Belichick & Pioli comments

Where does that leave the Patriots with regard ot the salary cap?

There is one more press release: Bob Kraft wants everyone to know Matt Cassel jerseys are on sale at the Patriots ProShop for only $79.95. Tax, shipping, undisclosed fees, licensing charge, and parking are not included. Have a happy offseason!

I think you're shoveling a truck full. We GAVE Vrabel away anyway you look at it. What we got for Cassel should not relate to where we got him. His value is determined by his ability. Mike Smith disagrees with you and so do I. Smith's comment was "Belichick and Pioli must be really good friends" and I agree with that outlook. It looks like Pioli was the brains behind the trades and we'll have to wait to see if he was the brains behind the drafts.

I am shocked that all Vrabel and Cassel could fetch was a 2nd round pick..... The Pats freed up quite a bit of cap space by moving Cassel, I hope they have something else up their sleeves..

I am shocked that all Vrabel and Cassel could fetch was a 2nd round pick..... The Pats freed up quite a bit of cap space by moving Cassel, I hope they have something else up their sleeves..

Bill Belichick, I believe the PAT'S could have Done much better for these 2 Guys. Are you kidding me, 2 Top players for just one second draft pick??? What am I missing here??? WOW!!!!!

The 34th pick in the draft (2nd pick, second round) is at least 60 picks higher than the 3rd round compensatory pick they would have received by letting Cassell go. I would have liked to have received more for including Vrabel, but it is not as bad as I initially thought.

Money! Money! Money! Cap space..18.9 mil.35th pick overall.Not bad.

I am super relieved!!!!! Do you realize if they COULDN"T have found a buyer for Cassel? What that would have dominoed into? Goodbye to the Middle Class approach thats won 3 Titles, No chance at an impact FA signing, resigning Wilfork and Mankins, and winding up with nothing in return for Cassel next year.

We won't know who got the better of this trade untill after the player taken 34th has been in the league for a couple yeras (by then Vrabel may have retired). Also maybe that 34th gets included in a trade sooner?

What is this all about? The Pat's use the Franchise Tag on Cassel and end up with a 2nd round draft pick?? Last I checked the Fanchise Tag called for 2 - 1st round draft picks from the team that picked up the Franchised player! Does this mean Belichick essentially "paid" the Chiefs to take Vrable off our hands? Nice dea! Pioli must have pictures of Coach B. sleeping with Krafts wife or something.

All you dopes need to realize that if Vrabel wasn't moved here he was going to be cut, plain and simple. Get over it. We turned the #230 pick in the 2005 draft into a really good season in 2008 and the #34 pick in the 2009 draft and the move freed up 20 million in cap space. How the heck do you complain?

Mike
Being the voice of reason has helped you gain tremendous respect among fans but you need to occassionally show the willingness to approach a development with an increased degree of perspective and critical thinking. No one wants you to become a Borges (heck, we don't even want you to become a Felger) but to continue to play only from the Patriots side of the 50 you are compromising your objectivity. Vrabel & Cassell for a 2nd rounder (in your own conference!!) begs the question of what could have and should have been done to assure a better return.

Bad deal the Pats did not get enough

Mike
I know you are trying to help us get rid of the knots in our collective stomachs by this analysis and I appreciate that. But anyone with an ounce of objectivity knows this is nothing short of a giveaway and there is something more behind this deal, whether it was based on friendship or secret agreement or if there is another deal on the way. Cassel alone was worth the pick. and Vrabel even if he is on his way is still going to impart his leadership and mentoring on a hungry team. I do not see how this is adequate compensation.

There may be more to this trade. Maybe another team involved that hasn't come out yet. Let's see.

Other sites (PFT, SportingNews) are now reporting rumors Denver and Tampa were looking to acquire Cassel. Denver wanted to trade Cutler in a 3 team deal to reunite Cassel with his old Offensive Coordinator. Tampa has a need and a ton of cap room to sign a new QB. Getting only a 2nd round draft pick for Cassel and Vrabel is looking worse the more you look at it. There could have been a bidding war if BB let the market for Cassel build up.

The Vrabel trade hurts but mostly from an emotional standpoint. The Pats were sellers in a buyers market, and Pioli - the master - knew. There was no possible way to keep both Brady & Cassel. That said, Cassel is no lock for next year (like the stock market - past gains are no indicator of future sucess). Whereas, Vrabel may be a lock but only has so much left in the tank. Come on -- this is the NFL, how long can you run with 40 something linebackers as legendary as they are. Forget the fact that the Chiefs won't contend for another few years. We all know the Pats and their philosophy isn't built on primadonna first-rounders. Let's get it done in 2010.

