02 Jan
Cassel Full Of Riches?
Posted by: Adam Best
Read this and then tell me if you think the New England Patriots can afford to franchise tag Matt Cassel. From PFT:
It works out to an average of $14,444,461.40 — and that’s the amount of the one-year tender that the Patriots would have to extend to quarterback Matt Cassel if/when the franchise tag is applied to him.
Given that Brady’s cap number in 2009 will be $14,626,000, franchising Cassel will tie up more than $29 million in cap space in only two players.
I don’t think there’s any chance that the Pats spend $30 million on two freakin’ quarterbacks. I also still think Tom Brady will be out there next season. Basically, I still like our chances to land Cassel if we land Pioli.
I don’t know if they will let him go. Most players dont come back strong the first year after a knee injury. They might keep him for some insurance.
January 2nd, 2009 at 5:43 pmHow? There’s still a salary cap in 2009. I just don’t see it at all.
January 2nd, 2009 at 6:55 pmWow, thats less than $200,000 difference from the league MVP money for Brady. Maybe Brady will take a pay cut with the extra money hes making being the face for Stetson cologne. HA! League MVP/record breaker/ SBQB MVP (twice/three times?)
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:28 pmThe number of veteran/FA players they have on the team have mostly been picked up for a song and the team has some cap room, but the D is getting older and trying to pay 2 $14 million dollar players is hard.
Great points, SDT. The Pats would have to put that D back together with duct tape.
January 2nd, 2009 at 10:38 pmHaHA funny. Browns fans are tracking Lerners plane to see if he is in NE. I tried doin Clarks but it said can’t be tracked, lol.
January 3rd, 2009 at 12:28 amCassel is a good QB. Maybe as good as a post knee surgery Brady. How much is the BB plan, how much is the supporting cast, how much is the QB? Coming back from his surgery has been reported to be slow. I’ve had my ACL replaced twice, no fun. Carson Palmer hasn’t been the same, nor an aging Culpepper. Current League MVP Manning had a very slow start to the season. Could the Cassel back up become the No.2 or a second rounder maybe? If Pioli leaves NE, and they don’t pay Cassel, and Brady isn’t 100% it could be interesting to watch what they do in NE.
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:36 amIs Jr. Seau going to play next year? How about thier corners? There is a lot of pressure for a 11-5 team who didn’t make the playoffs to deal with.
I remember being 10-6 and not making the playoffs. It wasn’t much consolation that the AFC West was a good division.
How many foolish moves have the Pats made in recent years? Franchisisng Cassel would be an Al Davis move. They will find a reliable back-up, and he won’t cost anywhere near 14 mil.
January 3rd, 2009 at 1:48 amI don’t think the Patriots can afford not to.
If Brady isn’t ready for next year, and they let Cassel go, what are they going to do?
I bet they will try, remember, Tom Brady didn’t want as big as salary as Peyton Manning received so the Patriots could go out and surround him with talent. Don’t be surprised that Cassel doesn’t agree to a one year deal, whether it be a franchise tender offer or a one year deal before hand with the agreement the Patriots will not franchise him after next season.
Of course, Cassel needs to strike so to speak while the iron is hot. If he signs a one year deal with the Patriots and Tom comes back and plays all year long, then Cassel’s price will significantly drop.
January 3rd, 2009 at 8:28 amThe only way I can see Cassel staying in NE is if he is franchised. His value as a free agent will never be higher than it is right now. Signing a one year deal with anyone would be extremely foolish on his part.
Franchising your #2 quarterback would just be idiotic. If Brady is declared out for all of next year, then maybe. You are talking about making your back-up one of the top 5 paid guys in the NFL. There are plenty of other qb’s out there that could make their offense work.
January 3rd, 2009 at 11:15 amWhat do you guys think about trading LJ for draft picks and picking up Shonn Greene from Iowa. I have met the guy and watched him play and he his a leader. The guy is as humble as they come and I believe he could be a leader on and off the field for our Chiefs.
January 3rd, 2009 at 3:34 pmHe took 2007 off to work at a furniture store to raise tuition and his gpa, I like that story.
January 3rd, 2009 at 5:33 pmI still think Colt Brennan of the Redskins and Hawaii before that vould be groomed into a quality backup or even a starter. I think he’s a third stringer up there and just watched this past year. He’s had some bumps along the way but has come back from adversity and works hard, is smart and took Hawaii to a bowl game last year. Yes, Georgia pounded them badly, they were way over matched. But, Brennan was the catalyst that fueled the team there.
Alot of people are talking about Texas Tech’s WRs, but after they lost to OU the QB dropped completely out of Heisman talk. But Harrell has some great skills that could translate into NFL play.
Some others are Max Hall from BYU who has a rocket arm and Brian Johnson of Utah. He had a great season and Sugar Bowl. The Mountain West gets mistreated by ESPN and other sports media as in “inferior” division. But Johnson showed he could play fast and think faster. He could be the QB steal of the draft.
January 3rd, 2009 at 7:38 pmShonn Greene would make us forget we ever had LJ. Problem is, I’m already seeing him listed as the first running back taken on some boards. I highly doubt we will spend a first round pick on a running back. Dammit!!
January 3rd, 2009 at 7:54 pmMost I have seen have him going as early as late 2nd to early third.. Id love to have him and dump LJ off on someone else.
January 3rd, 2009 at 8:36 pmNE will not franchise Cassell, too much money. They will let him go, and manage everything the way they have the past 10 years and surprise all the nay-sayers next year with their performance. Besides they love to put out bad info about Brady’s status.
January 3rd, 2009 at 9:57 pmGreat points, Gump. I will be shocked if Brady doesn’t play next season, at least at some point.
January 3rd, 2009 at 10:09 pm