Tonight's instant analysis Q&A with Mike Reiss

a measly 34th pick for the two of them! Who was smoking crack while making this deal?

Mike, Will the Patriots be looking to add a bonafide stud at the #3 receiver spot, or will they settle for another Jabar Gaffney type? I see a lot of talented Wideouts in the draft as well as some older guys who were recently cut (Coles, Harrison) who even though they are past their primes are much better than Jabar "butterfingers" Gaffney. Also, why on earth would we want to sign Mike Furrey? He is another small unathletic WR.You usually don't strike gold with that type of player twice. And he hasn't done anything in 2 seasons. He's a poor man's Wes Welker. We need some size at this position whether its the # 3 or 4 who brings us the size we absolutely need it right??

Everyone seems to agree that Coach Belichick was not at his negotiating best on this one. We have all been waiting for the second shoe to drop. But that was it: the 32nd pick. What a disappointment for all New England fans. To lose our best LB and with no replacement. What was BB thinking? Was this just a gift to old friend at the expense of all of us?

I don't claim to be an expert as patriots brass are but this trade makes no sense looking at what they gave up and what they received in return. I guess only time will tell but it sure looks like Scott Pioli picked the Pats pocket.

The Franchise tag was not intended for teams to profit in this way. We are lucky to get a valuable draft pick and free up cap space to sign someone like Wilfork to a long term deal befor all those free agents on the team come due next year. Remember we still are in line to pick up 2 or 3 more mid round draft picks this year from free agent loses last year, add those to the 9 the Pats currently have and this could be a very active draft.

I agree with JDC - a franchise starting quarterback and a starting linebacker one year removed from the Pro Bowl for the 34th pick? You've got to be kidding!! Pioli handed BB his head on this one. Unless the extra cap space translates into some serious talent upgrades on defense, the Pats got absolutely played here.

Do you think this is a beginning of a relationship where they both will accept lopsided trades knowing this will even out in the end in future transactions?

BB was thinking youth. Adalius Thomas and Mayo are the Patriots best linebackers. People, get accustomed to new faces coming into Foxborough. This team is going through a transition, on defense particularly. YOUTH-YOUTH-YOUTH! Get over it.

Mike PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE tell me there is something else in this deal. It just doesn't make sense a pro-bowl linebacker and a franchise quaterback for a second round pick. It has definitely left me scratching my head.. Derek Brooks would be a huge pickup for them any chance of that happening?

Jo Jo, did you just claim Vrabel was the Patriots best linebacker? Have you seen Mayo or Thomas play? Also, BB made this deal because it was more than likely the best they could do.

There has to be something more to this, something behind the scenes between Bill and Scott... there has to be another shoe to drop.

In Bill We trust!

talk about rip off...

The moron express continues in this thread too.

This is why 80% of the wealth is controlled by 20% of the people.

GREAT TRADE AND MORE TO COME!

Well, i have to say that in Bill I trust, and so i am waiting to hear from him(if we do)
what he had in mind when he made this deal. While it is true to say this does not seem like a good deal for the Pats, i doubt whether Belicheck would cut Pioli a special deal as a friend or favor. he has not done that sort of thing in the past, far from it.

I found what Reiss wrote in his mailbag back on Feb 10th: "The Chiefs' second-round pick is almost like a first-rounder. If they offered that, I think the Patriots would take it."
Good call Mike!
By the way, in am please with the deal and excited to see draft day.

great trade! give up a 34 year old linebacker in fast decline and a 7th round pick whos stats were padded by recievers leading the league in yards after catch. now we have 3 second round picks in this draft. we should end up with a younger more talented team with lower payroll.

Mike, Ok ditto to what everyone else is asking. What gives here? And how stupid is the local TV sports media, not a mention of the lopsidedness of this trade?

