Matt Cassel traded to Chiefs

by MaPatsFan on Feb 28, 2009 4:05 PM EST in Opinion Comment 25 comments

Cassel-game-ball_medium

Some would look at the Matt Cassel/Mike Vrabel trade to the Chiefs and think we got taken. Some would say we should've gotten more for a hot commodity like Matt and a veteran presence like Mike. I would simply say, this is a good thing. I was about to type up a long list of, "Why I'm smarter than everyone else" factoids, but our good friend at the Boston Globe, Mike Reiss, beat me to it (he sort of does this for a living):

There wasn't a large market for Cassel, which was a result of three main factors: 1) Not every team needed him; 2) Economics-wise, not every team could afford him; 3) Compensation-wise, not every team was willing to part with what it would take to acquire him (draft pick).

The Patriots figure to take a hit in opinion polls on this deal, but from this perspective, the main questions to answer are these:

Would the Patriots have been better off letting Cassel walk as an unrestricted free agent, and receiving a 2010 third-round compensatory pick in return?

Or is this scenario better, getting a high 2009 second-round pick (No. 34 overall, second in the round), while adding a savvy veteran like Vrabel -- whose contract expires after 2009 and probably wouldn't have been back in 2010 -- to close the deal?

In the end, the feeling here is that the Patriots turned a 2005 seventh-round draft choice -- a player many felt would be cut at the end of training camp (me included) -- into a valuable 2009 second-round pick.

We have 1 first round draft pick at 23, a 2nd rounder at 2, and 2 more 2nd rounders. By my math, that's FOUR picks in the first and second round. I don't think that's too shabby.

It seems the prevailing attitude amongst many is we should have turned the screws and gotten more out of KC for Cassel and Vrabel. Read Mike Reiss' words again. This is very good for a lot of reasons:

To KC fans, Pioli looks like a genius, and likely is
Belichick helps a friend rebuild his new team and does it by not hurting the Patriots
Mike Vrabel, at 34, gets to add leadership to a young team and leave behind a defense moving on to the next generation
Matt Cassel gets a nice payday in a shrinking market and keeps a starting gig
Given NE traded away Cassel, Tom Terrific is, most likely ready

Why is it that for a deal to look good to a particular fanbase, their team has to come out so far on top that the other team is left feeling swindled? The sad part of this is that if Belichick absolutely fileted Pioli, rival fanbases would continue to label him Darth Vader in a hoodie. Instead, he deals with honesty and integrity, helping out both Josh McDaniels and Scott Pioli in the process while not negatively impacting Denver, New England, or Kansas City, and many think he got screwed? What happened to everyone walking away happy and feeling good?

At any rate, I'm really happy for Cassel. And I want to thank him for spending three years being prepared to take the lead role. I give him a lot of credit for taking the Boy Scout motto to heart: Be Prepared. He was prepared and it worked out. It worked out for everyone.

Thanks Matt.

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A rare win-win trade for both NFL teams. I think Cassel will excel in KC, and the second round pick will shore up needs on NE’s end.

If Brady wasn’t going to be ready for the fall, would this trade have happened? Probably not, unless they were thinking of taking a flier on a college QB in the second or third round.

House Of Sparky: An Arizona State Sun Devils blog

by Cory Williams on Feb 28, 2009 4:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Cassel/Vrabel trade

I agree with trading Cassel (if Brady is ready), but there was no need to throw Vrabel into the deal. KC would have given a second round pick for Cassel without sweetening the deal with Vrabel. Let’s not forget that NE has an aging LB corps, and Vrabel was a consistent performer for them (and my favorite player… dang it!). They will regret trading him.

by ArmyBombTech on Feb 28, 2009 4:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

All good points, MaPatsFan.

I’m still one of those who feel we could have gotten more, and I think it’s mostly due to Vrabel being included in the deal (like ArmyBombTech said). It’s not about feeling like we came out on top, it’s about feeling like we got an equal exchange in value. Matt Schaub alone was worth two 2nd rounders. A. J. Feeley and Daunte Culpepper were worth a second rounder in trades. But we saw Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel for a single second rounder.

However, because Pioli and Belichick are close, it could be a “parting gift” like Peter King mentioned in his article, which I wouldn’t have a problem with.

Also, we cleared up a ton of cap space and KC’s second rounder is right around the area we’re used to picking, so this could turn out to be really good for us if we pick a good player there. With three second round picks, we’re in really good position to build our defense.

