The Matt Cassel Question

by MaPatsFan on Nov 25, 2008 9:16 AM EST in News Comment 7 comments

Three games past the halfway point in the season, Matt Cassel has led this team to a very respectable 7-4 record and is keeping alive the hopes of a playoff berth. Funny...Didn't this happen seven years ago with Mr. Brady? History seems to be repeating itself, dontcha think? We all know how that year turned out, but that's not what I'm here to talk about.

I'm here to talk about what to do with Matt Cassel. Typical of many NFL organizations, New England certainly not immune to this, the condition of an injured star is kept under lock and key (the United States Government could learn a thing or two from pro football teams, I'm sure). The state of Tommy Terrific's knee is no exception. It's radio silence. It's all quiet on the New England front. We don't even get a sound bite or quick press conference with Tom shining those pearly whites. This makes it all the more difficult to formulate an opinion on his readiness for the 2009 season.

To add another wrinkle to the equation, Matt the Magnificent (I needed something with an "M") is a Free Agent at the end of the 2008 season. GASP!! Say it isn't so!! Yes, it is. This gives the New England organization some not so pleasant choices. Below are some scenarios I'm sure Kraft and son are bantering about:

Brady's ready - Tom's rehab is successful and he's ready to take the helm during the 2009 season. Cassel rides out of town with a ticker tape parade in Government Center and the thanks of millions, not to mention a ginormous contract with another team.
Brady's close - Tom is not totally ready, but will be early in the season. See above about Matt's ticker tape parade and mega contract with another team. Belichick decides Matt Gutierrez or Kevin O'Connell can ride out the first few games until Wonder Boy is ready.
Brady's return is unclear - Cassel is franchised. Franchising a player is a mixed blessing. That player gets the average of the top 5 salaries at that position (probably 10 to 12 million for QBs), and can't be traded during the year. This has a huge impact on NE's cap space and would be an expensive insurance policy, to say the least. On the flip side, if NE wants to compete in "tougher by the minute" AFC East, we'll need Matt.
Brady's out for 2009 - See above. Matt is most definitely franchised to get us through 2009. There's not a hint of wiggle room here, IMO. Franchise Matty.
Brady's done - Bernard Pollard's hit was career ending and Tom looks forward to babies with Giselle. In September, we all would've had a coronary. Do you still feel that way? Make no mistake, Tom being out for good would be devastating to this blogger considering what he's done for this franchise. It would be a huge bummer. However, Matt has progressed to the point where he's a legit franchise QB and could carry this team. Cassel's offered a mega contract to stay.

Whatever happens, happens. There's just not enough info and I don't believe in reading tea leaves. Besides, there's still 5 more regular season games to get through and the playoffs. #16 is the dude right here, right now. Get 'er done, Matt. Get 'er done.

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If Cassel is franchised, he can be traded during the year

In fact, it’s the only way the Patriots could be compensated for him instead of letting him just walk away. Maybe a draft pick from a team that would prefer a tested Belichick-stamped QB to gambling on a rookie in the draft? Maybe a player? Who knows? The Pittsburgh game is huge as it puts Cassel up against the toughest defense in the league right now, in a pressure situation with the playoffs on the line, and will really test him as far as the rest of the league is concerned. (I’m already sold, but that and a couple of bucks…)

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Nov 25, 2008 9:30 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Unknown to me, there seems to be a host of rules

Franchise Rules

Blogger at SBNation's New England Patriots blog, Pats Pulpit

by MaPatsFan on Nov 25, 2008 9:37 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Depends on what kind of franchise tag they slap on him, if at all.

One thing Belichick despises is a team distraction, and a QB controversy is one of the biggest distractions ever. Keeping Cassel if it’s unclear whether Brady is ready to play, would mean divided loyalties on who should be playing when. If Brady is a tad rusty, would players be grumbling that it would be better to keep playing Cassel? Would Brady and Cassel camps emerge in the locker room like there were while Bledsoe was the back-up even after he was healthy and ready to play? A team with an extra General treads on shaky ground and I can’t imagine Belichick letting it get to that point.

Guess it mostly hinges on the one piece of information we don’t have — will Brady be Brady come September?

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Nov 25, 2008 10:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

It also raises the question

will Brady be Brady ever again? Many times players have had this type of injury and are never the same player afterward. Brady is tough, but that doesn’t mean his body will allow him to do what he wants it to do. Don’t read me wrong here. Brady is one huge reason our franchise has had the success it has, and there is no way anyone in their right mind can dispute that. That being said, as much as I like TB, the future has to come into consideration.

Now before you start saying what an idiot I am, hear me out. If MC continues to improve as he has and were to be able to win the SB, then where are we? Cassel is 5 years younger than Brady and because he wasn’t a starter in college, as Brady was for 2 years, has 9 years less abuse on his body than TB. Brady became a starter in his second year, studying for 1 year under Bledsoe. Cassel has studied under the best QB in the league for the last 3 years and had a great mentor that has shown him a lot of the nuances of the QB position. At best Brady has 5 or 6 good years ahead, provided the knee is fixed. But Cassel has 10-12 productive years ahead, providing he stays healthy.

There is no doubt that MC will have to be franchised, if for no other reason to make sure TB is ready to play again. It really takes about 2 years for a player’s knee to fully heal to 100%(see Donovan McNabb). If that is the case with TB, then Cassel has to stay.

I don’t know what the final answer will be for the QB position. My heart says Brady until he retires, but after watching the progression of MC, my head says that he may be the future. And yes, I was one that thought he should have been cut after preseason. I didn’t see what BB saw in him. Week after week, he continues to impress me with his ability and now his confidence. I just can’t see letting him walk away if he were to be able to bring another trophy home.

"Pain heals. Chicks dig scars. Glory...lasts forever."-Shane Falco, "The Replacements"

by Ironman63 on Nov 25, 2008 1:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

IMO

franchise him……either that or he walks away free and clear, something the Pats may not be willing to allow, given the uncertainty of Brady’s knee and the uncertainty of O’Connell or Guitierez (sp). I hope the kid gets as much money as he can, but I’d also like to see him do well on whatever team he chooses…

by OneMore on Nov 25, 2008 9:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I wish him nothing but success wherever he goes

(as long as it’s at least out of our division and preferably our conference, of course.) I like MaPatsFan’s description: “Cassel rides out of town with a ticker tape parade in Government Center and the thanks of millions, not to mention a ginormous contract with another team.” I like it when everyone’s happy.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Nov 25, 2008 1:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Pats have to franchise him. You can’t let a guy like that go to any of the division teams, and if Favre retires the Jets would probably be pretty high up on that list. If they franchise him, they can choose who they want to give him to, and get compensation as well as safety that he wouldnt get traded again.

by noro on Nov 25, 2008 12:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs