately start negotiating with

other teams.

He will probably be dealt for a tidy sum, imo.

Only if Randy Moss goes with him. He could be very well a one year wonder, in that case the Vikings should bid up for him.

Ryan Grant certainly seems to be wearing that suit pretty well; hopefully Mike McCarthy isn't employing the same tailor!

 

[Holland Freeze]

Could Brady be done? He was seen at the station and may have gotten on the Leinart train you know the one where the primary interest becomes the side show/life style of the rich and famous than playing football.

 

[bcr8f]

That was a given. Trade talks should heat up before the draft.

I hope they don't. I hope they're stuck with him at $14 million.

I think there will be a bidding war for him,which is why the Pats acted right away in tendering him.

Now his agent can immediately start negotiating with

other teams.

He will probably be dealt for a tidy sum, imo.

Only if Randy Moss goes with him. He could be very well a one year wonder, in that case the Vikings should bid up for him.

Ryan Grant certainly seems to be wearing that suit pretty well; hopefully Mike McCarthy isn't employing the same tailor!

The problem wasn't Grant. It was the offensive line. After getting healthy he ran hard but the holes just weren't there. I hope they draft all o and defensive linemen.

 

[David Yudkin]

Could Brady be done? He was seen at the station and may have gotten on the Leinart train you know the one where the primary interest becomes the side show/life style of the rich and famous than playing football.

Brady just recently said he's playing until he's 40 years old.

 

[Avery]

Could Brady be done? He was seen at the station and may have gotten on the Leinart train you know the one where the primary interest becomes the side show/life style of the rich and famous than playing football.

Brady just recently said he's playing until he's 40 years old.

... and Selvin Young said he would break 2000 yards.Just sayin'...

 

[DropKick]

That was a given. Trade talks should heat up before the draft.

I hope they don't. I hope they're stuck with him at $14 million.

Can't the Packers use a QB?Better yet... trade Cassel to the Vikings. LOL at the Packer franchise afraid Favre would be a Viking.

 

[Sudoku_in_the_Bathtub]

Guy reeks of AJ Feeley Part II heading to a new system with new WR's.

Feel free to bump next year if he throws more TD's than INT's.

 

[PatsWillWin]

Could Brady be done? He was seen at the station and may have gotten on the Leinart train you know the one where the primary interest becomes the side show/life style of the rich and famous than playing football.

Brady just recently said he's playing until he's 40 years old.

... and Selvin Young said he would break 2000 yards.Just sayin'...

Great point.

 

[twitch]

I think you guys are writing off the possibility of the Pats keeping Cassel way too soon.

As much as I hate to say it, the Patriots' window is closing. They still have a very good defensive line, but it's no longer the best in the NFL. They still have Belichick, but we don't know how long he's planning on staying, and the brain drain in the organization has been substantial. Moss has been a fantastic addition, but he's aging.

Brady may come back from injury, but even if he does, it's going to be tough for him to be 100%. He's got to overcome the Carson Palmer factor AND the Tony Romo in love factor. That's a lot to overcome in one offseason.

Another thing to consider - there's still a real possibility that the NFL has an uncapped year. Maybe Kraft, one of the more influential owners, knows that and knows that he could afford to keep both of them if that came up. Maybe he wants to try to squeeze another (or more than one) championship out of this window, and is willing to pay to do it.

Even if we assume that the Pats are trying to keep this team going long term, remember that they've lost Pioli, and there's a cap on how long Belichick will stay. Are they going to be looking for draft picks, or trying to win now? I think Yudkin's absolutely right that they'd prefer a proven defensive player to an early draft pick. Trading away their top backup QB and receiving an early pick back is basically saying, we sure hope things work out with Brady and this first rounder early in the season, or we may get squozen out of a playoff spot once again. Remember, this is one of the few teams ever to miss the playoffs with 11 wins. Do they want to risk missing the playoffs again while they wait for Brady to shake off the rust and a first round pick to develop?

That's not to say that they don't want to trade Cassel. It's entirely possible that they do. But it's not the foregone conclusion I think people are making it out to be. The Pats have very real reasons to consider keeping both QBs for one year, especially when the only cap ramifications for keeping Cassel appear to be the (admittedly huge) one-year salary cap hit.

