The Man Who Bought A Cassel For Pennies
King Carl, eat your heart out. Scott Pioli is quickly becoming the real king of Kansas City. Not some self-appointed king bereft of any clout away from his imaginary little kingdom either. The NFL is abuzz over Pioli right now. Actually, the NFL media might be more impressed with Pioli than Chiefs Nation is right now.
Why? Because the new king just went out and got himself a Cassel. As in quarterback Matt Cassel, and for only a second-round pick. Oh yeah, he just happened to get a 2007 Pro Bowl outside linebacker thrown into the deal, too. As if getting the young potential franchise QB Chiefs fans have waited decades for for just a second-rounder wasn’t enough. It’s sure nice to have a king who spoils his subjects for once.
In our comments there was a statement about Chiefs Nation drinking the Pioli Kool-Aid. I’m not drinking the Pioli Kool-Aid. Not at all. I’m doing a freakin’ kegstand gulping down throatfuls of Pioli Pilsner! Boy, does it taste good.
Zach and I have been on the phone just shocked.
Shocked that a deal happened? Not one bit. Zach and I called for this in our first Blueprint and Cassel has been our No. 1 quarterback target all along (And, yes, Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez were options B and C for me.). In fact, I predicted this last night. Hitchcock’s calm before the storm, remember? So we weren’t surprised about the trade at all. What we were shocked about was that the Chiefs hauled in Cassel and Mike Vrabel in exchange for only the No. 34 pick. I told Zach that I thought it was our 2009 third along with our 2010 first.
Here’s what I’m thinking…
Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli discussed this back when Pioli was still with the Patriots and pondering whether to take the Chiefs job. That’s not exactly within the rules, but who can prove that a conversation like that ever happened?
I think both of them knew that Cassel was a pretty damn good player, but also wondered if any other teams would share their faith. Belichick didn’t want to lose Cassel outright via free agency or get stuck paying him almost $15 million this year — basically the same dough Tom Brady is due to earn. Pioli didn’t want to go to Kansas City without a quarterback. That’s why I believe the early negotiations of this deal happened long ago.
Now, the Patriots have freed up almost $20 M in cap room by moving Cassel and Vrabel. They can be players in free agency with that kind of cap space. Julius Peppers? Possibly. They now have the cap room and an extra second-rounder to deal. They have a lot of flexibility now, especially since they got this done 36 hours into free agency. It also looks like Tom Brady is going to be ready for day one, and I also believe the Pats are pretty high on second-year back-up Kevin O’Connell.
Did the Pats receive a little less than market value for the Cassel-Vrabel package? Yeah, for sure. But they also got a deal done quickly and with as little hassle as possible. I also think getting a second-rounder for him now does more for them than getting a pick in the late teens from the Bucs in a week or two, maybe longer. As for our No. 3 pick, I doubt the Pats even wanted it. That’s a lot of money and they probably wouldn’t have been able to trade down. Not the Pats’ style.
I also think this was a bit of a gift to Pioli for his part in delivering three rings. Why not? The Chiefs aren’t going to challenge the Pats this year. You also make sure that Cassel doesn’t come back to haunt you this year this way.
From the Chiefs’ perspective, this is a dream deal. Personally, I’m still pinching myself. Right now, I consider us the early big winners of free agency, and we haven’t even actually signed anybody yet.
I simply cannot believe that we didn’t have to unload either a first-rounder or Tony Gonzalez. We didn’t unload Larry Johnson either, but maybe The Pioli Trinity doesn’t want to. Think about it; for one second-rounder we got a leader on both sides of the ball, and both are Pro Bowl-caliber players with experience. Personally, I think draft picks are extremely overrated for the most part, so getting these two for that pick was the steal of this young century. We also need to keep in mind that Cassel will be re-signed to a long-term deal. He won’t be making $15 M this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up signing a smaller deal than Matt Stafford. Gotta love that.
How good is Cassel going to look in red throwing the ball to Dwayne Bowe and Tony G, with Branden Albert protecting his blindside? I’m visualizing it in my head right now, and, dammit, it’s effin’ beautiful. As beautiful as Beyonce mud wrestling Penelope Cruz in nothing but thongs, except even more graceful. If we can bring in an Anquan Boldin (doubtful), Michael Crabtree or T.J. Houshmandzadeh, or even a Nate Washington, this passing game is going to be a Juggernaut. Meanwhile, Tyler Thigpen was a mediocre starter, but will be a great back-up.
