Cassel on franchise tag figure: That's crazy

Does MC want us to believe he didnt know the figure?

He is correct. Paying him that much to hold a clipboard is crazy.

He wont be paid that much to hold a clipboard. The Patriots will trade him to the Chiefs for this year and next year's 2nd round pick. At that point the 14.65 million dollar sheet will be torn up and he will sign a long term deal. This is just a way for the Pats to get draft picks, instead of letting him get away for nothing. That is why the rumor spread about Brady not being ready for next season, so they can legitimately say they franchised Cassel to protect themselves from Brady being hurt. Its all spin control by the Patriots....the Sox do the same thing...its smart management. There is NO WAY the Patriots will tie up close to 25 million in salary cap on the QB position.

"Does MC want us to believe he didnt know the figure?"

He didn't know that it exceeded Brady's.

I've been a believer of Matt since Tom went down in week one. I love it that Matts payday has arrived. Don't get me wrong with what I'm going to say next. I absolutely love Tom and all that he has done for the Patriots, but I strongly believe that Matt should be the starting QB for the Pats as we enter the next decade of Patriots NFL domination. We need a fresh pair of legs on the field and Matt proved to the Patriot nation that he is more than capable of leading this team to several more championships. OK everyone, I'm ready. You may start throwing the daggers my direction! LOL!!!!

thees no way cassel will go to the chiefs , if pioli makes a deal , no matter what he gives up it will always look like he went back to daddt bill belicheck for his QB. Trust me pioli wont do that. besides who would give up a 10th ranked QB for 2 2nd round picks in successive years? talk about cheap cheap cheap.
thatd be a heck of a steal.

Regardless of what happens I don't see him getting paid more than TFB. But it's nice to know he's realistic about the situation. If Brady didn't go down this year he might not even have a market to look at for a job next season. Too bad Asante Samuel didn't look at it that way.

matt will be the starting quarterback for a team next year. just not us.

matt cassel will be traded ,for a 1st and 3rd round pic,kc,detroit ot sanfran,depending who needs a qb more

Matt Cassel is a legitimate NFL QB with a tremendous upside. He has intelligence, athleticism and is a team player. I believe he has "IT". There is no better QB available to other teams including QB's coming out of the draft. I can even see a team that needs a QB giving up 2 #1's. He is the only available NFL proven QB that is not a re-thread and with an upside. A #1 and a #2 or #3 would be the starting point. Get in line teams and welcome back Mr. Brady. No I haven't forgotten his drive to be the best.

Tim - Cassel did okay as a backup. He had decent, first-year-Brady-like numbers WITH THE BEST RECEIVING CORPS IN FOOTBALL. He will get better, but he's no Brady, not even close. Do you already forget 2007-2008? 47 TD passes? How about the 2008 Dolphins game, or the Steelers?

There are teams that can afford to pay Matt Cassel $12M+ against the salary cap. The Patriots are not one of those teams.

It will be sad to see Matt go. Don't get me wrong I'll take TB until he is 40! We can all agree we got jipped from seeign a red hot MC in the playoffs!

A Bird in Hand is Worth Two in the Bush.

Matt Cassel does not have a killer arm but he can scramble read plays and has shown he can play in the NFL. His arm accuracy can develope on the deep throws. The O-Line is not as good as people say. Remember the Giants games-and now we have the human Turnstiles Lygtht and Kazur. While at leat Matt is effect again non-speed rushers. Cassell survived that too.

If Matt Schaub untested can merit more than 2 second round picks, and Cassell already has shown he can read defenses and run in the NFL he is one step ahead of any qb coming out. Remember it is a big progression to adjust to the NFL. The speed of the game has changed. A cannon arm does not guarantuee success: Akili Smith, Klinger, Pastorini. Yet, many have gone on to great success with intermediate skills: Kenny Anderson, Joe Montana, Matt Ryan and even Chad Pennington who under difference circumstances with the Jets would have been a much better player. Pastorini had the strongest arms of his time but he was no Bradshaw, Stabler[average arm] nor Anderson. Bledsoe clearly had a stronger arm than Brady. Sometimes a quick release like Brady's, Montanna's and Marino's is invaluable Cassel can buy time in the pocket. He can scramble.