I just think the Pats need help on D. And if they can get a single #1 to help do that, or god forbid two 1s, which we both know is unlikely, then there's a high probability it will go a long way in helping this D continue its youthful surge. Because we also both know this team has a history of turning it's #1 picks into guys like Richard Seymour, Ty Law, Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren. Oh, and Jerrod Mayo of course. None of those guys were 'proven' before acquired, yet they stepped right and in and started getting the job done. And we both know this team doesnt "hope" a whole lot. They calculate. Obviously the big RISK in keeping Cassel and paying him nearly 15million smackers is that it may lead to them losing other players. Like our nose tackle. Or a franchise end. Or whoever else. But essentially youre right its a little early to start writing off possiblities. Problem is, some other team out there desperately in need of a QB doesnt think its too early, and their wheels are already spinning. I guarantee it.

 

[TLEF316]

Bradys injury opened the door for a nice payday for Cassell.

O RLY???

 

[munchkin]

Guy reeks of AJ Feeley Part II heading to a new system with new WR's.Feel free to bump next year if he throws more TD's than INT's.

Feeley was a third-stringer behind Donovan McNabb and Koy Detmer in Philadelphia when injuries to the top two guys in 2002 thrust him into game action. He responded with a very nice run, going 4-1 as a starter with six touchdowns, five interceptions and a 75.4 rating. Then, in 2003, he took a seat back on the bench.Do you think you can draw more from watching a player develop over an entire 16 game season than one who fills in for 5 games? I would say yes. Cassel's problems didn't revolve around ball security so I don't think he will be throwing more interceptions than TD"s. He is more likely to get sacked a bazillion times and end up in an infirmary. I don't think anyone is going to remember to bump this thread come the middle end of next season but there will be plenty of discussion on Cassel over the next 12 months.

 

[SeniorVBDStudent]

Guy reeks of AJ Feeley Part II heading to a new system with new WR's.

Feel free to bump next year if he throws more TD's than INT's.

Feeley was a third-stringer behind Donovan McNabb and Koy Detmer in Philadelphia when injuries to the top two guys in 2002 thrust him into game action. He responded with a very nice run, going 4-1 as a starter with six touchdowns, five interceptions and a 75.4 rating. Then, in 2003, he took a seat back on the bench.Do you think you can draw more from watching a player develop over an entire 16 game season than one who fills in for 5 games? I would say yes. Cassel's problems didn't revolve around ball security so I don't think he will be throwing more interceptions than TD"s. He is more likely to get sacked a bazillion times and end up in an infirmary.

I don't think anyone is going to remember to bump this thread come the middle end of next season but there will be plenty of discussion on Cassel over the next 12 months.

I agree, but Cassel playing elsewhere may be given more freedom to throw the deep ball than he was given in New England, which would moderate the sacks but increase the picks. Effectively, long ball accuracy is my only (remaining) criticism of Cassel (during preseason, I suggested he needed to sell insurance).

Everything else has become a positive. In particular, Cassel has shown the ability to make late game drives in pressure situations, and that is what really makes him valuable if I'm a GM considering Cassel...

 

[msommer]

Since we are all working on conjecture here and we have pretty much exhausted the Pioli/Patriots connection how about we look at the Reese/Tennessee connection? If the Titans are going to spend the money to sign a QB would they take the reigns away from Collins and give them to Cassel? I know there isn't much love between the two organizations on the field but could the front office's put on their Happy Faces and work something out. Again, I am not saying this is a strong possibility even but is it a possibility?

That would be a ton of coin going to Cassel and Young.

How much money is Young costing 2009 and forward? All the buzz I was hearing is they might re-sign Collins and sell Young for $0.20 on the $1 like they did with Pac-Man. So trade compensation for Cassel aside, if they planned to go that route salary cap-wise with Collins & Young, why not with Cassel? I think the sticking point for them would be the draft picks, not the QB salary cap.ETA: I don't think the Titans are a possibility. I'd expect the Vikings & Bucs to be serious contenders, offering up their 2009 first (low- to mid-20s) and a 2010 conditional.