I have a feeling Pioli is just getting started, too. With a ton of cap room still available and the No. 3 pick, we could be looking at the greatest offseason in Chiefs’ history. This is all just the very first step in Pioli’s plan to take the Chiefs back to the Super Bowl. The new king can take us there. Hell, he already got us a Cassel. I have a feeling that he’s going to eventually get us a ring.
P.S. – Gotta love that Bernard Pollard helped the Chiefs do what Carl Peterson couldn’t do in 20 years. Or, better yet, that Pioli did in one month what Peterson couldn’t do in 20 years. Halle-****in’-lujah!
AWESOME DEAL
We should be doing those kegstands of Pioli-aid with bells on.
Great day to be a Chiefs fan!
February 28th, 2009 at 2:18 pmMr. Jones? Paging Jim Jones, kool-aid refill on aisle two!
February 28th, 2009 at 2:22 pmOh I just love living in New England! I’m already hearing the bitching from all my Patsy-Fan friends about Pioli, Vrabel, Cassel….. LOL. Life is good. Life is good. It’s going to kill me having to wait for football season! GO KC!!!!!!!!!!!
February 28th, 2009 at 2:23 pm“As beautiful as Beyonce mud wrestling Penelope Cruz in nothing but thongs, except more graceful”
I would have said Marissa Miller and Megan Fox, but I like where your head is at buddy!
February 28th, 2009 at 2:24 pmthe optimist in me is very excited. if we get a few more offensive weapons (Housh, Crab, Derrick Ward, any others)we will be dominate on O.
the pessimist in me thinks we just signed Derrick Anderson.
I’m torn, but dammit I’m excited for Chiefs ‘09
February 28th, 2009 at 2:25 pmAdam you should make a picture with Cassel as #12 on the field
February 28th, 2009 at 2:34 pmI agree Adam I think we are going to make a big splash in free agency. What would be nice is to get some positions set and draft for depth and potential replacement. But I think we will make a large splash in the rest of free agency. I dont think were done making trades either.
February 28th, 2009 at 2:36 pmIf Merlin had his way we’d sign RayRay, Haynesworth Peppers Suggs and Scott and just hope one of them can play QB
February 28th, 2009 at 2:46 pmUnbelievable! I cant wipe the shit eating grin off my face! Thank you Clark Hunt for showing that arrogant ass Carl out and bringing in a real player…Pioli. We are actually starting to run with the BIG boys. where do I buy a Cassel KC jersey and where do I sell a thigy smalls jersey? Yippee!
February 28th, 2009 at 2:56 pmClark hunt is an awesome owner and the Chiefs are awesome! I cant believe how much progress we have made since the season ended. CHIEFS KICK ASS
February 28th, 2009 at 3:02 pmI was against this idea for a long time because i thought we would have to give up alot more than what we did, but to see Cassel and Vrabel now as Chiefs for a second round pick. I am amazed
February 28th, 2009 at 3:09 pmAdam, I completely disagree with you on ONE point: Salma Hayek would be much better in a thong than Beyonce. But other than that, I agree with your post. This latest trade confirms that Pioli is bringing winning back to KC. And it’s not even March yet. I can’t wait to see a FULL Arrowhead Stadium …. and lots of winning … I love the new organization … professional, secretive, and nothing but business. The Chiefs are coming back baby!
February 28th, 2009 at 3:14 pmI think the Chiefs should pursue Nate Washington. This kid is a baller! I also believe that he is a little underrated as a free agent and we might get him for a reasonable price. He has tremendous upside and he’s a youngster. Imagine Bowe, Washington, TG, Bradley and Franklin for Cassel to pass to?! He could easily fill in our number 2 spot.
February 28th, 2009 at 3:14 pmHouston just signed Antonio Smith-pretty nasty DE core they have there now
February 28th, 2009 at 3:15 pmHELL YEAH the rest of the NFL better watch out the CHIEFS are coming back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 28th, 2009 at 3:27 pmI think with Free Agency there is a lot of attraction to momentum. Up until today the Chiefs had none and now I think this will be a much more attractive situation to Free Agents
February 28th, 2009 at 3:29 pmI was against giving up a first rd pick for Cassel but getting Cassel and Vraebel for a 2nd Rd has me wanting to call next for those kegstands.
February 28th, 2009 at 3:29 pmNow lets go get Canty, Igor, Goff, Rocky Bernard, another couple OL and a LB. Maybe Nate Washington. We are right where we should be.
