Patriots sign 5 to future contracts

Mike,
Thanks for the outstanding work as PATS beat writer...your insight is 2nd to none! Sorry I missed this weeks mailbag....read through it and did not see my question asked ...so here goes....If the PATS franchise Cassel with the hopes of trading for a draft choice in this years draft...what round draft choice do you feel they could get for Matt? Would love for them to make a deal with SanFrancisco for their number one (which would be pretty high?)...2 1st round draft choices in '09 could be just what the defense needs (Malaluga,LB; Mays SS; Jenkins CB; Moore FS; all quality immediate impact (as much as immediate can be in Bellichicks world)your thoughts?

Hey Mike Reiss, Any comments on the report surfacing on TMZ.com saying they have a reliable source who is directly connected to Brady's treatment and "not a BS'er" that says Brady is ahead of schedule and healing. This is also the similar reports here and on SI.com. Contrast that with Tom Curran's peice that says the exact opposite and I have no idea what to believe. I keep hearing how Curran's sources are great but isn't Peter King just as well connected in the NFL. What do you make of all this?

Thanks Mike. Great Job. This is bar none the best place for Patriots news. Chris too!
I (as well as the several people i've told about the site) really appreciate your work.
Great Job this season. you guys do a great job.

I totally agree with your "It's important to win the division" stance, but let's face it... the playoffs should between the best teams. The Pats were tied for 3rd best record in the league. (I still see Gaffney drop that pass every time I close my eyes) I think there should be some clause like "If a team wins its division, but its record would not qualify it for a wildcard, then then that team forfeits its slot to a 3rd wildcard team". that keeps the pressure to win the division (mostly), and also accounts for the occasional anomaly where 1 division is just embarrassing as a whole.

Also, what Dave S. said.... We know the double B is only going to allow the release of the mandatory minimum of information regarding this, but c'mon... season's over. The fans are dying for just a lil' nugget.

[P.S. The only Pats related stuff I read regularly is this site and Jerry Thornton's "Knee-Jerk Reactions to the Pats vs. _______" which is posted on barstoolsports.com after Pat's games. Also, highly recommended. It's not as um...polished, but still insightful and funny]

What's Cassel worth?
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Ask Oakland how good they feel about Jamarcus Russel? Tennessee - Vince Young? Arizona - Leinart? San Fran - Smith? Jags - Leftwich? Houston - Carr? Detroit - Harrington? Atlanta - Vick? Browns - Couch....ETC. These teams gambled and lost on quarterbacks.
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He is worth exactly a first rounder plus whatever the owners of the previous teams would give if a genie would make their pick good. It just depends on how much sleep they lose at night wondering who they should have picked, they should have picked Brady, and how much more ticket revenue they could have had with Brady....teams owners cannot emotionally and financially afford to keep bobbing for QB's.
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2 first round draft picks, at least. Maybe more. There are 5-8 teams that NEED Cassel. He is their answer.
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Bottom line: There is no way to accurately value Cassel right now. He could hypothetically be worth 2-3- first rounders and/or the rest of somebody's draft. All depends on how bad teams want to win. He will end up being the biggest draft/trade story since Ricky Williams. What would you pay to insure your first round quarterback with at least a 90.0 QB rating? Despite getting sacked 47 times.
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By the way...95 QB rating in the second half of the season...Cassel is not just good...he is one of the best in the league...but he's not Brady --- Big Brother is worth exactly 100 first round draft picks in case you are wondering/interested.

Get ready Pats fans. Belichick is floating the 'Brady is behind schedule' story to eventually justify keeping Cassel and trading Brady. Cassel is better dollar value than Brady, who is older, not mobile, and will demand a monumental contract when his existing one ends in a year. Even though Mike Reiss won't consider it in his article on Cassel's future, the Pats will trade Brady for a massive amount of draft picks and ensure the Pats will be Superbowl favorites for the next 5 years. Belichick has dumped his starting QB before, namely Drew Bledsoe, Phil Simms, and Bernie Kosar. If it can happen to Joe Montana, it can happen to anyone.

Isaiah, when exactly did Bill Belichick dump Phil Simms?? I hope your not refering to when he was defensive coordinator for the Giants and Jeff Hostetller replaced an injured Phil Simms? Also, the comparison to Bledsoe (who was never at Brady's current level), Bernie Kosar (who had lost it and openly went against BB including calling his own plays in the huddle), and Montana (who was at the end of his career)......how can you compare that to Brady, who's last season was an MVP and who is only 31. Brady is one of the best ever......and still much better then Cassel even at 75%. The only way is if Brady is done forever.

Why don't the patriots go after some defensive players they need cb and lb there defense is getting old there not as fast as they use to be they need a good reliable running back why don't they sign one. I think they should make a trade for ladian whats your thought???