7/27/2006: Signed a six-year, $58 million contract. The deal contained $25.74 million guaranteed, including a $2.64 million signing bonus and a $12.3 million option bonus in the second year. 2009: $2.16 million, 2010: $7.5 million, 2011: $8.5 million. Not sure what they paid out or what the cap hit would be to cut him.As for the Pats, with Cassel now franchised they are now less than $4 million under the salary cap and don't even have a full team signed (and obviously no rookies yet either). For those not fully aware, teams cannot be over the cap when signing free agents, so this will definitely limit their roster options until they move Cassel. If they don't trafe him, they will have to renegotiatie a lot of contracts to make more room, and I am not sure what the impact of having no more salary cap will have on the renegotiating/re-signing process.

Such a contract would not seem particularly cap heavy - the option bonus will count in 2007 against the cap that year (unless converted to a signing bonus but I've not seen anything about that) so it would only be the 2.6m plus what is not already paid of the guaranteed money that is on the table.In either case I doubt the Titans would want to get involved unless they lose KC and AH

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Boston.com

Patriots franchise Cassel

Email|Link|Comments (0) Posted by Chad Finn, Globe Staff February 5, 2009 05:02 PM

The New England Patriots announced today that they have utilized their 2009 franchise designation on quarterback Matt Cassel.

He becomes the first offensive player and just the fourth Patriot to be franchised by the team, joining Adam Vinatieri (2002 and 2005), Tebucky Jones (2003) and Asante Samuel (2007).

"Matt has been a pleasure to coach his entire career and last season in particular, when his years of hard work and commitment resulted in a most impressive performance," said Patriots coach Bill Belichick in a press release. "We look forward to working with Matt again in 2009."

We beleive you Bill.

 

[Da Guru]

I would not be upset if the Lions traded their second #1 for Cassell.I would take Cassell over Stafford right now.

Cassel, on the other hand, would be livid ... while Stafford is jumping up and down and thanking the football gods for his luck.

Not true. Stafford is lobbying for the Lions to take him #1 overall. Saying that "He would love to help turnaround the Lions"Plus the fact if the Lions do not draft him he could fall out of the top 10 and lose millions.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

Presume Brady can pass a physical. What would he be worth to Detroit or Kansas City? How many first round choices would he be worth? Would the pats be better off with Cassel and that comepensation, or Brady and the Cassel compensation, or keeping both?

The Patriots are not going to trade Brady. I've defended Cassell's abilities many time already, but he is and nver will be close to Tom Brady. Even when Brady wasn't putting up thos gaudy numbers he was still the best QB in the league imo.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

Guy reeks of AJ Feeley Part II heading to a new system with new WR's.

Feel free to bump next year if he throws more TD's than INT's.

Feeley was a third-stringer behind Donovan McNabb and Koy Detmer in Philadelphia when injuries to the top two guys in 2002 thrust him into game action. He responded with a very nice run, going 4-1 as a starter with six touchdowns, five interceptions and a 75.4 rating. Then, in 2003, he took a seat back on the bench.Do you think you can draw more from watching a player develop over an entire 16 game season than one who fills in for 5 games? I would say yes. Cassel's problems didn't revolve around ball security so I don't think he will be throwing more interceptions than TD"s. He is more likely to get sacked a bazillion times and end up in an infirmary.

I don't think anyone is going to remember to bump this thread come the middle end of next season but there will be plenty of discussion on Cassel over the next 12 months.

I agree, but Cassel playing elsewhere may be given more freedom to throw the deep ball than he was given in New England, which would moderate the sacks but increase the picks. Effectively, long ball accuracy is my only (remaining) criticism of Cassel (during preseason, I suggested he needed to sell insurance).

Everything else has become a positive. In particular, Cassel has shown the ability to make late game drives in pressure situations, and that is what really makes him valuable if I'm a GM considering Cassel...

reminds me more of scott mithcell

 

[TheBradyBunch]

Mike Lombardi was the first guy I recall saying the Patriots would franchise Cassel. At that point, it seemed a bit like crazy-talk, so I'm going to keep a close eye on his comments going forward as they relate to Cassel's destination. His article today currently lists the Vikings as "early frontrunners", fwiw:

National Football Post - Mike Lombardi

By Michael Lombardi

Posted February 6, 2009

National Football Post Diner News

6 February 2009

QUOTE: “Experience is the teacher of all things.” ~ Julius Caesar, Commentarii de Bello Civili (Commentaries on the Civil War), 50s or 40s BC

FROM MIKE REISS OF THE BOSTON GLOBE… There is a strong possibility the Patriots will trade Cassel, though Patriots coach Bill Belichick did not indicate that as an option in his comment in today’s press release. “Matt has been a pleasure to coach his entire career and last season in particular, when his years of hard work and commitment resulted in a most impressive performance,” said Belichick. “We look forward to working with Matt again in 2009.” Today was the first day teams can designate franchise and transition players. The 26-year-old Cassel, who made 15 starts after Brady’s injury, completed 63.4 percent of his passes and threw for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns with 11 interceptions. He becomes the first offensive player and just the fourth Patriot to be franchised by the team, joining Adam Vinatieri (2002 and 2005), Tebucky Jones (2003) and Asante Samuel (2007).

