FOXBOROUGH – Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel held court with reporters today at Gillette Stadium (11:55 a.m.) and he touched on a few topics of note:
On his talks with quarterback Tom Brady regarding advice. “I talk to Tom usually once or twice a week. I always lean on him for advice. He’s always there for me.”
On his thoughts about published reports that Brady is having setbacks with his knee. “We don’t really talk about his injury situation much. It’s more football oriented. In terms of injuries or anything like that, I think it would be best for you to talk to him about that. … I really don’t know the status of Tom from an injury standpoint. All I know is that when I talk to him, he’s in high spirits and he sounds good, and he says that he’s recovering well.”
On the most helpful thing Brady has told him. “He said ‘just be yourself, don’t try to do too much, don’t take the weight of the world on your shoulders and just go out and try to execute the offense, and move forward and you’ll get better week by week.’”
On winning the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. “I was pretty shocked, to be completely honest. I really think it comes down to the team playing really well. It says a lot about us getting the running game going, and the offensive line, because this game comes down to 11 people coming together.”
On the team’s high sack total. “I think from a quarterback standpoint, I need to do a better job in throwing the ball away when I need to. There are times I’m trying to let the play develop downfield and if I’m staying in there too long, I need to learn when that time clock goes off, and just throw it away. That’s an area I can help the offensive line out with. Obviously, a lot of those sacks aren’t on them, they’re on me. That’s just something I’m getting a little more used to as I go forward.”
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I've got to say, I am growing to like Matt a lot, whether he succeeds in becoming a great quarterback or not. He spreads out the accolades to his running game and the rest of the offense, and owns the mistakes, saying to not blame the offensive line for his sacks. If he does get better at pocket pressure and going a little further down the field, without giving up too many interceptions, the Pats could have a chance this year.
I hope he has a lot of success this year and whatever happens to him next year.
yeah...he is growing on me too....which i figured he would...just still really miss Brady. Congrats to him for Player of the Week...its really awesome! I also had read recently this comparison to Bradys stats in his first year compared to Cassel...and they are weirdly similar....think the big diff was the number of sacks cassel has had.
Forgot one thing...Mike, why hasn't Globe commented on the Brady story out there right now regarding his knee? I trust you guys waaaay more than the herald!!!!
With the worrying news circulating about TB's knee, we'd better get used to this guys face.
I was looking at the schedule to come in terms of wins and losses, and came out with an 11-5 record. I included beating the Bills twice, mind you. Woudlnt that be grand?
I second Mike Shea's comments. We may be okay if Matt stays on his feet more...and stays away from supermodels
Matt said the right thing(s).....he needs to get rid of the ball quicker. The the other players do their job, they will get open. He just needs to find them and if he can't, throw the ball away. Everyone expects the bomb to Moss. Try some more dink and dunks. Move the ball downfieldthrough the running game and short pass play then look for Moss in the endzone. Last week was a great game for the offense, all be the defense was horrible, but they should really look at that as inspiration.
On kinda looking like actor Jared Leto. "Really? People say that? Maybe i'll go as Jordan Catalano for Halloween."
he does hold the ball too long occasionally. but it looks to me that the o line are not holding their blocks and missing assignments on stunts. i would the high sack stats mainly to them
I agree with you Mike, Cassel is composing himself really well. Never do you hear him complain or blame his teammates. This guy has a ton of pressure on him, but we've yet to see him crack. In addition, his performance is improving with every week. I think people are starting to feel confident in him. As long as he can manage a game and continue to improve, I believe that we can clinch a playoff spot.
GO PATS!
I agree; he's a class act. I assume with more playing time, he'll get better.
I agree with Mike Shea, he is growing on me too. I was unhappy with the amount of sacks last game, but that's because I'm not used to seeing anything like that for years now. Brady got better with time. He was a good q to start but improved being around this team, coaches, and sports town. If we can embrace Cassel, I think he could be a great quarterback and he's got an advantage being here. This will definitely be a humbling season, but it should be fun to watch.
Cassel is like Obama. You don't think he can do it at first, then he proves he can and you grow to like him. I hope both can finish it off
Hope people are finally starting to realize how silly it would be for the Pats to just sign a name qb into their system instead of trusting a guy who has backed up Brady for 3 years and knows the playbook. After 7 games in 2001, Brady was 3-4. After six games, Cassel is 4-2, and after next week he might be 5-2. I think we should trust the coaching staff and allow him to develop slowly instead of expecting him to tear his shirt off and reveal a blue suit with a big "S" in the middle. It's not gonna happen guys, but the team may make hte playoffs and make a splash after that, who knows? just enjoy the season as much as you can w/out Brady under Center!