A second rounder for a guy the team invested a 7th rounder pick in? A 34 year old linebacker whose game relies on speed and quickness? I enjoyed Mike Vrabel as much as the next guy, and I'm grateful for his contributions over the last 8 years, but c'mon. This defense was horrific last year. They couldn't stop anybody. It's time to go with the young guys. We can live with their inevitable growing pains of a young D early in the season while Brady and the offense are putting up 40+ per game in the perfect conditions of September and October. Lets's see what the team does with the extra 14 million in free agency and the draft before we panic

Thank you!!! we needed a boost like this in Kansas City!! What is shocking is, there are some Chiefs fans NOT happy this deal went down, thinking Cassel was over hyped and Vrabel isn't that good. Keep in mind I am not one of those doubters.

kc has awesome ribs

Well, i have to say that in Bill I trust, and so i am waiting to hear from him(if we do)
what he had in mind when he made this deal. While it is true to say this does not seem like a good deal for the Pats, i doubt whether Belicheck would cut Pioli a special deal as a friend or favor. he has not done that sort of thing in the past, far from it.

No matter how you slice it, the Pats did not get a full value return for those two players. It does not matter what BB is thinking down the road, it is just simply a lop-sided trade. Merry belated Christmas Scott. I am very disappointed on this one.

solid trade...7th rounder and LB on verge of being cut anyway for the 34st pick....why complain?

hey scott; how about vrabel and cassell for a 2nd round pick. i can't thank you enough for all your hard work over the years, talk to you soon . your daddy, bill p.s. now we're even,see you in the superbowl

Pioli would have never made that deal if he was stil with the Pates. BB is a great coach, but he was hoodwinked by Pioli!!!!

There is no shoe to drop. keep drinking the koolade guys. There is nothing else to come with these trade. What is the shoe to drop. Suddenly on the bottom line there going to be a oh ya and the pats get a 2010 first round draft pick from KC. Done deal people. pats get a pick and free cap space to sign a CB and try to lock up Vince Wilfork. It just blows that we wasted 2 months laughing at the water cooler about how the pats were going to get some awesome picks for Cassel. Instead we get stooded up at the alter and let our vetran leader and playmaker go for NOTHING. We didn't even get to say goodbye to Vrebel. NO SHOE TO DROP.

THIS IS A SIGN THAT THE JULIUS PEPPERS ERA IN NEW ENGLAND IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!!!!!

Wow, I guess not all legit questions are getting through to the chat. Bummmer

Its b/c the local media outlets and people who write about the PATS are brainwashed by bill. they think if they say anything bad aboe ut the PATS that they will be left out of the little boys club they have. Riess never says anything objective about the PATS. Even if this trade works out in the future. there is a ton of objectives about this trade. Riess wouldn't want to hurt his status in the good old boys club. He needs to step up and ask some real questions. instead of kissin ass

I am pissed. What a lousy trade. Brady could not run before his injury, so he certainly is not going to run now. I hope he does fully recover, but the fact is he is a walking time bomb now. The Pats did not get fair value in this trade, stick that 34th rounder up where the sun dont shine !

it's hard to believe BB and Pioli didn't orchestrate this deal before Pioli's departure, and that there is more to than this being the best deal out there. M. Smith is reporting to the contrary that other teams were interested in Cassel.

How is Sammy Morris health ?

How come my question never showed p on the live message board?

Wow, I can't believe this, we've been RIPPED OFF big time! What is Belichek thinking, or perhaps he wasn't when he made this nightmare trade.

Did I just get called a moron by the late Pope John Paul the 1st? Wow. . . .

Vrebel is a 34 year old linebacker. What does he have left. Cassel played great last year. Look who he threw to. They would catch what I threw to them. I will not dump on Cassel, but he could not even get to play in collage. Might have been a reason. If they could have got more they would have. Now we bring in Ray Lewis and everyone will be happy.

I don't see what everyone is whining about. It's absurdly simply, isn't it? We drop a player we won't need if Brady comes back OK, and a team leader whose career and contract were winding down, free up 14 mil + in cap room, and pick up the 34th overall pick. What's not to like? It's something for nothing, plus room to negotiate while interesting free agents are still available.