So, while I’m a bit disappointed, I’m not completely outraged by it or anything. After all, In Belichick We Trust.

by NESilver on Feb 28, 2009 5:08 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Amen brother

If it were any other team then Pioli’s, I would have been a bit disappointed. But above everything we accomplished what we needed to — knowing Brady will be back next year, trading Cassel and freeing up 14+ million, and giving Vrabel a dignified landing place, rather than just releasing him next year to pimp himself out to whichever team bids the most.

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Feb 28, 2009 7:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

beautifully put

You guys are really cool about this. I’d probably feel the same if Tony G. gets traded. I hope they appreciate him as much as we do Mike V. He’s gonna help our talented, but slightly misguided youth immensely. Mainly, how to be a winner. Thanks Pats Nation. You have our respect. It’s the Patriots and Chiefs Way.

The Edge... there is no honest way to explain it because the only people who really know where it is are the ones who have gone over. HSThompson

by Chiefho on Feb 28, 2009 8:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely

I have to think there’s something we don’t know that would explain why the Pats gave away so much for just a second round pick. Yeah, there may be a conditional pick in 2010, but that’s not much. So I have to wonder if this was a way to get something useful in return for Cassel while dumping salary to make room for a free agent and clear the way for either the unknown free agent or some young guy to take Vrabel’s spot in the lineup.

by RSNexile on Feb 28, 2009 8:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn't say Belichick got fleeced

Until we see how Cassel and Vrabel do next year. Belichick is probably planning to select Vrabel’s replacement in the draft, and with more draft picks it will be easier for him to get what he wants. Cassel flourished under the Patriot system, and I love the guy, but I could see him struggling and so could Pioli, which is why it wasn’t a 1st 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 5:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Would you say...

…that maybe we already have Vrable’s replacement? Pierre Woods looked pretty good last year, Crable didn’t play in a game, but he was on the roster every week, not the practice squad. Guyton didn’t look too bad, not to mention Jared Mayo who was just amazing. And, we still have AD and Bruschi, not to mention, I bet they’ll pick up some veteran on the market (will Seau come back…. yet again, I’d bet no, but who knows… :))

by DanieXJ on Feb 28, 2009 7:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Strange move. You cant easily replace veteran presence like vrabel. And you also have to throw in cassel, just to get a 2nd round pick? I realize this clears space, but im not so sure if we’l be able to fill that space (especially if brady isnt 100%)

by spinz on Feb 28, 2009 6:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Depth

It’s one thing to trade a away another asset but to do it from the very position (linebacker) that we are trying to improve/ deepen, just seems strange. I also agree that if looked at in perspective to past trades, we gave up a lot.

Also, it’s strange that people think Belichek is going to draft Vrabel’s replacement in the second round considering it took a linebacker taken top 10 to overcome Belichek’s fear of rookie linebackers. I’m not sure if he’s willing to make the same exception for a 2nd round linebacker.

by BigRedDog42 on Feb 28, 2009 7:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This is all about clearing salary cap space.
Let’s see what they do with the $20 million or so they get.
I think they have the leadership in the room still. They need some depth at DB and I hope they sign Leigh Bodden.

Hopefully there’ll be a linebacker in the draft at 23 and 34. This year’s draft is weak in DB’s. Had they got KC’s top pick (#3), they’d be over the cap. They probably could have gotten Tony Gonzalez in the deal, and had the same problem. Can’t afford him.

This was a salary dump. Looking for Crable, Redd or Woods to step up the pass rush from the outside.

by PatsFanSince1975 on Feb 28, 2009 8:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I was high on Bodden too

i’m hoping the xtra money will help with the signing

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Feb 28, 2009 9:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Bodden

5 years with the Browns then a year with Detroit. This guy should be itchin’ to play for a good franchise and we’re in need of a strong corner. At 27, he seems to be the right age to still have a full tank of gas with some experience to boot.

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

by MaPatsFan on Feb 28, 2009 9:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Stocking up.

We already have our original 23rd pick and 2 subsequent 2nd round picks. With the 20 million in cap space, we get a good bit of relief in draft and free agent room. Fred Taylor onboard and look at the crop of free agents in the pool this year. Everyone will be looking at bargains ,too. I really don’t think this deal would have been like this for anyone other than Pioli.

by BamaPatsFan on Feb 28, 2009 9:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

but still......

