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Email|Link|Comments (5) Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff November 25, 2008 01:15 PM

Every Tuesday on Boston.com, questions from Patriots fans are answered on Boston.com. This week's mailbag has been posted and includes some of the following topics:

Quarterback Matt Cassel and his future, and the Patriots' options with Cassel.

More on Cassel and his improbable rise.

A closer look at some of the team's struggles on defense.

Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels -- and other coordinators -- and their potential to become head coaches.

Analyzing the Patriots' recent drafts and answering if the team has struggled to select the best personnel.

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5 comments so far...

Mike --

Just saw that Shaun Alexander got cut by the Redskins. Any chance he could help with the depth in the Patriots' backfield?

Posted by Craig November 25, 08 03:32 PM

Just read through your mailbag Q & A, good stuff as always Mike, and your insight on McDaniels was particularly interesting. It's amazing how quickly your blog has become a must read for Pats fans.

Funny thing about Cassel. I was one of those "fans" who thought that he might not even make the team, never mind have a breakout year. But I also realize that I don't know much more about pro football than what I read and what I watch on TV. So I always figured that if the Pats organization thought that he was the guy, well, that's what they get paid to do. I would have cut Cassel, and then lost my job!

Posted by Rob November 25, 08 05:47 PM

Anybody questioning the Pats drafting or free agency skills is crazy.
These guys panned out, to a degree, including those we lost:
'00- Tom Brady
'01- Richard Seymour, Matt Light
'02- Deion Branch (FA), Jarvis Green, David Givens (FA)
'03- Ty Warren, Eugene Wilson (FA), Asante Samuel (FA), Dan Koppen, Tully Banta-Cain (FA)
'04- Vince Wilfork, Ben Watson
'05- Logan Mankins, Ellis Hobbs, Nick Kaczur, James Sanders, Matt Cassel
'06- Laurence Maroney, David Thomas, Stephen Gostkowski, Ryan O'Callaghan
'07- Brandon Meriweather

Include addition of Neal in 2001 and our entire line is on there.
Include Mayo & Guyton as guys who have already panned out THIS YEAR (Guyton was a Free Agent signing).
How about the free agents we have signed over the years: Welker, Moss, AD, Harrison, Gaffney, Bryan Cox, Ted Washington, Colvin, Andruzzi, Bobby Hamilton, Vrabel, Roman Phifer, Izzo, Patton, Fauria, Hochstein, Keith Traylor, Kyle Brady, Sammy Morris.

Find anyone in the hitory of the NFL with more names. You can't simply because of free agency. The Cowboys couldn't keep their team together during the first generation of free agency, The Broncos, The Rams...Only the Colts of this decade can claim close to as many hits compared to misses.

Posted by Sonny_Corlione November 25, 08 06:51 PM

Mike, I noticed your comment that you think it will come down to the Pats and Ravens for one of the wildcard spots (assuming Jets win the division). Isn't the more likely scenario that the Ravens will end up taking the division from the Steelers while the Steelers end up fighting it out for the wildcard spot? Steelers have a really tough schedule ahead and have some injury issues too. My hope is that the Pats beat the Steelers and the Ravens end up winning that division. That way, we own the tiebreaker on the Steelers and end up securing at least a wild card and hope that the Jets stumble down the stretch.

Posted by Shane November 25, 08 07:14 PM

Well, if the DC role opens up, Romeo should be free again next year.

Posted by Dan November 25, 08 08:14 PM

DO NOT HIT THE SUBMIT BUTTON MORE THAN ONCE!

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Mike Reiss, Christopher L. Gasper and the rest of the Globe team provide regular updates –and a behind-the-scenes look– on the daily happenings of the Patriots.

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