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Official: Pats tag Cassel! (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter TheBradyBunch
- Start date
They'll be extremely lucky to get a 2nd with what Cassel's contract will cost.The Pats are devious enough to keep positive reports about Brady's recovery from leaking to the media.
I'm not saying his rehab is going well or poorly, but NE knows if too many people are positive he'll be back they lose leverage in any trade negotiations involving Cassel.
Conversely, they have Cassel on record as saying he has no problem returning to NE in a backup role. Have you ever heard of that before? A player with this much opportunity at his feet, with the chance to go grab a starting job and a huge contract, is on record as saying he doesn't mind going back to the bench?
Trust me, they're all towing the party line. Everything is being orchestrated to maximize the Pats' leverage in Cassel negotiations. There are enough bad teams out there, with terrible QBs, with a desire to energize their fanbase in acquiring Cassel even if, strictly on football terms, the deal is bad for them.
I'm not saying his rehab is going well or poorly, but NE knows if too many people are positive he'll be back they lose leverage in any trade negotiations involving Cassel.
Conversely, they have Cassel on record as saying he has no problem returning to NE in a backup role. Have you ever heard of that before? A player with this much opportunity at his feet, with the chance to go grab a starting job and a huge contract, is on record as saying he doesn't mind going back to the bench?
Trust me, they're all towing the party line. Everything is being orchestrated to maximize the Pats' leverage in Cassel negotiations. There are enough bad teams out there, with terrible QBs, with a desire to energize their fanbase in acquiring Cassel even if, strictly on football terms, the deal is bad for them.
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Ron_Mexico
I Love Doggies
The bidding war for Cassel's services will be fierce.This is a perfect storm for NE, imo.They'll be extremely lucky to get a 2nd with what Cassel's contract will cost.
Lots of demand and very limited supply of legitimate starting QBs
on the market.
A 2nd at the very minimum will fetch Cassel, probably more.
I believe the flip flop of 1sts plus an additional 2nd in 2010
will be the winning bid.
Carver
Footballguy
They will end up with a first round pick for Cassel. No question about it. Just too many teams in need of a QB right now, and good ones don;t come around every day.
Cassel got better and better as the season progressed @ reading coverages. His football intellect is sound, and he has all the physical tools to be an above average QB in the NFL for the next ten years. He is big, strong, has good accuracy, can pick up yards with his legs when needed, and can he throw the ball well downfield.
On a side note.. I saw a report (with pics) a few days ago that Brady was out golfing a full 18 just this past Sunday. No way in the world he is out on the links like that if his recovery were behind schedule. Just ask Tiger Woods what it's like golfing on a busted up knee.
Cassel got better and better as the season progressed @ reading coverages. His football intellect is sound, and he has all the physical tools to be an above average QB in the NFL for the next ten years. He is big, strong, has good accuracy, can pick up yards with his legs when needed, and can he throw the ball well downfield.
On a side note.. I saw a report (with pics) a few days ago that Brady was out golfing a full 18 just this past Sunday. No way in the world he is out on the links like that if his recovery were behind schedule. Just ask Tiger Woods what it's like golfing on a busted up knee.
cstu
Footballguy
That I agree with. My guess is Cassel to the Lions for a swap of the #20 and #23 and a 2010 2nd. The Pats may also be able to get one of the high 2nds this year from the Lions, Rams or Chiefs.The bidding war for Cassel's services will be fierce.This is a perfect storm for NE, imo.They'll be extremely lucky to get a 2nd with what Cassel's contract will cost.
Lots of demand and very limited supply of legitimate starting QBs
on the market.
A 2nd at the very minimum will fetch Cassel, probably more.
I believe the flip flop of 1sts plus an additional 2nd in 2010
will be the winning bid.