Furthermore, a high 2nd-round pick is perfect for the Patriots. What would we do with the 3rd overall pick? Get stuck with the bill for an outrageous signing bonus for a player who has never played a down. Belichick has been so good at playing the draft precisely BECAUSE he avoids making deals like that. The second round is the best time to achieve maximum potential for minimum risk, and we have three picks in the round. We're not looking for the league's next Adrian Peterson or Larry Fitzgerald, we're looking for OLBs and CBs, whom you don't take 3rd overall. What shuld we do? Take the 3rd overall and waste it on a CB or LB who shouldn't go higher than 15, or trade down?

I don't know what people were expecting here, but this seems like a pretty good position to find ourselves in 2 months before the draft and coming off of a 11-5 season.

Mike,
Are we seeing a recreation of the Garnett deal that McHale gave to Ainge in the form of Pioli getting 2 bona fide starters for a second rounder? I can't believe that we couldn't have shown a little more patience and worked a better deal - as you stated earlier: "Cassell should have been worth at least a second rounder."
Thanks.

Mike,
Are we seeing a recreation of the Garnett deal that McHale gave to Ainge in the form of Pioli getting 2 bona fide starters for a second rounder? I can't believe that we couldn't have shown a little more patience and worked a better deal - as you stated earlier: "Cassell should have been worth at least a second rounder."
Thanks.

I find it ironic that some people ripping the trade still don't know how to spell Cassel's name...

A good deal for the Pats. Vrabel was at the end of his contract after this year anyways and they converted a 7th rounder into something more valuable. Most importantly it opens up cap space to sign Wilfork, Mankins and, hopefully, some good free agents. The Pats have a several quality draft picks in a very deep draft pool.

Three words: Pioli severance package.

"Wait, Cassel's not enough. We'll also throw in Vrabel and waive the shipping and handling fees. Wait, why are you laughing? Scott? Is that fair enough for you not to come out with more spy evidence? Scott?"

The reason and only reason the Pats franchised Cassel was to get trade value. In the end, they did not and also lost a great soldier in Vrabel. I really do not get this one. Bad deal all around. Already, Pioli is looking like a genius in K.C. I understand the move for salary cap, but the Pats GAVE away two top notch players for what? An un-known 34th rounder. It just does not make sense and I am very upset about this one. Generally, you can trust the Pats to make good decisions, but clearly this was a fumble which we did not recover !

Why do people think they were going to get more for Cassell? Unlike Schaub, he comes with a $14million pricetag which any new team will have to beat when paying for him. So that's a bad comparison and you're just setting yourselves up for disappointment if you use that as a benchmark for your expectations.

If you think they got pooched, tell us the hypothetical other option they should have done or explored. The Vikings seem to have made their bed with Sage which removed one of the big possibilities for a bidding war. Just because people (some mediots?) screamed they're going to get a first a few weeks ago does not make it so. And there's value to having the cap space backbut of course it's hard for people to get excited about that ... the Vrabel thing is a non-factor, not because he's not a good player, but because of his pricetag and age, he's simply no longer a good fit for this team. And he's no longer as good as he was a few years ago -- still Pioli will get some value out of having him on the team as he tries to reshape it. Personally, it sounds like they would have cut Vrabel if they didn't make the team. Trading him must have some financial cap attraction, but of course the fans don't get excited about that. .

If they let Cassell walk (no tag) , they would have gotten an early 3rd/late 4th type pick NEXT year. There's also value in not waiting for a year when measuring draft picks -- simple time value of money/draftpicks. They turned a backup QB who everyone was screaming to waive after the last preseason game into a 2nd round pick. 2nd round picks (high) may be just as valuable as 1st round picks due to bizarre NFL salary cap/compensation contracts that are beyond all of our minds. .There's also value in having this done now -- they can do what they want in free agency -- please go get that CB Abaddon. But if you told me after Week 3 of the NFL season that they'd get a 2nd round pick for Cassell....color me tickled. I am a bit disappointed because some people suggested they may get even more (like a conditional pick next year) and it hurts that the expectations just prior to trade were off, but whatever.

Plus the other good news is, they must be confident about Brady. Doesn't mean he'll be 100% but seems to rule out that a catastrophic possibility is not very likely.

This is just an AWFUL deal for the Pats... Other then cap space, they got nothing.