February 28th, 2009 at 3:30 pmWoody I agree. I’m still waiting to see how Tony G feels about this. Pioli has turned this franchise around so fast and the Chief haven’t even played a game yet. That just shows you where the Chiefs were before …
February 28th, 2009 at 3:33 pmI agree, Baldy….those four you mentioned first would do amazing things for our team…
February 28th, 2009 at 3:41 pmI’m happy, Adam. I’m glad you’re happy. Hell, everyone’s happy, and I’m glad. But Leinart’s still a chump.
February 28th, 2009 at 3:59 pmNFL Network is reporting the Lions and the Bucs contacted the Patriots about Cassel, but both teams were only interested in trading Cassel to the Broncos for Cutler. Wonder how that makes Cutler feel right now. The news just keeps getting better! GO CHIEFS!!!
February 28th, 2009 at 4:15 pmThanks, Extrametal! I always see your name and think extramarital for a moment, like an affair. Anyway, Leinart being or not being a chump is no longer my problem.
February 28th, 2009 at 4:41 pmNow bring in Curry, try to keep Gonzalez, and call the Chiefs a contender in the AFC west once again.
GO CHIEFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 28th, 2009 at 5:03 pmWinning the division just entered the realm of possibilities. Can’t wait to see what happens next.
Oh and thanks for the nice wedding present Bill!
February 28th, 2009 at 5:20 pmi would say i am probably reiterating but i wasnt excited about the cassel deal at all when i saw what we gave up holy freak how could you not go crazy over this im stoked GO CHIEFS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 28th, 2009 at 5:27 pmAwesome Article Adam,
99.55% Agree!!
-Only thing is i would not label Cassel a “pro bowl” caliber player yet, he hasn’t done enough for that label yet.
Having said that the deal is amazing for us, and as you said, makes sense for the Pats too.
Clearing the cap from those two players gives the Pats a lot of flexibility and the 2nd round pick gives them a chance to fill any holes. Plus lets face it the patriots are insane with Tom Brady so the deal makes complete sense for them
February 28th, 2009 at 5:29 pmThanks, Krans!
And congrats on the wedding, Double D!!!!!!
February 28th, 2009 at 5:48 pmAdam, In case I wasn’t clear – I was referring to marriage between the Chiefs and Pioli. Come to think of it, I hope that doesn’t come off sounding like KC is Pioli’s bitch or something . . . har har. I’m a little slap happy right now.
February 28th, 2009 at 6:07 pmI looked at apartments today, and the most important thing I asked them was “Do you allow Direct T.V.?” NFL Sunday Ticket, here I come! I love me some Pioli Aid to go with my BBQ this summer!
February 28th, 2009 at 6:08 pmDouble D…lol…I just hadn’t seen you on this weekend and assumed. Gotcha now.
February 28th, 2009 at 6:17 pmAny idea on when a news conference will be scheduled to announce our new additions?
February 28th, 2009 at 6:34 pmI don’t know what this Pioli guy is thinking. We could have kept Carl and Herm. Watters would have been Happy. Thigpen could have developed into a very good quarterback. Herm would have had us in the hunt soon. We should have given them more time.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:13 pmAnyone have any idea who the chiefs will go after now in FA? still have some $$ to spend
February 28th, 2009 at 8:27 pmBest thing about Cassell? No Elvis lip – sorry Thiggy, just stupid.
And yeah, this deal cost me – - – another year of NFL Sunday Ticket
Now, Ditch the LJ whiner and get our 2nd round back…and give us more room on our cap!
February 28th, 2009 at 8:50 pmi dont think we need anymore cap room. We’re gonna have a hard time spending what we need to spend anyways.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:37 pmwithout bringing any of the big name free agents to K.C. that is.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:42 pmI love this deal. Now we have so much flexibility with our #3. That is assuming we keep it. I am jacked for this season. Think on it. We have a real coach and a real qb with a lot of upside. I also believe we keep LJ. It is also possible, based on last years results, that we could win the division. The San Diego Chargers are unsettled. They have a mediocre coach. Their GM is messed up firing Marty (14-2) now he is stuck with trying to prove he made the right decision. Can you spell p-l-a-y o-f-f-s. Go Chiefs.
February 28th, 2009 at 9:51 pmOMG……….
are u f*@king serious? I admit this is a great deal in terms of value, but no way am i even close to happy about this.
Worst f*$king move….
Do you remember why we went to the spread offense in the first place…
it was because our oline was getting killed. It was getting our Qb’s were getting killed. So we bought in the “arrowspread” to help our Oline. Don’t get confused and think it was only for thigpen. It wasnt! It was for the f8cking line.