I think it is great that Matt takes some of the blame on the sacks but when 3 or 4 lineman are standing around watching the quarterback get sacked - that is a problem. The line needs to play better and Matt needs to get rid of ball and things will come together for the offense.
every interview you read you can see a little bit of tom brady. this is a class act whether or not he can make it happen for us. GO PATS!
Matt is going to be just fine. It's Tom I'm worried about.
Hi Jill. We're working on confirming the Herald story and better understanding the context of what is taking place. My personal policy is to not print something unless I know it to be true and understand the context of it. I think context is very important in this situation. Sometimes it takes time to get there, which is why there isn't always an immediate report on what another outlet reports.
--Mike
Your personal policy? So you mean to say you have journalistic ethics? Good luck getting a job at ESPN...
will make the playoffs and everyone needs to start cheering for the home team. and don't disgust me again by walking out of the stadium before the clock hits zero. i never did back in the "tough" yearsthepatmake
While I like the comments/stance that Matt takes (passing out credit to teammates, etc.) and taking responsibility for his own mistakes (holding the ball too long at times), it made me ask myself one question: Was the O-line's mistakes masked from Brady's uncanny ability to get rid of the ball quickly these past few years?
Thanks Mike...I kinda figured the story was being confirmed......like i said...trust you guys more than herald (or espn for that matter) to get the story right!
Mike, interesting you mention the herald reporting on this. I honestly didn't even know that paper still existed. But since it does, I'm more surpised anyone would actually read, and believe, what they published.
Hi Jill and John T. Sometimes I write something and am thinking a certain way, but it doesn't come out the right way. I was not meaning to degrade the Herald in any way. Karen Guregian, who wrote the story, is a true pro. I also didn't want to make it seem like I don't make mistakes. I have made my fair share, such as reporting that Laurence Maroney fired an agent he never fired.
--Mike
I think I might have been the one to say Herald reported this, not mike! ESPN had quoted the Herald and then I went and read the story there! And since I dont trust the Herald i wanted mikes opinion! My opinion only on the Herald!
Dangerous this year to be looking at the schedule and guessing wins and losses. Unpredictable is the best way to describe this NFL season. I do think that Matt will continue to get better. The sack thing is a work in progress for him. I am sure there will be some down games still too come with Matt getting sacked too much and/or turning the ball over. There are also going to be some games that I am sure going to be better than anything we have seen of could ever have expected from Matt just a few weeks ago. I think an even keel is the best way to move forward. A bad game or a loss should not restart the calls for Culpepper or O'Connell, just as 3 TD's and 136 passer rating should not make anyone wonder what in the world are they going to do with Brady next year? I think there is a reason this kid was drafted and has been in the NFL for 4 seasons despite not playing since High School and we are seeing just the beginning of the potential that Patriots staff saw in him.
drafted
you people on this forum embody why the rest of the country hates boston sports and the fans. you have become so accustomed to winning and championships that you can't objectively and knowledgeably evaluate the teams. boston fans use to know the sport their teams were playing. i grew up in boston and now live in san diego. i had season tixs to the pats from '92 to 2001 watching bledsoe. freezing cold on metal bleachers in december rooting for a 4-12 team. brady went down. cassel is a great replacement surrounded by one of the best built football teams in the nfl. the sky was falling when the pats lost to miami and san diego. cassel is 6 starts into his pro career after not playing since high school.
Brady's had a couple of more surgeries on his knee. This is very bad sign. Let's hope Tom doesn't go the way of Carson Palmer.
Cassel is like Obama. You don't think he can do it at first, then he proves he can and you grow to like him. I hope both can finish it off
KENYAN,
OH GOD!!!!! OBAMA! You are making a comparison of Cassel to OBAMA! WOW! I have heard it now. Lot's of goofy liberals out there. I suppose you are going to vote for him based off of past experience (2 years) and knowledge or lack there of foreign relations.
Hmmm? Surgery in L.A. , now bad infection, maybe the L.A. smog. Maybe he shoulda stuck around. Great Ortho at Baptist Hospital.
Right on Jamal. They can't seem to contain themselves. Spills right over to a non-political quarterback, game and forum.
Three words for Tawm...Dr. James Andrews
To the dolt who wants to see more short passing and dink/dunk offense...go away. EVERY team is expecting that strategy. It only works when the deep ball is working, not the other way around. Denver had zero defense. Let's see what happens this week before we annoint Cassel.
I still think Cassel is terrible. Let's see how many six sack games he lasts in.
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