Video: Reaction roundup

Mike, I would love an objective piece about our organizations options dealing with Cassel and Brady. Is there a possible win win situation?

I believe what Noonan is talking about is the prospect of re-signing Cassel and trading Brady for some first round draft picks. I know a year ago that would be blasphemous, and I don't see the front office forgetting about his apparent selflessness for the organization (i.e.: taking less money in order to get Moss), but would that be completely out of the question?

That's definitely not something to discuss at this point in the season. Ok, he has had two great games in a row. Frankly, the only thing that has stopped this offense has been their own mistakes in the past 120 minutes of play.

However, he has some issues going deep - that we saw him improve on even today with loft passes - and we can not score in the red area - of course their willingness to now let Cassel just run it in has expanded not only what we can do but narrowed how defenses will play. Let's see how this plays out.

I've changed my mind on this a bit - I think they WILL have a decision to make after the season but it's going to come down to how Brady recovers. And let me stress that it is AFTER the season is over. Where we go in the playoffs, or IF we make the playoffs, will have quite a bit of impact.

In conclusion the BEST case scenario is Cassel winning the SuperBowl ;) and us signing him to a long term deal, perhaps seven years, with the bulk of it deferred to the latter years. That would allow Brady to come back for three or four more seasons and keep Cassel on the team.

Does the league have any fear about signing someone who is great with the Pats...see Branch, Samuel, Colvin, Stallworth. Any way Cassel signs and lets the Pats trade him and get some reward for their loyalty to him?

Unfortunately, Moynihan, it is against CBA rules to franchise someone for the express purpose of trading them for compensation...If the Patriots did this it would be transparent what they did and the NFLPA would most likely view it as our attempt to restrict Cassel's rights... While agree Cassel has grown up over these past 11 games, what he provides long term is difficult to see and I for one would be loathe to put draft picks at risk with our secondary needs...Still I agree that it is going to be tough to keep him unless he agrees to some extension with an inflated value for a backup (i.e., Todd Collins).

brady is the QB, end of story. let cassel go and cash in on his success. good luck and thanks for the memories.

don't get carried away. cassel has had a number of games this season where his rating was under 80. if a healthy brady was in there there they would prob have only 1 loss and would be hanging huge numbers again on their way to the 1 seed and the SB.

cassel has good games against crappy teams. cassel will be a starting qb somewhere else next year. he's proven himself to be a winner. matt is the man but tom is our qb

M/C is very serviceable within the Pats schemes and has done a great job for us under less than ideal conditions considering the imbalance of the running backs coupled with defensive injuries....Geeez!

No doubt someone will be looking for a QB so can we PLEASE secure a couple of defensive backs as compensation for him? It's not like I'm asking for Gerrard Mayo to clone himself into a safety or a CB although that prospect is awfully delicious as we enter into the "eating" season.

Just deserts indeed.....

I agree with Noonan. We just would like to see all available scenario's drawn up.

Pita - don't know where you're getting that. I think he's just asking to see if and how we can keep both. He doesn't mention trading Brady at all.

Tom is still the QB for the Pats and will be for the foreseeable future (as far as we know) but not looking at the options for keeping both is just stupid.
Also, looking at the options for how we can maximize Cassel's value is also necessary. Can we do a sign and trade? Does Cassel hold all the cards?

Hey! Hey! Folks, I will take nothing away from Cassel. I think he has done an exceptional job in replacement of Tom Brady, and I am certainly rooting for the Pats to go all the way. But let’s face some facts here.
First: What was the Patriots Record Last Year? That’s right 18-1(AAAARRRGGG) and only an incredible catch kept them from the perfect season.
What was the record of the Pats in 2000? That’s right 5-11 and so far from perfect it not even funny to talk about
Second: Who were the Patriots 3 Starting receivers in 2000? Can anybody name anyone besides Troy Brown? I had to look it up. Does anyone here think that in 8 years we will have to look up 2008s starting receivers? Okay maybe Jabar Gaffnes, oops I mean Donte Stallworth sorry Donte.
Third: Also not let us forget what Tom did with these same receivers last year. COLD!
Like I said Cassel is good but not great. Let me paraphrase a great quote that most New Englanders should recognize. Sirs I know Tom Brady and he is no Tom Brady.
John

As a New York Pats fan who takes non-stop heat from friends, I would be devastated to see anything happen to Tom Brady. He is in my mind the central identity figure when it comes to the Pats. Although Cassel has done very well in his role, he is still the backup and I for one wait anxiously for Bradys return so he can shut the Favre/Jet guys up along with a little dose of humiliation for those Giants! What say you my Northern Pats fan brothers?