Actual quote:

#30 Even if this trade works out in the future. there is a ton of objectives about this trade. Riess wouldn't want to hurt his status in the good old boys club. He needs to step up and ask some real questions. instead of kissin ass
Posted by Steve from worcester

This crack me up. I know that it has to be a put on (because nobody that stupid could type), but it's a great put on. Well done.

Question: If Coach Belichick could have gotten a first round draft pick for Cassel by trading him to the Jets, should he have done it instead of trading Cassel to the Chiefs for a second round draft pick? I think we all know the answer to that question! Probably there were other options for trades, but for one reason or another they seemed less desirable to Coach Belichick. As far as Vrabel going to the Chiefs, it seems a lot like McGinnest going to the Browns in free agency. It probably would have happened in another year anyway when Vrabel would have become a free agent. That it happened now instead of next year is a big deal only if you think the Pats would win a championship this coming season. Otherwise it is better for them to build for the future in the draft, get younger, and have more financial flexibility to pursue free agents.

What happened? Did suddenly no one in the NFL need a QB? Just a second round pick and we lose our starting OLB? This must be a nightmare. I must be dreaming. Tell me this isn't true! Mike, Mike, tell us this is a lie.

Mike Reiss I've always respected your opinions but you've lost all creditability with your positive spin on this terrible trade!

We've always wondered who deserved more credit over the years for the smart player personnel moves, Pioli or Belichick. Maybe this is the first sign that Pioli was the shrewder member of the team.

Some of you are dumb. The Pats just freed up 5 million (Vrabel) along with 14.6 million (Cassel) and turned a 2005 7th rd pick (Cassel) into #34 overall in a deep draft. This is better than the compensatory that we would have gotten and it also means we can be more aggressive in FA this year, and possibly lock up Wilfork and Mankins, which are crucial long term moves.

I find these comments funny. Yes, I'm sick about losing Vrabel, but that may be more tugging of the old heart strings than dealing with the realities of a 34 year old LB that is on the downside of what has been an excellent career. If you had told any one of us last preseason that Cassel would still be on the team, let alone traded for the 34th overall pick in the 2009 draft we all would have had you get your head examined. To turn a 7th rounder that we all wanted cut before last season and who we doubted (remember everyone wondering why they sent Chris Simms home before week 3?) is pretty remarkable, it is just disappointing from a fans perspective to lose our OLB/Touchdown machine in big games. Oh, and one last thing, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE NO JULIUS PEPPERS!!! I'm a Pats fan in Charlotte and I do NOT want him on my beloved Pats.

I feel that down the road, after a successfull season in KC, Pioli will send a one sided deal the Pats way. This is a gift to get off on the right foot for Scott. Some leadership on D and a great start on the O with Hayley coming in. It will be rescinded in the future. This is, I think, a deal that establishes an ally. A place for each team to send/recieve player personnel, and info [draft, other teams], both in the same conference, therefore a better chance for one of them [or both] to go to playoffs.

It is all GW Bush's fault

When did Matt Cassel become Tom Brady? Yes, he had a good year but franchise quarterback...let us see how he does when he is in a new system without his coach, offensive coordinator and no Wes Welker or Randy Moss to throw to??? Half of the Chiefs offensive line want out of KC already as Todd Haley got a terrible rap from his players (NFL.com report) when he was the o.c. at Arizona.

3 second round picks now and a first ... you also have 18 million in cap to go after Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden and even look at adding Laverneus Coles for your third wr...if Cassel is a pro bowler next year then people can complain.

your third your third WR

It's a good trade. The key is the new-found cap space. Vrabel is a sentimental favorite and universally loved in New England, however, this makes great business sense. It is sad to see him leave, however, his best days are well behind him. Cassel & Brady both can't stay and you don't trade the greatest Bostonian athlete since Larry Bird. Matt Cassel is still somewhat of a gamble for a team lacking great WRs. Look at the trade like this: Cassel & Vrabel for a high 2nd round pick & perhaps a nice free agent. BB has been right nearly every time he lets go a popular veteran. Examples: Willie McGinest, Lawyer Milloy, Ty Law, Adam Viniteri, Drew Bledsoe, Tebucky Jones etc.

pats got the best of this deal. you guys are idiots.