We could of brought in any top tier QB besides cassel and just like cassel it will be a complete f*%king waste. He is just going to get killed behind our O-line. He needed the patriots O-line to do what he did!!!! He will get beaten up, and most likely injured early in the season and we will have to go to thigpen anyways. Waste of money and waste of a great 2nd round pick!
If we dont do major renovations to our O-line, this will be the biggest and first major mistake of the “Trinity”. I really hope im wrong, but when it happens, i will be there to tell you i F*&king told you so!!!!!
February 28th, 2009 at 9:55 pmtim…good to see your vocab expanding
February 28th, 2009 at 10:04 pmyeah, im alittle upset right now. might not make to much sense.
From the previous post.
“Making matters worse would be “officially”hearing the Pats were offered the Chiefs first round pick (3) in this years draft, and it was refused. You don’t turn down a #3 overall for the freak-in 34th overall unless you’ve lost your damn mind!”
You know why they refused our first round pick. Cause Bill didn’t want to screw over his friend by giving him cassel for a first. Bill would know that Cassel will not do well under any other team and did not want to rip off his friend. He knows they got an awesome deal and would be liking their chops right now. They got the sweet deal in all of this. They got to dump their mediocre back up QB and very seasoned linebacker, for a 34th pick and free-ed up alot of cap room in the process.
Who do you think will be better next season. Us or the patriots… Its the Dam patriots, thats who….
They are all laughing at us, the joke is on us. cause they know they found a team stupid enough to pay 14 million for a back up Qb, who has never won a starting spot in his whole career and on top of that give them a sweet pick for it.
Look at cassels record, (a qoute from wikipedia)
“Cassel was the backup for Palmer during his Heisman-winning 2002 season. In the fall, Cassel lost the battle for the starting position to the previous third-string quarterback in Leinart. As a result of Leinart’s success, Cassel spent time at tight end, even making his lone collegiate start at that position. During his four seasons there, Cassel completed 19 of 33 passes for 192 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception.”
Yeah, we got an awesome deal, a QB that couldn’t beat out lienart for starter. Hows he doing? Pretty awesome!
Yeah, enjoy it while it lasts chiefs fans…..
February 28th, 2009 at 10:25 pmTim, don’t be that guy. Please? Its day two of FA. You really think we won’t do anything for the OL between the rest of FA and the draft? And yes, the spread was 90% for Thiggy.
We will most likely negotiate a LONG TERM deal for Cassel which will not include 14 mil a year. Also, go back and check, and I bet you will find out that Matt Leinart just happen to be a stud in college. Lighten up a bit.
February 28th, 2009 at 10:46 pmI find it interesting the Broncos were thought to have been trying to trade Cutler to either Det or TB, so they could have Cassel. Josh McDaniels obviously thinks Cassel is pretty good for him to even consider it.
February 28th, 2009 at 10:53 pmTim, The first the Pats where going to get was going to come from Denver. The trade that was out there was Denver sending Cutler to Tampa for a 1st and a 3rd. Then trading a first for cassel. If history tells us anything, Belicheck doesn’t do many trades with his past assistant coaches. That is what probably went down.
February 28th, 2009 at 11:47 pm447,
That’s one of the best things about this deal. The Broncos brought in a coach whose specialty is working with quarterbacks, and now his quarterback is pissed off at him because of the blockbuster trade they wanted to do but couldn’t because we did. Go Chiefs!
Breathe deeply, Tim. The Australia air is cleaner than here, so it won’t hurt you.
February 28th, 2009 at 11:52 pmLets get Jarod Allen back and they will have to pry me out of my seats when the game is over.
February 28th, 2009 at 11:56 pmPlayer skills develop differently depending on the person Tim, Leinert developed earlier than Cassel thats all.
March 1st, 2009 at 12:00 amTim….
The Patriots, a team that was already hurting for cap space and intended to be active in Free Agency, the last thing they want is a 3rd overall pick to take up more cap….
Besides mate, Free Agency isn’t over…the draft isn’t over….we will not be playing behind last years O-Line…keep that little nugget in mind…
March 1st, 2009 at 12:18 amAlso, hey Randy…glad youre alive…
I will eat Bamboo and Whistler’s for you.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:35 amAlright, I did it. I ordered my Matt Cassel jersey.
March 1st, 2009 at 1:36 amThat’s pretty smart that you can pre-order the jerseys and they will ship as soon as they find out the number. Chiefs got a spiffy new store, too. Damn. That’s when you know you brought in a big name. When they got the jersey for sale before the player even has his number.