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cstu
Footballguy
That trade doesn't make sense IMO because I consider Sanchez >>>>>> Cassel. Cassel had a good season but it was with one of the best offenses in the NFL. I think he's a good QB in the right system, but I don't believe he's a guy that can turn a team around. Not to mention that a QB a team trades for and pays a huge contract gets very little leeway before the fans start calling for his head.womb said:
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-OZ-
Footballguy
If the Lions could deal their 2010 1st for Cassel, pick whichever LT they like at 1.01, and maybe a G later in the 1st, then address D later... they may win a game in 09. Seriously, I would be pretty happy if they dealt a '10 pick for him, but if it takes either of their 09 1sts, I think it would be a mistake.
munchkin
Footballguy
Sanchez had one good season on one of the best College teams in the country against far less talent than Cassel saw week in and week out and from that you can project him to be much better? I think you are arguing against your own logic; but that's just me.
Donnybrook
Footballguy
Imagine if David Garrard became a free agent after the 2007 season instead of after the 2008 season. In 2007, he started 12 games and threw for 18 TDs and 3 interceptions for a QB rating of 102.2. He follows that year with a disasterous 2008 season when his offensive line fell apart.
This is why I feel that Cassel stats are just an illusion and if he wasn't playing behind the NE line that he will fall back to earth. I can't believe a NFL GM would be willing to reward the Patriots for trading him at exactly the right time.
The only thing I can hope for is that the Pats take a busts with traded picks and Cassel turns into the real deal on another team.
This is why I feel that Cassel stats are just an illusion and if he wasn't playing behind the NE line that he will fall back to earth. I can't believe a NFL GM would be willing to reward the Patriots for trading him at exactly the right time.
The only thing I can hope for is that the Pats take a busts with traded picks and Cassel turns into the real deal on another team.
puckalicious
Footballguy
Maybe it's just me, but name me a QB that excelled behind an offensive line that "fell apart"? If Brady had started his career behind the Texan's OL would we still be talking about how great he is? I highly doubt it; not that he wouldn't have done better than Carr, but he'd have 0 superbowl wins and would be considered an average NFL QB at best.
encaitar
Footballguy
Peyton Manning has had a so-so oline the past two years, yet he's still excelled. Obviously not in the playoffs, but he still looks like a stud QB. Plus, I think you're overrating the Pats oline in the early 2000s. Sure, their oline is good now, but it was pretty leaky when Brady was winning his SBs.I think the biggest knock on Cassell is how many of his yards came because of YAC.
Air Yards.
Obviously that doesn't tell the whole story, but it shows that he was mostly entrusted to throw screens, slants, and short crossing patterns that netted a lot more YAC than the average diversified playbook.
gianmarco
Footballguy
and nice link to that article. I posted something similar to this a couple months ago although what I looked at wasn't nearly as in depth.http://forums.footballguys.com/forum/index...p;#entry9757622
Irish
Footballguy
They both might be systems qb, but at least Cassell has proven himself at the NFL level. If I'm KC, I don't take either one. That OL needs rebuilt bad in the worst way and Thigpen was not bad last year.
munchkin
Footballguy
Gee, an I thought I had a bad nights sleep.Is football a team game or are we talking about tennis here. A good player is not going to perform well on a bad team. Garrard faced a lot of adversity last year. The running game was a shell of itself which put a lot more pressure on the passing game with a depleted Offensive Line. Still Garrards numbers weren't that bad. His high interception rate(15 td's and 13 int's) could be attributed to trying to make things happen; his completion percentage was still very good (62.6%).
2008 30 JAX 16 335 535 62.6 3620 15 2.8 13 2.4 41 6.8 6.0 10.8 226.3 81.7
Garrard was not the problem for Jacksonville last year. I believe SF, Chicago, Min and probably even the Jets would have liked to have Garrard as their QB. Heck, before Cassel turned it on the Pats probably would have liked to have him.
It's obvious you hate the Pats; that's cool, but it doesn't change what Cassel did. There is a team that is going to take him and hopefully it works out for both Matt and the perspective team.
