Cassel signs Franchise tender
February 8th, 2009 by Gonzo
So he goes from relative obscurity as Tom Brady’s backup to having a breakout year and then signing a one year deal guaranteeing him 14.6 MILLION dollars.
What a country!
3 Responses to “Cassel signs Franchise tender”
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February 8th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
And he got his 14.6 million dollars while the country is in the throes of the worst recession in a long, long time. God Bless America, in-deed!
Now there are but two questions: (1) Is Brady healthy enough (or is he expected to be healthy enough by next season) that the Pats can and will safely trade Cassel? If so, (2) what are they gonna get for him?
I say they get a low #1 (in the 20s) or a high #2 (in the 30s) - and then at least one more pick… 4th round with a #1, or 3rd round with a #2.
The amusing thing is that some folks are “lamenting” that the Pats might “only” get a 2nd-round pick for him. Let’s see… trading a 7th-round pick for “only” a 2nd-round pick? Um… why would I be upset about that?
Hey… the Pats should get as much as they can for him - and perhaps they’ll do even better than I’ve proposed. But in the *worst* case scenario, they’ll still do pretty well in exchange for what was a *seventh* round pick - and (assuming Brady’s return to health) a guy that they will not need on their team for at least the next five to eight years (cuz Brady will not have two freak injuries in his career… I refuse to accept that).
Btw, one local sportstalk yahoo is insisting they trade Cassel to KC for Tony Gonzalez. Idiot. Look… I really like Gonzalez. He’s going to Canton, and he’s not done just yet. He probably has another 2-3 productive years left (perhaps more, who knows?). But… the Pats don’t need a pass-catching TE. With Brady two years ago, they set NFL records for offense. With a no-name last year (and a carousel at RB), the offense did pretty darn well still. Gonzalez would be an utter waste on this team. Offense sells seats, but defense wins championships.
The offense was not the issue last year (or the year before, duh). The Patriots defense wasn’t good enough to stop the Giants in SB XLII - and the Patriots defense wasn’t good enough to get the Pats at least one more victory to get them to the playoffs. And even if the Pats had made the playoffs last season, they were going nowhere… cuz their defense just wasn’t good enough.
Trading for Tony Gonzalez would be moronic - which is why Belicheck, et al, won’t do it… unless… they *also* get a 1st- and a 2nd-round pick (or something to that effect). Course, they won’t… cuz new Chief Scott Pioli isn’t dumb either.
If the Pats can get back a good young defensive player (preferably at LB or DB) and at least one good draft pick for Cassel? Great. Otherwise… load up on the draft picks… and draft for defense. I think that’s what they *should* do… and I think that’s what they *will* do.
Cuz Stone Cold said so!
February 9th, 2009 at 11:22 am
Pats are definitely sitting in the catbird’s seat now. ESPECIALLY if Brady is healthy.
Some team will give up a 1 for him - unlike guys in the draft, Cassell has at least shown something in the NFL (albeit only 1 year, but still…)
February 11th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
He’s shown more than guys like Scott Mitchell, Matt Schaub and Rob Johnson and they all brought high and/or multiple draft choices. Now they went on to a range of success (or failure, however you want to look at it)… but the point is, he didn’t have two or three NFL games under his belt. He’s got a full 16 (well… 15-1/2… but you get the point).
Would you rather spend a late 1st-round pick and a 3rd/4th round pick to move up to the top of the draft to take Sanchez or the kid out of Georgia (name escapes me right now) - to then give him $30-50 mil guaranteed (plus more nonguaranteed money)? Or would you trade that for Matt Cassel, to likely pay him the same amount?
Uh… seems like an easy answer to me.
I’m not suggesting the Pats should get a top-5 draft choice for Cassel - in large part cuz, Belicheck shies away from picks that high. Not enough value for the capital that needs to be invested (before you can ascertain whether the guy can actually play in the NFL). Thus, I’m expecting (a) a low 1st-high 2nd, plus (b) at least one more pick in the 3rd/4th round and/or (c) one or more picks in the 5th to 7th rounds. Don’t be surprised if picks are spread out between 2009 and 2010 as well. Belicheck loves getting picks for *next* year’s draft, as well.
All in all… I think everyone will be happy: The Pats will get a good haul for a 7th-round draft pick that (hopefully) they won’t need. The team getting Cassel gets a proven NFL QB, who’s still young enough that he should continue to improve (if he can get some decent coaching and a modecum of protection). And Cassel will get enough (guaranteed) money that he will be able to feed he and his ancesters quite well. Kumbaya.