Weekend off for players

Next August, Matt Cassel will be 27, Tom Brady will be 32 and possibly damaged goods. With the aging defense and the way Cassel has played, should the Patriots trade Brady and get some defensive help???

they deserve it.

they were 2 officiating calls away from being 8-2 instead of 6-4.

that's pretty good considering everyone thats on IR.

you crazy, mike.

Wow, see this why the average fan is a SCREWBALL!

Ummmmmm call me crazy but I don't think they'll trade the franchise. Just a hunch.
Cassel has played good at best and your talking about trading perhaps the greatest to ever play the position.

Even if the Pats somehow entertained the idea what team would trade for Brady without knowing how his knee is?
At best we may get an idea by training camp on his status.

I also love the aging defense that everyone keeps talking about. The two oldest players on the D are Bru and Vrabel, with Bru off the field on thrid downs.
Everyone else is in their early to late twenty's.

Mike - LOL!!!! Matt Cassel couldnt hold Brady's Jock Strap. What a moronic comment.

Brady's our QB. Cassel will be a free agent. O'Connel is the future...

NO! Although Cassel may prove to be a good starter in the league for a long time, don't forget that Tom Brady won three super bowls here. You don't trade once a generation type players under any circumstance. Obviously there would be a concern that Brady won't be the same players once he comes back, but that's a risk that they're going to have to make. Also remember that they have lost two very close games, one in overtime. Even though Cassel has played VERY well, I don't think it's far fetched to say with Brady they probably win those games.

You know that won't happen. Tom Brady's the face of this franchise but the bigger question is if Cassel continues to progress like this do they offer him a big contract as backup considering Tom's potential limitations or let him go so he can be a starter somewhere.

I am sorry but it is really stupid to think that Cassel is anywhere close to Brady. Do you know how good the talent is on offense? Have you guys forgotten that Brady took the same guys and had the best offense EVER? So please stop saying cassel is so good when he misses so many passes esp inside the redzone and deep passes to moss. He is not even close. I hope he continues to succeed but pls I will have Brady back anyday, He would have easily won the Colts game and Jets game. Most of his passes are dink and dunk with YAC by welker so excuse me. Ahhhhhhhh, ppl can be so stupid.

Cassel is the future of the franchise. Tommy is too busy with other matters, such as walking little fur ball dogs first thing in the morning, carrying shopping bags after a long day on 5th ave, hauling luggage and flowers from the limo to the greenwich village condo, and many other necessary duties. Dis is zee job for a boy toy after all. Ya? And a bad foot or bum knee is NO EXCUSE!

Franchise Cassel if you can not sign him. See how TB is coming along and when TB is ready trade Cassel for a multitude of draft picks. Some stupid team like Detroit, Minnesota, Kansas City, Tampa Bay or someplace else will be all to happy to over pay us for him, because of how he has played this year. Because of that it is worth over paying for him in a contract either at the end of this year or by franchising him. END OF DISCUSSION !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

G Bunchen - You're Brazilian, not German.

8 Years ago, when Brady was in a similar position, no one thought he could replace Drew Bledsoe. It took three years for people to see how great Brady would become and even then, he had doubters.
It's absurd to compare MC now to the Brady of now. However, if we look at the progression, it's clear Cassel will likely be a very good QB if not better than very good. He's similar to Tom in that he does not get rattled by making a bad play and then makes them when they count--that kind of short term memory can't be coached or practiced, you have it or you don't and MC has it. Tom has made plenty of bad passes in his career, he simply makes them when they count and that's what Cassel has done.
Two two-minute touchdown drives in the same game at this point in his career is quite special. As for not being able to make the downfield pass, that will come. Remember, he's only played 10 meaningful games since high school and will get his long throws down too as that is a different kind of timing than the short routes. The impatience and short memory of fans continues to astonish me.

I like you idea "Iguide". Franchising Cassel until Brady gets back on the field then trade actually makes a lot of sense. Considering his progress this season, it'd be a shame to get nothing for him. Good idea.

Yes, now that Matt Cassel has had one good game, it's time to jettison the NFL MVP from last season.

(shakes head)

How many passes did Cassel miss yesterday? What are his numbers for "passes longer than 20 yards"? I think he's still in a very bad 0-fer streak.

(franchising a backup QB is a very silly idea - maybe if it was Steve Young)

cassel for nnamdi asomugha!

Matt won't allow himself to be franchised. If we do I can see him skipping training camp because playing won't be worth the risk of injury. We need to either pay up or shake the mans hand and let him go have a great NFL career. I'll be rooting for him no matter what.

Also, anyone who thinks Brady is going to be back to top form next year after what happened to his knee is crazy.

I guess I should not be shocked anymore by how dumb some fans are, but Mike you have hit an all time low.. Trading the best QB in the league and keeping Matt Cassel... Wow... Shaking head