Pete, we are not dumb. The reason they franchised Cassel was for trade value. The Pats did not get that and also lost Vrabal a true soldier. Losing two established players for an un-known makes no sense except for cap concerns. This is clearly a bad, lopsided trade. I find it hard to believe that only K.C. had interest in Cassel. Some are just focusing this trade to have money under the cap. My point is simple.......we did not get enough value with return with trade !!

I dont get why they didnt just get the Chiefs to include Larry Johnson in the deal instead of signing Fred Taylor.

As others have already said, the Pats had an UFA QB that would have netted them an end of the 3rd round comp pick had they not franchised him. Employing the tag in this instance merely to be able to trade him sort of violates the intent of the tag. Most teams tag players they intend to ultimately sign.

So an alternate way of looking at this is they traded a late 3rd round pick and Vrabel (who may have not made the team this year with all the OLBs in this deep draft and certainly would have been gone by '10 at age 35) for KC's second round pick which is almost a first at a discount. Good trade when viewed that way.

Maybe your not thinking in the big picture. Can anyone of you see Julius Peppers coming to New England.

If I'm correct the Pats now pick 23rd, 34th, 47th and 58th plus we should get an added pick for Asante which will give us 6 picks in the first 3 rounds. I have to think we should be able to add some quality guys plus we could trade back and add more picks or add a higher pick next year. This is beautiful. I also think the 45th pick could get traded for a 1st rounder next year. We are in terrific shape.

If I don't see a LB and 2 CB's on this team by training camp with the money they saved, then this trade is utterly pointless and insulting to fans.

All you dolts mentioning the Pats made out because they received a 2nd rounder for a 7th rounder and an aging linebacker are about as intelligent as a box of rocks. It's not about where they were drafted but how they perform, and a highly sought after quarterback who continually improved throughout the season to the point of being thought of as deserving a Pro-Bowl selection (certainly over Favre) and a LB only one year removed from All-Pro and are worth a lot more than one 2nd round pick. If you can't see that you're fools and probably too stupid to reason with.. Hey, how about we get a nice 2nd rounder for that 6th rounder we've got coming back to lead the team at QB?!

We all like to think positively of our favorite players but in so doing we often gloss over their shortcomings. Without a doubt, Mike Vrabel has a special place in the hearts of all Patriots fans and he will definitely be enshrined in the Pats hall of fame some day. But even great players can't avoid diminishing skills.

Just look at last year's defense. How many more games would we have won if the defense were more successful on third downs. And shoulder injury or not, Vrabel (and Bruschi) were often out of position or unable to make the play in key moments last year. They're our heroes, with a glorious past, so we find it difficult to criticize them. But with such a porous defense you have to make changes. It is sad to see him go but it would be sadder still if he stayed and the defense still sucked.

Besides, change isn't necessarily a bad thing. Mayo did a great job last year. Vrabel's replacement might already be on the roster (Woods, Crabel, etc.) or may soon arrive via draft or free agency.

They are going to sign Rashard Jeantry. He is a RFA who took over when rivers went down. Cinci will get 58.

This move was the best we could hope for. The Pats were never going to get more than a second rounder for Cassell and I hate to say it, but Vrabel is pretty much washed up. He'll be 34 when the season starts and was probably not even worth a fourth rounder by himself. Now we have 3 second round picks that BB will no doubt parlay into another first or use to move up from the 23rd spot.

Forgot to add that BB has a less than stellar track record with 2nd round picks - Adrian Klem, Bethel Johnson, Chad Jackson, Eugene Wilson, Marquise Hill - although they did well with Matt Light and Wheatley showed promise last year. They did trade 2nd round picks for Welker and Dillon so this KC trade will probably work out well in the long run. And for all we know, Pioli may have made the 2nd rd pick flops.

Still have to be psyched with all the early picks this year. Can't wait for the draft.