DropKick
Footballguy
It has been applied to kickers, so anything is possible.Steve Young was a "backup" QB at one time, too. I'm not saying Cassel will ever have Young's success but you're putting too much emphasis in the "backup" role.
DropKick
Footballguy
I concur with your premise that no one will succeed without a supporting cast but it is hard to take you seriously when you're jaded to that degree.Cassel benefited from being in a good system. On the other hand, it was his first real opportunity to play and he was impressive. So, he was able to overcome the long lay-off and demonstrate the ability to play at this level.
A GM makes decisions in the context of their own team. The concept of "a reward for the Patriots" is hardly a consideration. There are teams that need a QB and whether done through draft or trade, there are risks and unknowns. Cassel is probably an upgrade for a lot of teams and might be more appealing than a completely unproven rookie or a retread veteran.
Gopher State
Footballguy
Keeping an eye on Cassel
February 7th, 2009 – 9:36 AM by Judd Zulgad, Minneapolis Star & Tribune
The fact the New England Patriots placed the franchise tag on Matt Cassel doesn’t mean teams such as the Vikings are going to suddenly lose interest in the quarterback. Far from it.
Adam Schefter of the NFL Network recently said on a Boston Radio station that if Cassel is moved his three most likely landing destinations are Minnesota, Kansas City and Detroit. Michael Lombardi of the National Football Post lists the Vikings among eight ”obvious” teams to be in the Cassel sweepstakes and writes, “I would make them the early front-runners.”
Getting Cassel to Minnesota wouldn’t be easy but it’s certainly possible. You only need to look to last April when the Vikings acquired Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen from Kansas City for evidence of a player with the franchise tag being dealt. The key here is that Cassel, like Allen, did not have the exclusive franchise tag placed on him and thus other teams are NOT prohibited from making him an offer.
That being said, it’s unlikely Cassel would end up with another franchise by simply signing a new deal. Cassel can ink an offer sheet beginning Feb. 27 when free-agency gets underway but New England would have the right to match. If the Patriots failed to do so, they would get first-round picks in 2009 and 2010 from the club that signed Cassel. In today’s NFL, that would be an incredibly steep price to pay for a quarterback who has 15 games of starting experience in his professional career.
February 7th, 2009 – 9:36 AM by Judd Zulgad, Minneapolis Star & Tribune
The fact the New England Patriots placed the franchise tag on Matt Cassel doesn’t mean teams such as the Vikings are going to suddenly lose interest in the quarterback. Far from it.
Adam Schefter of the NFL Network recently said on a Boston Radio station that if Cassel is moved his three most likely landing destinations are Minnesota, Kansas City and Detroit. Michael Lombardi of the National Football Post lists the Vikings among eight ”obvious” teams to be in the Cassel sweepstakes and writes, “I would make them the early front-runners.”
Getting Cassel to Minnesota wouldn’t be easy but it’s certainly possible. You only need to look to last April when the Vikings acquired Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen from Kansas City for evidence of a player with the franchise tag being dealt. The key here is that Cassel, like Allen, did not have the exclusive franchise tag placed on him and thus other teams are NOT prohibited from making him an offer.
That being said, it’s unlikely Cassel would end up with another franchise by simply signing a new deal. Cassel can ink an offer sheet beginning Feb. 27 when free-agency gets underway but New England would have the right to match. If the Patriots failed to do so, they would get first-round picks in 2009 and 2010 from the club that signed Cassel. In today’s NFL, that would be an incredibly steep price to pay for a quarterback who has 15 games of starting experience in his professional career.
Donnybrook
Footballguy
I hope Minnesota doesn't give players and draft picks to New England for Cassel and my gut feeling is that they won't.
There was quite a bit of animosity between Childress and Bellichick after the Vikings intercepted Garret Mills who was headed to the New England practice squad. Bellichick responded by slaughtering the Vikings 37-7 (or something) at home. The Vikings were thoroughly out-matched and out-coached in that game.
