Cassel franchise tag to be $14.65m
TAMPA - First, Matt Cassel replaced Tom Brady in the lineup; now he could replace him as the team's costliest quarterback.
The NFL Players Association released the franchise and transition tag numbers yesterday for 2009, and the cost of the franchise tag (the average of the top five highest-paid players at a given position) on Cassel would be a one-year tender for $14.65 million.
Since the franchise tenders are guaranteed, if the Patriots franchise Cassel and he signs the one-year tender, he would count more against the cap than Brady, who is scheduled to carry a cap charge of $14.62 million for 2009. Brady is slated to have a $5 million base salary in 2009 and is due a $3 million roster bonus, so Cassel's take-home pay for '09 would also be more than Brady's.
The cap will rise from $116 million to $123 million in 2009, according to the NFLPA. But if the Patriots franchise Cassel - who made $520,000 last season - instead of trade him, and he elected to sign his tender, the quarterbacks would account for 24 percent of the team's cap space in 2009.
If the Patriots franchise Cassel, who would be a free agent, they have the right to match any offer, and if they elect not to do so, a team that made an offer would have to give New England two first-round draft picks.
Thursday is the first day teams can designate franchise and transition players. The Patriots have until Feb. 19 to use the franchise tag on Cassel or any of their free agents.
If the 26-year-old Cassel hit the open market, he would be a hot commodity. Cassel, who made 15 starts, completed 63.4 percent of his passes and threw for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.
If he is franchised, traded, or allowed to become a free agent, Cassel figures to make a lot of money in 2009.
The way Welker responded earned Clark's respect . . . and something else.
"Wes got my Pro Bowl vote," Clark said yesterday. "Obviously, he deserved it numbers-wise, but also because of the way he handled that situation. He handled it like a football player should."
Welker was here yesterday as part of the "Got Milk?" campaign, and while he made the media rounds, Clark's hit inevitably entered the discussion. Welker reported that he's felt no ill effects from the blow, although he hasn't forgotten it.
"He made a good, solid hit, but I'd just say that I'm anxious to see them again," Welker said.
Although the Patriots and Steelers are not scheduled to play in 2009, Welker feels as if he's ahead of schedule. He's spent most of the past month between Dallas and Oklahoma, choosing the warmer weather over snow-filled New England. Welker plans to return to Gillette Stadium in March for the offseason conditioning program.
"My body feels great, and I've actually been able to train and get ready and things like that, as opposed to nursing anything," he said. "The big thing for me will be getting the reps during spring and minicamps. I was hurt all last minicamp and I wasn't really able to train going into the season. Being able to do all that, and not having to rehab, being able to hit the ground running, is big for me and something I'm really looking forward to."
Welker realizes the Patriots' coaching staff will have a different look when he returns. He praised receivers coach Bill O'Brien, who is expected to move to a position coaching quarterbacks and possibly take on some offensive coordinator duties, noting his meticulous film study, calmness under pressure, and knowledge of the offense.
Welker hasn't been informed of how the offensive staff will be constructed after coordinator Josh McDaniels was named the Broncos' head coach.
"It will be interesting to see how it all plays out, because Josh is a great coach, so we're just going to have to move forward, like we always have," Welker said. "Somebody is going to have to step up and really kind of take over the reins and make sure we're still moving in the right direction."
Welker's next stop will be the Pro Bowl, which will be played Feb. 8 in Honolulu.
"It's special and something you always dream about as a kid," he said.
Seely, who had been with the Patriots for 10 seasons, had his contract expire after the season. To lure him away from the Patriots, the Browns offered him the generous package as well as the title of assistant head coach, which New England didn't match.