Now the interesting part of the Matt Cassel saga begins. The Patriots, as we told you a month ago, would take this step, but now the drama is about to unfold. Clearly, the Patriots want more than the low third-round compensatory pick they would have received from the NFL. Who will be the major players in this sweepstakes? Here is an educated guess.

THE OBVIOUS TEAMS

DETROIT LIONS — The Lions are in the best position to make this decision. As they evaluate college quarterbacks, they can measure how Cassel compares to the quarterbacks in the draft. They can part with their second first-round pick, 20th overall, and feel like they’ve gotten two blue chip players in the first round. It will cost more than the 20th pick overall, but for the Lions, they must think quality over quantity, and getting two quality players is much better than four good players, especially if one of the quality players is a quarterback. There is a deal here — but first things first. Someone in the Lions’ building must make the determination which player is better, Matthew Stafford, Mark Sanchez or Cassel.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS — This team, as much as any in the league, needs one more piece to make a significant difference in its roster. Finding a legitimate quarterback was the first order of business when head coach Brad Childress took over, but he has failed so far. With a talented quarterback, the Vikings go from being contenders in the NFC North to Super Bowl contenders. They currently have the 22nd pick in the draft. They could part with that and another second rounder and would be close enough to make a deal. I’m not sure that will be enough to satisfy the Patriots, but they will be in the ballpark. The Vikings have the cap room, the willingness to make a trade (as evidenced by their deal last year to acquire Jared Allen) and a huge need. I would make them the early frontrunners. Childress is on the hot seat, and fixing the quarterback position might help him avoid more heat.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS — After seven years of Jon Gruden moving and changing quarterbacks and getting older at the position, the Bucs are now desperate to fix things. They have a huge need and a ton of cap room. They have a mid-level first-round pick (19th overall), a young head coach and a young defense. The time is right to make a bold move and find a long-term answer at quarterback. Matt Ryan (Atlanta) and Drew Brees (New Orleans) are fixtures in the NFC South. The Bucs need to find a fixture, too, and right now they don’t an answer.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS – Who is the 49ers’ quarterback? Are they going to go back to Alex Smith or do they really think Shaun Hill is the answer? The 49ers have to address the quarterback position and find a long-term answer. They have cap room, they have the right pick (10th overall in the first round) and they have a need. However, I’m not sure anyone in the 49ers building is going to have the fortitude and the will to make this happen. They will convince themselves that Hill can lead the team. But they need to understand that they won all those championships because of the quarterbacks. Maybe the late, great Bill Walsh’s voice will be heard somewhere in the building, reminding the 49ers what made them great.

ST. LOUIS RAMS — Someone in the building gave Marc Bulger a huge contract, and I’m sure that person is gone. But new coach Steve Spagnuolo and new GM Billy Devaney must fix this position before they can think about turning around the team. Bulger might have the money, but he doesn’t solve the long-term problem. The Rams are like the Lions — they have to make their determination of Cassel as he compares to college players. Unlike the Lions, the Rams just have their own high pick, and I doubt they would be willing to make that move. I suspect the Rams will not be strong players in the Cassel market.

CHICAGO BEARS — At some point, the Bears will have to address their quarterback situation. There were times last season when Kyle Orton appeared to have a good handle on things, but after sustaining an ankle injury, he was not the same productive player he was earlier in the year. The Bears need a marquee player on offense, someone they can build around and make all the other pieces fit. They need someone they do not have to manage but who can run a complete offense. The need is there, but I doubt the Bears will be serious players. They have the 18th pick in the first round, but they hate to part with picks.