Childress specialty as a coach was supposed to for his ability in developing young QBs ie McNabb. Now you are telling me that he has finally admitted to have no ability in that area and is now resigned to poaching a Bellichick trainee. Honestly I don’t think his ego would let him do it. So I'm not buying what Adam Schefter is selling.
There was quite a bit of animosity between Childress and Bellichick after the Vikings intercepted Garret Mills who was headed to the New England practice squad. Bellichick responded by slaughtering the Vikings 37-7 (or something) at home. The Vikings were thoroughly out-matched and out-coached in that game.
Childress specialty as a coach was supposed to for his ability in developing young QBs ie McNabb. Now you are telling me that he has finally admitted to have no ability in that area and is now resigned to poaching a Bellichick trainee. Honestly I don’t think his ego would let him do it. So I'm not buying what Adam Schefter is selling.
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bostonfred
Footballguy
It would make sense to get a quality QB if you have a coach who's supposed to be good at developing young QBs. It's not like people thought McNabb was talentless when he was drafted. It sounds more like you're more worried about the Patriots getting a good player than thinking about what's good for the Vikings. That seems wrong to me. I think that a backfield of Cassel and Peterson with that defense would have a serious opportunity to win championships. This is a rare opportunity for them to get a special running back, a top defensive lineman and a good young quarterback in three short years. What more could you want as a team?
Larrywarren
Footballguy
Worth considering as well who else is out there in the free agency market. Some will stay where they are but there's a few interesting names out there including Kurt Warner, Kerry Collins, Jeff Garcia, David Garrard, Byron Leftwich
http://www.kffl.com/static/nfl/features/fr...n=QB&y=2009
Minnesota might be interested in some of them - Warner back in a dome,Collins playing with a great running game and great run D sounds familiar, Garcia the classic WCO QB togther with Childress, Garrard very effective 2 seasons ago in a Jags team that was run first and had a good D
http://www.kffl.com/static/nfl/features/fr...n=QB&y=2009
Minnesota might be interested in some of them - Warner back in a dome,Collins playing with a great running game and great run D sounds familiar, Garcia the classic WCO QB togther with Childress, Garrard very effective 2 seasons ago in a Jags team that was run first and had a good D
David Yudkin
Footballguy
Unless they know something the rest of us don't, Garrard is signed through 2013.
Donnybrook
Footballguy
Contrary to popular opinion, I actually think Jackson is a good QB just not great and I can't deny that he improved over the course of the season. I think Cassel is a good QB but i'm not sure that he is as good as advertised. Is he really a "franchise" QB? I don't think any team should be gambling a first round pick and millions of dollars to find out. We have Adam Schefter jumping to the conclusion that Vikings would/should be interested because they traded for Jared Allen. Jared Allen was not a gamble. He was just about a sure think as you can get. If he could be a monster in KC without the D-line support than he could be a monster in Minnesota with the D-line support.
In Cassel two 400 yard games, he operated almost exclusively out of the shotgun. I don't believe he will do that very often in Minnesota. There is good chance that Childress convential offense will not showcase Cassel's best attributes whatsoever.
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encaitar
Footballguy
Cassell may turn out to be a good QB, but as a Vikings' fan I would be very upset if they gave up a first round pick to take a gamble on him. They are already short in the draft this year without the third that they gave to KC as part of the Allen deal. Their depth is already a big question mark and it showed on their special teams unit. To give up more draft picks to get a player who doesn't fit into the west coast offense that Childress runs wouldn't be a very prudent move. Add into the equation the fact that Matt Birk and Darren Sharper are free agents who aren't likely to be back and you'll see a Vikings team that needs every pick it has this year.I fully expect the Vikings to go after a QB this off-season, but I see a higher likelihood of them signing Jeff Garcia than giving up a first rounder and a huge megadeal to Cassell.
