Matt Cassel Traded To The Chiefs

by Marima on Feb 28, 2009 1:16 PM EST in New England Patriots News

The Kansas City Chiefs have found their starting quarterback. NFL Network’s Adam Schefter reports the Chiefs acquired QB Matt Cassel from the New England Patriots in a trade on Saturday.

The teams have agreed on compensation, according to Schefter, but no details of the deal were immediately available.

Cassel was designated as the Patriots’ franchise player on Feb. 5, guaranteeing him $14.65 million next season. The signed tender was officially submitted to the league earlier this week.

Cassel saw the first significant action of his career last season, taking over for the injured Tom Brady in Week 2 and starting 15 games, completing 63.4 percent of his passes for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.

Cassel will see some familiar faces in Kansas City. Schefter also reports Patriots linebacker Mike Vrabel was in Kansas City on Friday undergoing a physical so that he can then be traded to the Chiefs. Vrabel later confirmed the trade in an email to The Boston Globe. Cassel and Vrabel will be playing for new Chiefs GM Scott Pioli, who was hired in January to oversee the team’s football operations after nine seasons in New England.

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BartHML posted this first as a fanpost

Apologies… I didn’t see your post until after I put mine up.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Feb 28, 2009 1:19 PM EST reply actions

Really big news

I can’t wait to find out what the compensation was.

by NESilver on Feb 28, 2009 1:27 PM EST reply actions

Schefter on NFL Network right now

They’re saying a third team might be involved in this trade…

by NESilver on Feb 28, 2009 1:31 PM EST reply actions

si.com says...

that we get the KC 2nd round draft pick this year.

I’m betting we get more than that.

by CelticPride on Feb 28, 2009 1:48 PM EST reply actions

We have to

Especially since we traded both Vrabel and Cassel. A high second rounder is not enough compensation for those two.

The suspense is killin’ me.

by NESilver on Feb 28, 2009 1:50 PM EST up reply actions

linky goodness

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/peter_king/02/28/chiefs.trade.for.cassel/index.html

by CelticPride on Feb 28, 2009 1:49 PM EST reply actions

At first...

…I thought Belichick got screwed, then I read this from CelticPride’s link:

My take: Bill Belichick either didn’t get a better offer, or he did one of his best friends, Pioli, a favor with a player Belichick wanted to put in a good situation; Belichick is very fond of Cassel. It would not be surprising to see Belichick make the deal with Pioli because both were trained under Bill Parcells, and Parcells always made sure he watched out for his lieutenants and helped them whenever it didn’t hurt him.

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

by MaPatsFan on Feb 28, 2009 2:02 PM EST up reply actions

I love the talent at the end of round 1, but if there are no more picks attached, its hard not to feel a little disappointed.

by Pie McKenzie on Feb 28, 2009 1:55 PM EST reply actions

Yea

Like a 5th or something…I would have thought Cassel alone would be worth an early 2nd round pick.

"These players, a lot of other people didn't believe in them, but they believe in themselves. And that is all that matters."- Bill Belichick

by Mainiac on Feb 28, 2009 1:58 PM EST up reply actions

I would have thought Cassel himself would be worth two second round picks. And Vrabel isn’t exactly a throw-in.

There has to be something we’re missing here.

by RSNexile on Feb 28, 2009 2:20 PM EST up reply actions

I agree

A high second round pick is good value, don’t get me wrong, but it feels like the Patriots must’ve been desperate to unload Cassel and free up some cap space.

Or it could be what MaPatsFan quoted up above, which is understandable, but it doesn’t feel right when Matt Schaub gets traded for two first rounders and A.J. Feeley alone was traded for a second round pick.

by NESilver on Feb 28, 2009 2:25 PM EST up reply actions

a few sites have it as the #34 pick with a conditional 2010 pick.

Chicago Tribune had one GM saying that teams didn’t want Cassel because of the salary commitment they would have to make (in-line with the Yahoo article implying that Cassel’s agent was scaring teams). Same article mentioned Pats wanted a first and third or two second rounders. Hopefully the conditional pick is a floor of two, with the Chiefs’ #1 next year as upside.

by Pie McKenzie on Feb 28, 2009 2:01 PM EST reply actions

What if Pioli was the brains behind Belichick/Pioli?

by cia on Feb 28, 2009 2:03 PM EST reply actions

The good news

On the glass is half full side of this, it could be a strong indication Brady’s ready.

