Patriots QB snapshot

Welcome back, Mike

In your opinion, which QB will be on the final 53-man roster?
The best possible scenario IMO, is dealing Cassel for 3rd rounder (after great preseason), moving Gutierrez to practice squad (is it possible?) and signing some veteran instead.

Welcome back Mike. I hope you and your family had a great vacation. You were missed. Lee

Hi FlyElf. I see Brady and O'Connell as the locks, so to me, the competition really comes down to Cassel/Gutierrez. If both impress in the preseason, I could see one of them being traded or keeping both (and thus, having 4 QBs on the roster). I believe Gutierrez is eligible for the practice squad, but I don't think the Patriots will make that move. Too risky, because Gutierrez would have to pass through waivers first. I think another team would claim him based on the early promise he's shown, which is exactly why the Patriots didn't try to sneak him on the practice squad last year. Lee, thanks for the welcome back. We had a nice vacation. Spent some time on the Cape and read a few books. Nice to get away, but excited to be back. We have some exciting stuff we're working on at the Globe and on Boston.com for the upcoming season.
--Mike

Welcome back, Mike. I hope you had a great vacation.. Looking forward to another great seson. Thank You

Mike, welcome back.

1. Brady spoke a lot last year about limiting how much he throws at camp. Do you think that will be the plan again?

2. Also, with such emotional and physically draining year extending into February, does BB handle Brady differently in preseason games by limiting his play even more?

Hi Steve. Definitely think Brady's throws will be limited. No need to push it. Here is something Brady said last month at the team's golf tournament that I think is tied to that. "Going into my ninth year, I feel like I know what I need to do to be ready and be prepared. That's one of the advantages of being a veteran." On the second part of the question, I don't think Brady will be limited any more in preseason games than he has in the past. Those games are important because they are the only time a player/team can duplicate real game speed, and get reaccustomed to it. So I see Brady's playing time being the same, or close to the same, as past years.
--Mike

Hi Mike, welcome back. It makes no sense for the Pats to keep 4 QB's. I say Cassell goes. I hope he has a great pre-season because there are alot of QB needy teams out there plus with Cassell's contract due to expire I believe after 2009,I don't believe he would reup here. I would think he would go somewhere he could compete for a starting job. Get value for him NOW.

Hi Mike,

What do the Patriots see in O'Connell that's different from Cassel and Gutierrez?

Hey Mike....love your stuff on here! Obviously training camp and preseason can shape the coach's view of the backups, but do you think it's possible that BB already has a good idea of Cassell's potential and limitations? Miami game last year as example one. As long as there are no injuries, Cassell might be the odd man out. Gutierrez has shown some pocket presence and dynamic athletic ability with a strong arm, and O'Connel is too high a draft pic to let go.

Hola a todos, Creo que Gutierrez seria el #2 por que el esta desarroyando nuevas tecnicas! Juan Carlos, BOston

You don't draft a QB in the third round that is not going to make the team. I would agree that Cassel and Gutierrez are in a battle. Both could definitely play in the league and make an impact based on their development here. WIllbe an interesting camp. What did they see in O'Connell ? That is the real question ?

From Bosoxj in Cali via Waterville ME; haven't we really seen enough in athletic in both Gutierrez and O'Connell to warrant the trading of Cassel? After all that was the best quality Cassel had when he was 1st drafted. Most likely still his best quality.

This section could be summed up simply by saying "Tom Brady". Perhaps a better assessment would be: Cassel, Guitierrez, and whoever else the Pats drafted as QB this year will all have absolutely no impact on the Patriots season this year. They will all have their usual roles of warming the bench, starting in a few meaningless pre-season games, and perhaps coming in for a few snaps should any game get well out of hand.