Phlash
Footballguy
This logic makes nos sense at all. If GMs bought into this, no one would draft a QB as a top 10 pick because they would have to pay them so much, despite not playing a down in the NFL. Cassel has not only started a whole NFL season, he's proven capable of running a complex offense and QBing the second best offense in the AFC to an 11-5 record. He's FAR more proven than ANY college QB right now, and the risk of taking him is far less significant than anyone from a college team. The fact that he is a USC alumn has to help his case as well; that place has produced some very good QBs.
PatsWillWin
Footballguy
Anyone here who thinks Cassel goes for less than a 1st is kidding themselves.
twitch
Footballguy
Jeff Garcia? Jeff Garcia?? Do you want your team to win the Superbowl or not? Then stop with answers like Jeff Garcia. And just like you'd be very upset if they gave up a first round pick to take the 'gamble'. I was very upset that Matt Cassel even made that team last season, let alone was the day 1 starter. He absolutely sucked in the preseason and had shown literally nothing. Shows what I knew. Sometimes, a 'gamble' isnt always as bad as it seems.Edit to add - Day 1 ROSTER MEMBER, not starter. Im telling you, I was pissed.
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Sudoku_in_the_Bathtub
Footballguy
They'll get a first, but I believe Cassel will go down as one of the all-time trade busts. He had a nice year in a system he'd been in for over 3 years with tremendous WR weapons in Welker & Moss.I don't like the odds of success with him having to learn a new system with lesser weapons on likely a poor team. I see it being a very very very ugly transition.
munchkin
Footballguy
Jeff Garcia? Jeff Garcia?? Do you want your team to win the Superbowl or not? Then stop with answers like Jeff Garcia. And just like you'd be very upset if they gave up a first round pick to take the 'gamble'. I was very upset that Matt Cassel even made that team last season, let alone was the day 1 starter. He absolutely sucked in the preseason and had shown literally nothing. Shows what I knew. Sometimes, a 'gamble' isnt always as bad as it seems.
Edit to add - Day 1 ROSTER MEMBER, not starter. Im telling you, I was pissed.
If the Patriots Fandom was the Senate that sentiment would have had a veto-proof majority. I don't know that the Patriots coaching staff knew how good Cassel could be but I an betting they at least knew he had the make-up to entrust the offense to if they were in a jam. They were bringing in Simms and Rattay for a look before Brady got hurt but sent them packing after the injury without a look. I am sure part of that was them doing their due diligence but they trusted their instincts and stuck with Cassel. The Pats didn't have injuries to their backfield with the severity that Denver did but they rotated in quite a few players throughout the year. Cassel had to carry that team and the expectations that go along with it for good portions of the year; he didn't choke, even in the early part of the season when he was trying to acclimate himself to the speed of the game and the rigors of being an every week starter.
It's hard to say with certainty what he will turn out to be; there is an organization that is going to pony up and give him a shot to run their team, like it or not.
Edit to add - Day 1 ROSTER MEMBER, not starter. Im telling you, I was pissed.
If the Patriots Fandom was the Senate that sentiment would have had a veto-proof majority. I don't know that the Patriots coaching staff knew how good Cassel could be but I an betting they at least knew he had the make-up to entrust the offense to if they were in a jam. They were bringing in Simms and Rattay for a look before Brady got hurt but sent them packing after the injury without a look. I am sure part of that was them doing their due diligence but they trusted their instincts and stuck with Cassel. The Pats didn't have injuries to their backfield with the severity that Denver did but they rotated in quite a few players throughout the year. Cassel had to carry that team and the expectations that go along with it for good portions of the year; he didn't choke, even in the early part of the season when he was trying to acclimate himself to the speed of the game and the rigors of being an every week starter.