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

by MaPatsFan on Feb 28, 2009 2:06 PM EST reply actions

true

and its nice to see Cassell get a chance to start on his own. I just hope Brady’s gonna be ready.

by cia on Feb 28, 2009 2:09 PM EST up reply actions

Cheifs fan

here. Thanks for Cassel boys. There will be a whole lot of talent left when our(your) second rounder comes around. You guys have a lot of first day picks now and more money to make some Free Agency moves. Here’s to a beautiful relationship going forward. Good luck in the draft. I have a feeling when all is said and done this is going to work out for both sides.

by johnnyboy1106 on Feb 28, 2009 2:17 PM EST reply actions

Thanks!

Honestly, I’m feeling that way, too. Noone got screwed and neither team got hurt by these moves. Overall, I think we all benefitted.

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

by MaPatsFan on Feb 28, 2009 2:41 PM EST up reply actions

Absolutely

It’s a win-win when Pioli and Belichick separated on good terms and can scratch each others back, making it profitable all around. Both are very, very smart men and loyal to a fault.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Feb 28, 2009 3:14 PM EST up reply actions

Good to see that KC has decent fans (or it least one). Always enjoyed when Arrowhead was one of the best homefield advantages, not too many places like that left.

by Pie McKenzie on Feb 28, 2009 3:56 PM EST up reply actions

Do you have any other players we can have?

Maybe someone of that DL. Thanks for Cassel and Vrabel

Denver Sucks!!!!!

by Major Tom on Feb 28, 2009 2:32 PM EST reply actions

sure...

just hand over TG…

"These players, a lot of other people didn't believe in them, but they believe in themselves. And that is all that matters."- Bill Belichick

by Mainiac on Feb 28, 2009 2:46 PM EST up reply actions

Everyone just needs to sit tight. There will be more to come. If we are getting a 2nd rnd pick and no players, then we are clearing a TON of cap space. We also have a ton of picks. This makes me feel like the next move will be a trade of picks for Julius Peppers. Then we could still look for a high end FA.

by cheferict on Feb 28, 2009 2:45 PM EST reply actions

Plus...

we can use some of that cap space to tie up some of our other players (ahem, Vince Wilfork) for multiple years.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Feb 28, 2009 3:26 PM EST up reply actions

I'm happy with the trade

I expected the Pats to get more from Cassel (or keep him, because Brady wasn’t going to be ready*) and Vrabel being gone is an added bonus.

*I know it sounds awful for me to want the scenario were Brady isn’t healthy, but in my defense, the Pats without Brady aren’t the Pats I hate (and I think I’m not alone judging by the tone the rivalry had last season).

I ain't tryin' do you, I'm just tryin' do me
Last album did two, I'm just tryin' do three.
-Young Jeezy "I Luv It

by shake n bake on Feb 28, 2009 3:08 PM EST reply actions

Have to admit I'm not looking forward to the day

when Brady, and yes, Manning, are no longer in the league.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Feb 28, 2009 3:28 PM EST up reply actions

Tommy!

Get ready for 45 TD’s and a Superbowl win
4 picks before the third round is wicked awesome
Free’s up $14.5 mil that they would have had to pay Cassel
Vrabel’s contact is up after next year

by Al Swearengen on Feb 28, 2009 4:39 PM EST reply actions

Aargh! Forgot about the $14.5 million

That goes in the “why this is good” category. :-)

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

by MaPatsFan on Feb 28, 2009 4:48 PM EST up reply actions

plus whatever hit Vrabel would have had on the cap space too

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Feb 28, 2009 7:07 PM EST up reply actions

Of Dead Issue fame?

As Mr. Sloan always says, there is no "I" in team, but there is an "I" in pie. And there's an "I" in meat pie. Anagram of meat is team... I don't know what he's talking about. --Shaun of the Dead

by JohnHannahRules on Mar 2, 2009 9:11 AM EST up reply actions