NEW YORK JETS — Jet fans can forget about Brett Favre coming back. It doesn’t look good, or even make sense, for the long- term future of the team. The Jets are in a mess at quarterback, not because they made the Favre trade but because they picked a pass-catching tight end at the bottom of the first round instead of Chad Henne, the quarterback from Michigan who went to Miami. I like Dusty Keller as a player, but they needed a quarterback then and they need one now. However, if you ask anyone inside the building, they all seem to be smoking the Brett Ratliff great-player pipe. Let us face it, even though Eric Mangini is gone as head coach, the Pats and Jets are not doing any deals. The Jets have the 17th pick in the first round but they’re going to be tight getting under the cap, and they still have to sign running back Leon Washington. This looks like a good idea on paper, but it probably won’t happen.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS — The Chiefs have all the elements in place to make a deal for Cassel: new offensive-minded coach, new GM (who gets along with the Patriots) and a very high pick. So why won’t it happen? Well, for one, the Chiefs are high on Tyler Thigpen, who played well at times last season. They also might not want to give up the third pick of the NFL draft for a player they may feel is not much better than the one currently on their roster. The Chiefs will hold on to their picks and will be reluctant to part with any of them. GM Scott Pioli knows Cassel as well as anyone and knows what he brings to the table and how he is different from Thigpen, who I’m sure he knows well by now.

SLEEPERS

WASHINGTON REDSKINS — The ‘Skins are going to live and die with their current quarterback, Jason Campbell, and have put the word out that they will not be players in the free-agent market. However, they will need to consider making this move and should do their homework before they dismiss the notion of a trade. Trust me on this, a year from now the ‘Skins will be looking for a quarterback.

CAROLINA PANTHERS — They have too many other issues to fix and don’t have a first-round pick, but they have a huge need. They can’t count on Jake Delhomme much longer.

This is going to be very interesting to watch, but one thing all these teams must do is decide how Cassel compares with the draft class at quarterback. It is that evaluation that will allow teams to make the right decision.

The Tavern will be back on Monday. Thanks for all the comments and for reading.

 

[Dr. Octopus]

By Michael LombardiPosted February 6, 2009National Football Post Diner NewsNEW YORK JETS — Jet fans can forget about Brett Favre coming back. It doesn’t look good, or even make sense, for the long- term future of the team. The Jets are in a mess at quarterback, not because they made the Favre trade but because they picked a pass-catching tight end at the bottom of the first round instead of Chad Henne, the quarterback from Michigan who went to Miami. I like Dusty Keller as a player, but they needed a quarterback then and they need one now. However, if you ask anyone inside the building, they all seem to be smoking the Brett Ratliff great-player pipe. Let us face it, even though Eric Mangini is gone as head coach, the Pats and Jets are not doing any deals. The Jets have the 17th pick in the first round but they’re going to be tight getting under the cap, and they still have to sign running back Leon Washington. This looks like a good idea on paper, but it probably won’t happen.

I know he downplay's the possibility, but why even mention the Jets? Sure they probably need a QB, but with the Pats being in control of his destiny it's not happening. I guess the only chance is if they were going to sign Cassell to some outrageous unmatchable contract while also being willing to give up two first round picks - basically not going to happen.Also, would anybody really be saying that the Jets' QB situation was solidifed if they drafted Chad Henne instead of Dustin Keller. :X They drafted Kellen Clemens two years ago only a few picks after where Henne went last year.

 

[massraider]

It's a nice spot for Cassel, who will essentially have to sin off on any trade. No team will make a move for him without a deal in place, and he can sign that tender whenever he wants, collect 14 mill to hold a clipboard, and make his own deal next year.

I don't see a deal getting done that quickly, because the Pats will have to agree to terms, and so will Cassel.

 

[womb]

My gut feeling is that he will be traded. I think KC & SF are the front runners. I think it will be more of a swap of picks in those cases... like swap of 1st rounders to trade with KC (meaning... moving up from 23 to 3... and if lucky swap of 2nd rounders as well) or swapping 1st rounders with SF (to move up to the 10 spot) and acquiring a 2nd rounder. Same thing with StL, but I do not see how a trde with them can work.

 

[munchkin]

It will be interesting to see how the negotiations are balanced between what the teams (assuming there will be more than one seriously involved) are offering Cassel as a salary and coincidently offer the Patriots as compensation. It could be that one or the other is offered a satisfactory deal but leaves the other party feeling slighted.