It's hard to say with certainty what he will turn out to be; there is an organization that is going to pony up and give him a shot to run their team, like it or not.
mozzy84
Footballguy
lots of wishful thinking with pats fans in here
bostonfred
Footballguy
I agree that I don't think Minnesota wants 400 yard games out of its QB. It wants smart QB play, a constant threat from the passing game to give Peterson room to run, a guy who can play in the cold, and ideally someone young enough to grow with their young core. That's not Garcia. As for the idea that they only gave up a first for Allen because he was a proven star, and don't want to give up a first for an unproven commodity, name one team that will trade a proven star QB for just a first round pick. It just plain doesn't happen in the NFL. Unless you count Bledsoe, of course.
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munchkin
Footballguy
I saw a lot of posts and talked to a number of Vikings fans this year who wanted to see Childress fired; now that is wishful thinking!
encaitar
Footballguy
This shows you have no idea what you're talking about. Jeff Garcia has had many seasons as good as Cassell had this year, plus he's run three different versions of the West Coast offense, including one very similar to Minnesota's while he was in Philadelphia. I firmly believe he is a better fit RIGHT NOW for the Vikings than Cassell. Sure he's not a long term answer, but he would be a very solid 2 year fill in until the Vikings find the right fit. If the Vikings brass decides to see if Cassell is that man, then I'll have to hope for the best. Don't be a homer though and think that one good season makes Cassell as better QB than someone who's excelled with every team he's played for.
twitch
Footballguy
Buddy, Jeff Garcia is turning 39 in 2 weeks. If Vikings fans want that guy QBing their team, plug a big leak with some chewing gum, and want to continue to hope for the best ,more power to 'em. But I in no way made a comparison between Garcia and Cassel. Nor did I suggest Garcia sucked and hasnt had a fine career. But teams that generally succeed in the NFL tend to look forward. Not back. Garcia's best days are clearly behind him. And next time, easy with the insults. If I want to know how much I dont know what Im talking about, I'll give my big brother a call.
ScottyFargo
Footballguy
Seriously, Garcia is old. Cassel is young and is one of the better opportunities a club on the rise could get to propel themselves forward by settling their O for several seasons. You can't count on Garcia for more than one season, and even then Garcia on the Vikes doesn't put them in the superbowl.
The Vikings have had their fill of underachieving Jackson and Journeymen Veteran QB's since Culpepper. Cassel MIGHT be a bust but he's as good a chance at capping off an otherwise well built team as any other option available to the Vikings, with more potential in my opinion.
The Vikings have had their fill of underachieving Jackson and Journeymen Veteran QB's since Culpepper. Cassel MIGHT be a bust but he's as good a chance at capping off an otherwise well built team as any other option available to the Vikings, with more potential in my opinion.
TheBradyBunch
Footballguy
encaitar
Footballguy
I know how old Garcia is, and I'm not offering him up as the future of the franchise. I see him as a one or two year stop gap solution until the Vikings do find the right fit for their system. Cassell is not the right fit for their West Coast Offense as he's never been in one. He struggles throwing the deep ball accurately, which is like 50% of the passes in Childress's system. It will take a 50 million dollar contract with $25 million+ guaranteed to sign Cassell, along with a first round pick just for the honor to do so. I said the same thing last year when everyone was clamoring for the Vikings to give up a first and a third for Derrick Anderson and am extremely glad they didn't. I hope they show the same restraint in this situation.
twitch
Footballguy
If 50% of the passes are deep passes, then they just need to go ahead and fire the coach because obviously that wouldnt make a whole lot of sense. Nor would assigning that ridiculous of a percentage to make a point.
encaitar
Footballguy
This is something I could get on board with. However, way to pick up on my exaggeration and not answer my overall point. The Vikings like to go deep. Cassell doesn't excel throwing deep passes.
cstu
Footballguy
I didn't mean to say that right now Sanchez is better than Cassel, but I think Sanchez has more upside. You can argue that Cassel is proven yet I don't consider being the QB of the Pats offense a good test of how a guy will perform on a rebuilding team. I wouldn't spend the #3 pick on either of them.They both might be systems qb, but at least Cassell has proven himself at the NFL level. If I'm KC, I don't take either one. That OL needs rebuilt bad in the worst way and Thigpen was not bad last year.
cstu
Footballguy
I think you are ignoring the salary implications of a team trading for Cassel. If he had a cheap contract for at least a couple more years then a 1st would be reasonable. However, right now Cassel is sitting on a $14M payday and will want a huge deal to make it worth it for him to agree to a trade deal. No team is going to pay him the huge contract he'll get as well as give up a 1st to do it. Then again, all it takes is one stupid team.