You guys are so short sighted. I'm glad BB is the coach and not you chumps. Do you really think the Pats are going to use all these 2nd round picks on rookies. Joke. They have a plan and I bet its to trade one or two of the 2nd round picks and possible a 3rd rounder for some solid proven players. Maybe Julius Peppers. I loved Vrabel too, but he's getting older and he didn't produce much last year. The defense was 26th in the league with Vrabel and they stunk. Do you think they can really get anyworse on 3rd down defense without Vrabel. Look at the big picture for one you clowns.

We traded Vrabel and Cassel for a the 34th pick in the draft and 5-6 other players yet to come (due to cap space) not to mention the space we have to resign Mankins, Wilfork, etc. You can't look at this deal purely as Vrabel/Cassell for #34. It runs much deeper than that - explains why the Pats via for a title every year. Ask any GM in the league and they will tell you the best VALUE is the first 5 picks in the second round. Good player under your control for 4 years at cheap dollars.

I could accept a quick trade for a 34th pick for Cassel in a worst case scenerio. Market not there and lack of cap space strangling the team in UFA and signing their own. Although, it's the least I thought they would get for Cassel alone. Including Vrabel in the deal was a joke unless they needed to dump his salary too. At a position of need for us, Mike being one of the brains of the D, we could not keep him for his final year of his contract? Pats' offense has been helped in UFA but the defense just got weaker. Woods and Tully Bully Banta-Cain? Give me a break! "In Bill we trust" got fleeced on this deal.

Please, spare me the outrage. Did the Pats get 100 cents on the dollar? Perhaps not but they a solid pick for a guy who had NO value seven months ago, a guy whose value has been slipping since the midway point of the 2007 season and the removal of a cap problem that could have really hurt the organization going forward. First off, the Pats got the 34th pick in the draft which is still a valuable pick and one that doesn't command first round money. These things add up. Second, I wouldn't consider Vrabel to be a throw-in. He was released but rather than cut him, the Pats found a buyer and a way to spare themselves from taking the full cap charge that goes with releasing a player. Third, lets not go crazy on Matt Caseell. Yes, some thought he had more value but it doesn't matter what "some"may have thought. What matters is what "buyers" felt and in this instance, their weren't exactly a ton of buyers. But more importantly, the Pats had NO choice. Sure, they blustered and bluffed, but they had to make this deal and free this money from their cap. Had they not, you can kiss some of those long-term deals goodbye and just forget about bringing in anything of import this offseason. With this deal done, they have some additional cap flexibility and four good picks in the upcomming draft. If they manage these resources well, who knows, maybe they can come up with a couple starters in 2009 and a draft class that approximates 2003.

Cassel AND Vrabel for a 2nd round pick? Vrabel was the only real pass rusher this team had. Don't like it. Not enough.

Well, this move will certainly help the defense. It's all about getting rid of the good players, that's what makes a defense solid. Nice work.

do you really think the hoodie did this without something else in mind? this is why he is where he is at and we are nothing more than monday morning qb,s!

Bill had all those nice, great things to say about Mike, and still traded him.
Wow!....he has popsicles for veins!....Mike wasn't that bad, that he needed to go....Hopefully, say hello to Ray Lewis.

It's a great trade! The top of the 2nd round is where any smart team wants to draft; especially when they already have a pick at #23, and this year is very deep with lots of parity...all this means is you pay the player less money...less against the cap and therefore more options...same type player. The Pats are brilliant as usual..Also, if a player slips to round 2 they now have to work very hard the next 4 years (under contract for short money) to get their big payday...lots of reasons to WANT the top of the 2nd instead of the top 10. They probably had to include Vrabel to stay out of the 1st round...I realize that is hard to grasp for many, but it's a fact....money rules in this league.

Everyone relax. Vrabel's contract after next year and there was no way the Pats were gonna resign him. Cassell being a late draft pick and now traded for a 2nd is fine. Time to reload and this is the way to do it, draft picks.

I cant understand how people are upset about this. If Matt becomes a Pro Bowl player than it was a bad deal. If He plays like he did in the pre season on a team that resembles our scrubs than it was a good deal. On Mike Vrabel he helped out a lot when we won the 3 Super Bowls and got paid well but his skills were on the down slope. If He kept his mouth shut he would still be here as long as he would take a pay cut. Obviously he did neither and was sent packing. Do not feel sorry for these guys, they have tons of dough while the average fan is struggling to make ends meet in this free falling economy BB is best

its a good deal for the players & for the teams. the patriots can get a younger player with the same $ vrabel would have cost. he is really only worth his contract on a team where he can add value with experience. if he wasn't traded, he would have been cut. 34th pick is pretty nice. lower $, but potential for a star. they could also get an extra 1st rounder by putting 2 of their second rounders together. they had to move Cassel & this was the best they could get. The Chiefs get a potential stud QB & a LB who is more like a player/coach at this point.