March 1st, 2009 at 2:27 amHere is what the press in Boston are saying-
“Bill Belichick doesn’t deliver friendly favor
By Ron Borges
Sunday, March 1, 2009 – Updated 1m ago
Scott Pioli soon may learn there is no such thing as friends in the NFL, especially when they used to employ you as their gofer.
Pioli yesterday closed out what he believes was a blockbuster deal with the Patriots [team stats] that landed him his franchise quarterback (literally, in this case), Matt Cassel, and Mike Vrabel, a linebacker who can settle Kansas City’s troubled defense.
And perhaps he did. But if the many in these parts who believe Bill Belichick is Einstein in a hoodie are correct, what Pioli may have gotten instead is Scott Mitchell the sequel and an expensive linebacker on the wrong end of the football timeline.
For the Patriots, this was a best-case scenario. It freed up $17.85 million on their cap and allowed them to get rid of a 12-year veteran whose game had begun to slip as well as a guy Belichick clearly believes was destined to become the most expensive backup in NFL history had he stayed.
Belichick may be proven wrong on the latter point, but it was clearly part of his thinking, because there’s no way he would have left his team exposed at quarterback, the game’s most critical position.
What the Patriots learned during the past few weeks is the market for Cassel was neither deep nor strong. Even two teams thought to be interested, Detroit and Tampa, are now said to have been seeking Cassel only to deal him to Denver to acquire the more highly regarded Jay Cutler.
If those whispers are true, then there was no market for Cassel outside of Kansas City, which has enough cap space to carry his $14.65 million franchise tag until it can work out a long-term deal.cw-2
To net only a second-round choice for Cassel and Vrabel may seem as though a fire sale went on in Foxboro, especially when you consider that was the price the Eagles paid for A.J. Feeley and what it cost Miami to land the one-legged Daunte Culpepper.cw-3
But if Cassel performs the way they did, it was a steal for Belichick. And there are far more personnel men around pro football who doubt Cassel than ones who believe he’s quarterback of an 11-5 team.
They think his five losses to playoff-contending teams said more about his long-term chances than the 11 wins did against the likes of the Chiefs, 49ers, Seahawks, Bills and Rams.
“I look at Cassel and I think Scott Mitchell,” one longtime NFC personnel man said yesterday. “That’s who I see.”
Pioli better hope not, because that $5 million-a-year seat he’s occupying could become vacant in a hurry if Cassel turns into Mitchell and Vrabel plays like Willie McGinest did in Cleveland.
Like Vrabel, McGinest was a 12-year veteran when he was let go by the Pats. He was two years removed from the second-best year of his career, a 9-sack season, but he’d slipped to six sacks in 2005 and that slide continued with the Browns, where he had four, three and last season only one sack.
Similarly, Vrabel has played 12 years, the past eight in New England. Two years ago he had his most productive season with 12 sacks. Last year he slipped to four and hinted at a shoulder problem related to offseason surgery. Now he’s gone and will arrive in Kansas City at the same age and experience level as McGinest did when he went to Cleveland. After 12 years in the NFL, linebackers do not typically improve. They usually implode.
If Vrabel turns into McGinest and Cassel is Mitchell, Pioli will have learned a hard lesson about friendship, NFL style.
In 1993, Mitchell stepped in for the injured Dan Marino and played well enough to convince the Detroit Lions to pay him a ton of money the following season. He started for four years, went 27-28 and was 0-2 in the playoffs.
Mitchell’s solid play in Miami proved a mirage, even though he went to a far more talented offensive team in Detroit (Barry Sanders, Herman Moore, Brett Perriman) than Cassel will inherit in Kansas City.
The Chiefs have an unhappy running back in Larry Johnson, an unhappy tight end in Tony Gonzalez and a wide receiving corps Cassel will find far less user friendly than Randy Moss and Wes Welker.
In the end only time will tell if Cassel is a player worth the money he’ll be paid, if Vrabel can justify his $3.2 million salary this season and if Brady’s knee is sound. But from what we know today it looks like Belichick didn’t do his old friend any favors, which is no surprise because he’s not in the business of doing favors. He’s in the football business.
“Bill Belichick wouldn’t do his mother a favor,” one NFL insider scoffed yesterday. “Anybody who looks at this deal and thinks he did doesn’t know him. Or the guys he just traded.”
It’s food for thought.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:59 amThis was one of the best trades in a long time. I can’t wait to see Cassel and Vrabel play in red. Our team is on track to do something in 09. GO CHIEFS!
March 2nd, 2009 at 6:12 am[...] The man who bought a Cassel for pennies Arrowhead Addict [...]
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