Wadsworth
Footballguy
Someone will do it. I really don't understand why. Cassel had the keys to an amazing offense and put up very similar numbers to Byron Leftwich's numbers his last 16 games in Jacksonville. Yet someone will give up a first rounder and maybe more and a big contract for Cassel, when Leftwich put very similar numbers with weak WRs and a conservative offense and will cost no draft picks and tons less money. Cassel in 16 games in 2008: 327/516 for 3,693 21/11, 2 rushing TDs
Leftwich's last 16 games in Jax: 283/485 for 3,282 22/10, 4 rushing TDs
womb
Footballguy
I think otherwise on this issue. Staying with Patriots, he will get $14 this year and only this year. He will be on the bench, and probably be forgotten or oushined by next year. Next year, he will be asked a to try out FA or accept a significantly lower pay grade and still be on the bench alongside up and coming O'Connell.Now if he were to land a contract with another team, it would make more sense that he would ask for that $14 to be guaranteed over the course of the contract. That way he would make much more money. If he (or his agent) is even smarter, he would work out front loaded performance based incentives on the contract and decrease the guaranteed money. This kind of a contract would not reflect the cap implications that ou are talking about.
Workhorse
Footballguy
$14 million guaranteed for a starting QB with proven success in the NFL? Teams give completely unproven first round QB picks far more than that these days. As recently as 2007, the top 10 picks in the NFL draft were guaranteed an AVERAGE of $18.7 Million before playing a single NFL game. If you're an NFL team with a glaring QB need, $14 million guaranteed isn't much money at all. Remember, just because he's signed the $14 tender, doesn't mean that he's going to get a $14 million salary in 2009 for a new team in a multi-year deal.
Workhorse
Footballguy
Leftwich's career was derailed by serious ankle problems. He can't stay healthy enough to be a starting QB anymore and hasn't been an NFL starter in 3 years.
munchkin
Footballguy
I have been reading a lot in these posts about the great Patriot's System, superior Coaching staff and savvy organization; yet now we are supposed to believe that that same organization really made a huge mistake on Cassel by signing him to a 14.65 million dollar contract. The salary cap implications for the Patriots could be greater than other teams being mentioned as possible trading partners. The Patriots need to resign Wilfork, Mankins, Seymour and others after the 2009 season. If they don't get some of these extensions done this off-season they could be in trouble. Do you stake the long term health of your team on a marginal player with little up-side? If Cassel caught lightning in a bottle then he regresses next year no matter who he is playing for and the Patriots know that. Is this a big Bluff? If so, and the Patriots lose, then we Pats fans could be in for some ugly seasons ahead.
Wadsworth
Footballguy
Saying Leftwich hasn't been a starter in 3 years is stretching it and before last season Cassel hadn't been a starter since high school. I'm not sure how either matters going forward. My point was that the price of Cassel is likely to be much higher than a free agent QB that has performed at a similar level with less talent around him. I think you have to take a serious look at Cassel's situation in New England when trying to predict his future performance. Bulger looked pretty good filling in for Warner while that offense was in place, how does he look now? How'd Warner look after leaving the Rams with no weapons around him and how does he look now with Fitz and Boldin? Jeff Garcia looked pretty good in San Fran in that system with talented WRs, how about since? Cassel had a full season quarterbacking an offense that set many record the previous season. I wouldn't get too excited about his potential performance with an average NFL offense. And I certainly would not be giving up a high round pick(s) and a big contract.