WHAT IF BRADY GETS KNOCKED OUT AGAIN--AFTER ALL, WE HAVE NO PASS PROTECTION. CASSEL WAS THE MOST SACKED QB IN THE LEAGUE LAST YEAR, AND IT WASN"T BECAUSE HE COULDN'T RUN. THIS COULD BE AN UTTER DISASTER.

Everyone is missing the point right now with Vrabel. The Patriots were going to dump him. If they dumped him there would have been significant risk he would have been picked up by another AFC east team or contender and the patriots would have to face him twice.

They steered him to an irrelevant team

If I'm correct the Pats now pick 23rd, 34th, 47th and 58th plus we should get an added pick for Asante which will give us 6 picks in the first 3 rounds. I have to think we should be able to add some quality guys plus we could trade back and add more picks or add a higher pick next year. This is beautiful. I also think the 45th pick could get traded for a 1st rounder next year. We are in terrific shape.

Guys- we are all forgetting the biggest winners of the day - THE KRAFT FAMILY.They just saved themselves 19 million dollars!!! How many of you really think they will spend it all back? What a pipedream if any of you think they will use the money on Peppers. All they'll do is sign a few middle of the road free agents and hope Tom Bunchen comes back this year from his knee injury.

If I'm correct the Pats now pick 23rd, 34th, 47th and 58th plus we should get an added pick for Asante which will give us 6 picks in the first 3 rounds. I have to think we should be able to add some quality guys plus we could trade back and add more picks or add a higher pick next year. This is beautiful. I also think the 45th pick could get traded for a 1st rounder next year. We are in terrific shape.

ESPN is reporting that there was no long term deal in place for Cassell which is one reason the Pats only got a 2 for both players. Big risk for KC if they can't sign Cassell to a long term deal.

There is the perceived Cassel market, which every Patriot fan was hoping would be 4-6 teams all competing for his services and then there is the real market that developed, where only one team was interested, KC. According to Adam Schefter of NFLN the only reason Detroit and Tampa Bay called the Pats for Cassel was because they wanted to ship him to Denver for Cutler, so you have to believe that they would not give up a 1st rounder for him because it would cost them some more to trade for Cutler. So the Pats did the best they could and grabbed a very high 2nd which is in essence a 1st.

As far as Vrabs is concerned, he was an aging player they was going to be a salary cap victim anyway.

At first, I was shocked and disappointed. Then I read all of your analysis, pro and con & ignorant. I decided what BB was doing is looking at the marketplace and deciding there's plenty of meat, speed and experience between FAs and college input this year, compared with other years. He needed the money to go shopping. Also money to KEEP what he has ( e.g. Wilfolk). Remember FOLLOW THE MONEY. Another consideration is the age of some of his veterans such as Bruschi. I hate to say it, but he has lost a step or two and only his experience will save him. The team's D has to get stronger this year. His selections off the vine will be the real test. You can nitpick or you can can look at the team's overall need for the future.

Mike -- can't help but think that Cassel wouldn't agree to a reasonable contract extension with KC causing his value to drop. The longer it takes to announce a contract extension (if ever) the more likely it is that his demands were too high.

Damn, #65 "Smart fan" took the words right out of my mouth ... to everyone that said similar things to "turned a 2005 7th round pick (Cassel) into #34 overall", get serious, would you say the same about Tom Brady? As for all the "Football is a business" and "Vrabel is washed up" haters ... let me guess, your Dads all said the same thing about Teddy Ballgame after the 1959 season ... they should've let Mike retire a Patriot ...

I have to disagree with Mike on this one. BB couldn't see the forest cause he was in the woods. I think he had tunnel vision on this deal. A starting QB and starting LB for a second round pick? Look at what other teams are getting for lesser talent across the league.

Guys, you can not look at this as a trade that includes cassel. The PATs are trading Mike Vrabel for the 34 pick overall in a very deep draft. I dont think that any team would trade for the 33 year old vrabel by himself with the 34 pick overall. Franchising Cassel allowed the PATs to get more value out of the Vrabel trade. Just because Vrabel played 87% of snaps does not mean that he was effective. I think the 4.5 sacks for the year speaks for itself.