The Lions, KC, and Minnesota would rank as the top teams to show interest.
Since Minnesota's pick is late then a 1st and 3rd this year, and a 1st next year.

With the Lions, their second later 1st round pick would be more attractive to the BB value method of drafting. A first rounder this year, and a second and third round pick next year.

With regard to KC, their first round pick would be of no interest to BB, unless he wanted to pick up a stud Left Tackle so that Brady can remain standing or a decent corner can be drafted. More likely, KC would have to trade down to get a package of Picks. This would be quite hard. KC would have to trade away their 2nd rounder, 3rd rounder, and next years first round pick. While this seams like a lot, you are probably saying wishing thinking on the part of a Pats fan, I would rather have a battle testing bird in the hand than two in the bush. You know he can be good and will just get better.

There have been many first round QB busts hamstringing teams financial. Head the clarion warning of Rick Mirer and of the surly but supremely talented Ryan Leaf, the tough transition of Jamarcus Russsell, the Bengals experiences with Klingler and Akili Smith.

Maybe it is worth paying some draft picks to get some experience .

My bets are on Minny coming through with the picks or an O--line man or a CB or two and a lower pick. After that, KC would be my better with the 2nd, 3rd, and 1st round pick next year. Sounds like a lot but you heard it hear. Upside can only take you so far. I would rather go with a better than average sure thing.

Naftali Armon-Sports Analyst
Sports Attorney

I would also strongly consider Cassel as the qb of the future because he is 5 younger than Brady and a lot more mobile. As for Pioli taking Cassel, he would do it in a second for 2 second round draft picks. Pioli has an ego but he is not stupid.

having not thrown a pass since high school what matt did is nothing short of amazing. He is well worth the 14 mil . however i can't see the pats holding him.
I personnaly like to see him in a Denver uniform if he leaves new england

I can't believe the number of these pink hat fans saying that Cassel should take Brady's starting spot. GET REAL. Look at Cassel's numbers against 'real' teams & good defenses. He was terrible!
No team is going to give the Pats two frist round picks for him. Maybe a 2nd & a 3rd or something. No way it'll be two #1's. I bet these people that are saying Cassel should start over Brady are the same ones that were saying we should move Youk to shortstop if the Sox signed Tex. Get a clue, people!

Excellent post Naftali!

If Tom Brady is able to return from this devestating knee injury as soon as opening day, and perform to his previous level it will be amazing. Many athletes who suffer 'only' a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament take more than a year to return to former status. Look at Tony Allen who is just getting back to normal after two seasons post injury. Add the destruction of Brady's medial colateral ligament to the mix , not to mention a couple of infections and the questions are multiplied.
Think any defensive players will go after Brady's knees, willing to take a fifteen yard penalty to put him out again? Think maybe another division rival?? Keeping
Cassel is not really an option. He maY be even more valuable in mid-season should Brady make it back

CAsse;

Tom Brady = 4 Super Bowls with 3 victories
Matt Cassel = 1 season, no playoffs.

Do the math (wait, that wasnt a math equation).....Brady is going to be quarterbacking this team and Cassel will be elsewhere if the Pats franchise him.

If Brady wasnt on course to play this upcoming year, he would be under strict team rules to lay low like he did during the 2008 season and not be doing radio interviews and be seen like he currently is.

Hey, you guys? The Patriots can't trade Matt Cassel for 2 second round picks, because players with the franchise tag can only be traded for two FIRST round picks or more, and no one is going to do that for Matt Cassel. You guys screwed this one up. Have fun.

I think MC is indicating that he would take less cash to stay with the Pats. He's shown to be a team player. It's clear the team needs him and he'd take a pay cut to make it work for team.

Harry,

A franchised tag player can be traded for anything. Even a bag of footballs.

If another team SIGNS a non-exclusive franchise tagged player, then the original team gets 2 first round picks as COMPENSATION, not as a "trade".