Welcome back Mike, We have seen Cassel, & I have not been impressed. If the Pats are able to get any body or draft pick in a deal for Cassel, I think they should hop on it. It looks like Guttierrez gives them a carbon copy of Cassel, except for virtually no real game experience. I am anxious to see how O'Connell comes along for the Pats. It is very intriguing knowing that Bill & Scott spent a 3rd round pick to get him. I appreciate the insight you have given us on O'Connell so far. What else can you tell us about him? Is he the real deal? Do you see the possibility of him being switched to another position? even on Special Teams, in order to make a case for a possible 4th quarterback on a more restricted roster total this year? I recall there was another team that was ready to select him.
Thanks Mike

IT IS ALL MOST TIME...........9 DAYS CAN NOT GET HERE FAST ENOUGH.

Welcome back Mike and welcome back football talk. I know a good football team is always bracing for the unknown, such as an injury to a star QB, but aside from that, is there any reason to believe that Brady won't be the QB past that '10 contact? Do you hear anything about Brady's desire to keep playing beyond that? He'll be approaching 33 by then, no reason to believe that's too old, but I'm wondering if Tom would want to move on to other things by then. Finally, how do you think BB would have handled the Brett Favre situation? Would he ever let a legend QB in his twilight years stick around longer than is probably best for his organization?

I think we all know, this team has gambled in the past by carrying a roster with really no quality backup QB to Brady. It is only a matter of time before this causes our downfall. We clearly know that Cassell is not the answer to a season long situation. Gutierrez is unproven. O'Connell will be on the practice squad. We need to sign a half-way decent veteran. How about Brett Favre?

Is there any chance the Patriots will bring back Michael Bishop? He is a freak of an athletic and has the raw skills that they can develop. Other than Brady and Manning, Bishop is probably the next best QB out there and a steal if you can pick him up for short money (30 million for 5 years).

Welcome Back! Missed your Mailbag each week.

Mike,

Wouldn't it have made more sense for the patriots to draft a lineman to protect Brady, rather than another QB? More protection would have given the Pats another Super Bowl. Another QB should give the Patriots ... nothing.

I'd rather have a another Super Bowl title than a back-up that we hope will pan out in 2010 or beyond.

There is NO WAY that O'Connell will be on the practice squad. He's a 3 rd draft choice, he already has a roster spot. If you were not a Pats fan tremendous, I would take you to task for this silly post. Brett Favre,backup to Tom Brady ??? Favre is going to start whether it be in Green Bay which I believe or somewhere else . Lets hope not the Jests.

Welcome back Mike. I think everyone is looking forward to another season and your updates. Keep up the good work!

RK, when it comes to Cassel vs. O'Connell, I see a few factors that stand out. O'Connell is probably a bit more athletic. Scouts also say O'Connell is extremely bright. Cassel is both athletic and smart, but O'Connell is probably a bit further ahead of Cassel in those areas at this point of his career. The key will be if O'Connell can develop and surpass Cassel, which is no given. Gutierrez strikes me as more as a stay-in-the-pocket passer than both O'Connell and Cassel. Steve_Brockton ... I'm not sure exactly what to read into the Cassel situation. In one respect, when a team drafts a quarterback in the third round, it would seemingly be a not-so-positive sign for Cassel. But I can certainly see the rationale for taking O'Connell given that Cassel's contract expires after the 2008 season. So I'm not ready to say Cassel won't be the No. 2. I actually wouldn't be surprised if he has his best training camp. Dave Z, early in camp, I would expect O'Connell to focus solely on the demands of quarterback. But just as Gutierrez was running on special teams last preseason, at some point, I could see the same thing with O'Connell. Stovie 45, I see Brady playing into his mid-to-late 30s. Tough call on how Belichick would have handled Favre. Once the retirement announcement came, I think he'd probably take a similar approach as the Packers are now. The way Favre was playing in 2006, though, he probably wouldn't have been the starter. That might have been the tougher call.
--Mike

Nice to see you back Mike. Now we can have real football news in our lifes and not countless updates on what Brett Favre.

9 Days to camp.