WHAT DID YOU EXPECT!?!?!?!?!?!!!????
Once again this is why Bill is a head coach in the N.F.L. getting paid big bucks and we are sport commentators and fans. What the trade did for us is gave us another second round pick and more money to add whatever piece we need through free agency, we have more money , we will be younger and better, is that not the goal in the off season !?!?!?!?

julius peppers is not coming to new england!! They are going to use some of this to extend Wilfork, and maybe Mankins. Maybe make a low-offer to Derrick Brooks to immediately fill OLB spot. This deal had to be done...I am sure something is in the works, which is why they had to free up the cap space. Vrabel was a salary cap move..sad to see him leave, but thats the way it goes. Cassel will struggle this season without this team and Welker... and no way pats wanted the KC ist rounder to tie up too much money for an unproven rookie.

"The moron express continues in this thread too. This is why 80% of the wealth is controlled by 20% of the people.GREAT TRADE AND MORE TO COME!"

Best comment posted. Thanks Pope JP

I also have to disagree with Mike W. I thinking giving up two starters (and one a potential franchise QB) for only 1 pick and a secound rounder at that is a joke. Not even a conditional pick based on Vrabel's playing time. And now we hear that there was some bidding going on with Denver!

What I hope this isn't is a situation of a coach trying to do it all. We have seen other coaches with GM hats fail. While BB has had the final say, he has not done it alone. Pioli made recommendations, did the leg work for Coach Bill. Now that Pioli is gone and BB has taken full control, I worry that he may fall into the trap of Mike Homegrom, Mike Shanahan, etc.

great trade. will miss vrabs, but the 34th pick for an old LB and a 1 yr wonder ( think about KC losing Cassell next yr, how will deal look for SP then?)
go pats.

Very happy here in KC. But like a lot of NE fans, I am also stunned. Wish I could find the article again (read so many about this trade yesterday), but it said that the Chiefs had offered their 1st rounder (#3 overall) to the Patriots, but were turned down (Patriots didn't want to pay the salary of a number 3 overall pick???).

Cassell would have had more trade value if they had signed him to a long term deal first. Bad move putting the tag on someone that was close to being cut in camp.

Wow!!

A lot of people are totally missing the shrewdness behind this move..

I agree that based on media "hype" the Patriots should've gotten more. And even I was expecting more. However, in retrospect it's pretty clear that the alleged "precedents" really weren't.

You can't compare previous situations like the Chiefs tagging Jared Allen and trading him for a first and third. Cause the Chiefs would've just kept Allen, and he would've been a huge contributor. Same with the two Second Rounders for Schaub. Cause his CAP hit was low enough for the Falcons to absorb if they didn't like what was being offered. This wasn't true with Cassel. The Patriots had no leverage cause his CAP hit was too high, and with Brady expected back, his services at that cost just didn't fit..

So the Patriots rolled the dice, and if you break it down to a rationale level, they received the 34th pick in the draft for Mike Vrabel. I say that because the other choice was to let Cassel walk away. Possibly to the NY JETS, and for nothing in return! Holding onto Cassel for a couple more weeks wasn't feasible either, cause of the Patriots need to address the defense via FA if someone becomes available..

In the end, no harm, no foul.. A risk taken is better than an opportunity missed. It might be looked at as poor compensation based on this flawed logic, but it still was an absolutely brilliant move!

I agree that most Pats fans were naive thinking that other teams would trade miltiple high picks to get Cassel? Why would they? Half of the media critisizing the Pats were discounting Cassel as a one-year wonder anyway...now they say he is good and the Pats should of gotten more? He was guaranteed 14.6 MILLION! Why is that so hard for you all to understand? The Pats had NO position of strength in this trade. They HAD to trade him, and the sooner the better. Of course we all wanted a first round pick....but it takes two to make a trade. I am perfectly satisfied with what they got. Vrabel was just a throw in so he wouldn't sign with the Jets after being released

Pats were very lucky to get this trade. A trade requires an actual counterparty who will pay your price. The 3-way with Denver and TB didn't work. Who else wanted Cassel, who still has a lot to prove? How many more years do you want with old LBs and a terrible defense?