There is no restriction on trades.

Harry, get your facts straight for trading franchise players, then post...here is the minimum
1st round draft pick or player considered or equal value
or
2nd round draft pick and 4th round draft pick
or
2nd round draft pick and a player in return

It's pretty simple. In the Patriots culture , nobody worries about pay, when pay is mentioned, WOW is offered. Matt wanted to win, sucked when tom went down,.... felt confident to step in (again the patriot way) did his job, consequences are such, he will be payed AS A CONSEQUENCE. Me? all for trading for value, think O'connell can be a back up, ain't no way keeping Cassell works, if he won't sit quietly. would you ? Still though, if he is franchised, it's only one year, he get's paid, I don't think success comes equally from another franchise, gen. mgrs. will remember (a year later). It is a question, because hanging with the Pats, it just might be best , from a developmental standpoint, or it might not. I think Matt knows best. Whatever happens, I wish him well, THANKS MATT, GOOD JOB FOR 2008

We all know TB will be our starter in 2009 , BB has got all this nonsence under control. MC is great , he did exactly what he was coached to do , back up TB . MC
decerves a big payday for his job performance , let him get it one way or another .

OK so besides the franchise tag is anyone else worried about the fact that we dont really know Brady's status, they say he has some loose ligaments which means one hit and he would be done, leaving our season to O'Connel who hasnt shown anything yet except to be Joey Porters punching bag in that humiliating loss to Miami. If Matt wants to come back and he is determined to let him enter Free Agency and sign him for less, but you gamble if you do that, so it is a tricky situation

Phillip - Brady got the numbers you are talking about because of those receivers. He never had anywhere near those numbers until last year. Don't misunderstand I think Tom is a good QB but certainly not the best of all time. He probably isn't even in the top 50. The younger folks here have tunnel vision and only think/know about the last 5 or 10 years, remember the league has been around for 70 years.

Harry -
Franchise players can only be SIGNED away from the team that franchised them for 2 first round picks. They can be TRADED for less than that.

You have to think that the Pats will keep their option value, but not give away anything without at least trying. First they will try to sign MC for 2 years at $7 or 8 MM/yr, with a promise of objectives that will work out for both MC and the team. They behaved honorably but in their best interest with both Deion Branch and Asante. Now, MC will be faced with forcing a franchise tag if he doesnt sign. I don't think he will do that because he still knows he has a chance to play with the Pats as his first choice, as long as he signs. He has more of a chance to stay if he signs because if he is franchised, he is likely to be traded mid-season, once TB's status is OK.

I hear the J E T S are knocking...............and its true. salary cap , matt to the jets..............for multiple pics. people are telling Matt to split and make the $$$$$. Brady WILL be back. Matt wants to start NOW ...........

ITS CLEAR THAT BILL KNOWS BEST AND WILL GET THE BEST OUT OF THE SITUATION. WHETHER IT BE VIA TRADE OR SIGNING MC FOR LESS AS AN ABOVE AVERAGE BACK UP.
I DO HAVE AN OPINION, AND IT IS THAT MC SHOULD BE GONE BY START OF APRIL FOR PICKS . O'CONNELL/GUTTIEREZ IS A GOOD BACK UP. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THE SYSTEM AND EXCELLENT RECIEVERS HELPED MC SHINE, AND SHOULD TB SUFFER SETBACK, THEY WILL BE FINE.
PATS NEED YOUTH IN SEVERAL AREAS [HELLO 'D'] AND PICKS WILL FILL THAT.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE I AM A TRANSPLANTED PATS FAN [AZ] AND WAS A CARDS FAN FOR THIS SB. AFTER TWO CONSECUTIVE HEARTBREAKING SB FOR ME, WHILE BEING TEMPORARILY UNEMPLOYED DURING EACH OF THE LAST 2 POSTSEASONS, I'M HOPING FOR A PATS SB RUN, AND A F'N JOB THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.
LOOKING FORWARD TO DRAFT,
DINO