In Belichick, I trust. Period.

What all you guys are missing who think this was a bad deal, is this. Vrabel and Cassel ARE worth more than the 34th pick in the draft. BUT! They cost way way more than the player that will be (hopefully) drafted there. (think Mayo, Mankins) What is Cassel worth to the Pats if Brady is good to go? Nothing. Certainly not 14 miiiillllion dollars. Vrabel won't play 5 million good this year either. It was a smart move.

Reiss said it right, the Pat's had no leverage as no market developed for Cassel. They could not afford to carry Cassel's cap as it was holding them back from making other moves to upgrade the team. I think Belichick tried to get everything he could for them and not send two classy and loyal players packing to some NFL wasteland. Both players will have a chance to succeed in K.C. with Pioli and Healy at the helm. I think Belichick does in fact care about his players, but this was not done at the expense of the Pat's organization. He got something for Cassel and had to give up Vrabel in the process. Maybe they could have gotten more down the road, but they could have got stuck holding the bag. Sometimes you need to give up something to get something and now that Pat's have more room to maneauver and lock up Wilfork and Mankins.

When I first heard about the Cassel trade I was upset with the Patriot's organization. After time to think about the trade it makes sense that Cassel's value had shrunk. Tom Brady and the medical staff opened their mouths and let everyone know that Tom would be ready for the season. These statements helped to lower Cassel's value. At the same time everyone has to remember that Cassel was a seventh round draft choice and and the Patriots are receiving a high second round pick. Cassel is now headed to KC without the same receivers he had in New England. Good Luck Matt, I enjoyed watching you play.

OK. I get it. The high second round pick was probably as good as it was going to get. For Cassel. But most of you are telling me that including Vrabel with Matt wasn't worth a fourth or fifth-rounder as well? I'm sorry. Overall, I just don't like it.

Mike Reiss says a 'sound" trade!!!!. Yes if come draft day there is some deal produced. We will wait and see.
If Tampa Bay were involved at end of discussions WHY would Pats not accept their no 19? They must want a quarterback to take them to the next level.
Ditto for Vikings.

in Bill we Trust

Cassell for the 34th pick is a pretty amazing deal. That's the place in the draft where potential starting talent can be signed for cheap. That's a win. The Vrabel thing strikes me as sad since it's really little more than a salary dump of a guy we love. To be objective, he did seem like he was fading last year and he was due to make a heap of money that could be spent elsewhere. I just hope it's spent on something that pans out to ease the blow.

well you made a lot of JETS fans happy ..

this trade frees up salary to lock in the younger players still in their primes (Wilfork) while also leaving them money to get younger and more athletic at linebacker and to address their abysmal cornerback situation...this deal can't be judged fully until we see how the Pats allocate that freed up cap money

I'll reserve my judgement till I see what if anything the Pats do with all
this cap space. They better not go into the season 20 million under.

Teams regard second round picks almost more than first round picks because you get similar talent for less money. This is a good trade, is it a great trade, no, but it's a good trade...and maybe we could have gotten more, but how much more? Belichick also wanted to make sure Matt and Mike went to a good situation, because they deserve it. We turned a 7th rounder into a 2 and we took care of a veteran that we would have parted ways next year. The Pats have the most picks of any tea in the first day, thats big.

At first I thought that the Pat's did not get value for both of these players but now
using my 24 hour theory to make a comment it was a great deal for the Pat's.
Three #2's and 18 million in cap space give the Pat's many options to add players
at numeous postions. Just keep waiting and watching.

yeah pats

Hey, maybe we can get another Chad Jackson. Wasn't #34 about where he was drafted?

This trade is foolish. Any way you look at it we GAVE AWAY Cassel and Vrabel to the Chiefs. We could have traded Cassel to the Broncos for the NUMBER 12 PICK!!! Not #34, but #12. Now if you say that it was due to cap room or whattever or that we didnt want to waste the money on such a high pick think of this, get the #12 then trade that for a couple more picks. No matter how you look at it we DID NOT get the best deal we could have gotten. Plain and simple. Something is going on in Patriots country and I don't like the look of it at all.