As NESilver said, look what other QB’s have gotten. It does seem like we got hosed here. I know we may not have been able to pay money to a #3 over all pick in the draft, but I am quite sure that we could have traded down in the first and picked up some more picks next season. No matter how you look at it we DID give up a lot for a 2nd round pick.
i guess we just get to wait and see what happens. I wish both of them good luck with there new team and thanks tfor the memories. (going to suck seeing Vrabel in a different jersey tho)

BigRedDog42 did have a point also about our choices a LB. There are still some good players out there. Lewis or Cato in a Pats jersey??

by Kreedar on Feb 28, 2009 10:50 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

well

those past QBs were bad deals, and perhaps the dumb GMs all have QB situation settled this year.

"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 Mar 1, 2009 12:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

something else to consider

Most of us wanted Cassel released in preseason. Now we just traded him for the #34 pick. What did we pay him the whole time? 4 years for a couple mil?

It sucks that Brady went down and cost us a playoff run but the system produced a winning QB and got value for him. That’s something to be impressed with.

"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 Mar 1, 2009 1:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Great point!

If someone predicted at preseason that we’d get a high second-rounder for Cassel, everyone would have first disbelieved and then jumped at the chance. After about midway through the season I was advocating that the Pats not franchise him at all… that they just let him walk and go where he wants – with a big parade send-off – to thank him from the bottom of our hearts for saving the season that was lost within the first 8 minutes.

Now I know that he had to be franchised, if only to keep him from the Jets (who could certainly use a QB.)

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Mar 1, 2009 9:24 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

An offer KC couldn't refuse

Kind of ironic is that Cassel is being traded to the team that injured Brady but if the injury hadn’t happened there’s no way Cassel goes for an early 2nd round pick this year. The Pats only spent a 7th round pick and a spot on their bench to develop him. That’s getting value for investment

This is a good deal for the Patriots for the following reasons:

1. They clear cap space ($17m with both) and be aggressive in FA. The Patriots need to address secondary and the OLB, they now have the leverage to go out make those moves possibly a Ray Lewis and a couple of corners.

2. They stockpile picks to make their defense younger and faster in the draft. They can now draft a young safety and linebacker to replace Bruschi and Harrison. They could also trade picks for impact players right now or for future draft picks.

Vrabel is 34 and the Patriots needed to get faster and younger at that position. As much as we really like Vrabel you can’t fall in love with these players and just hold on to them forever…one wouldn’t be a good head coach/GM and eventually your team will get weaker.

by Dirt Dog on Mar 1, 2009 10:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

They may already have his replacement

One thing most of us forget is that BB is always one step ahead of us,he may already have Vrabel’s replacment on the roster or he will drat one or bring in a free agent.I would not over look Shawn Crable or a combination of Crable or Woods.Banta Cane was brought back and Guyton played pretty well.This yeras draft report on LB is good so don’t be surprised if they come out of this in good shape.

by simval46 on Mar 1, 2009 1:35 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Fast trade, good trade

I think the Chiefs must be very happy with this deal, but it is not bad for the Patriots either. We got a very useful pick (#34) and the trade was done in the first days of free agency. This is important because 1) we now have cap room to pursue free agents before they sign elsewhere 2) we have cap room to start negotiating with pending free agents like Vilfork and Mankins 3) the team will be able to focus on other pressing matters like the draft. Essentially NOTHING else could be done until the Cassell situation was resolved.

But I’m a bit sad to see Vrabel leave.

by hythlodaeus on Mar 1, 2009 2:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

agreed

Keep the faith!

by Marima on Mar 1, 2009 2:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One of the Stupidest Bonehead Trades of All Time

Cassel & Vrabel for a 34th draft pick. Something seems strange here. Now lets get this straight. The USC quarterback Sanchez who has NO NFL experience and will take years to develop will probably go before the 15th pick because so many teams need Qbacks. Err, the Pats settle for a 34th for Cassel who is now one of the best Qbacks in the NFL and throw in their linebacker Vrabel who is very good player as well?

WOW, WHAT BRAIN DEAD PERSON THOUGHT OF THAT ONE? SOUNDS LIKE THE PATS WERE IN COLLUSION THE THE CHIEFS. It doesn’t make sense. There are many teams that would have given a #1 plus for him. Sounds stupid. Now all they need is for 31 yr old Brady to get hurt because he hasn’t played in about a year. O by the way 26 yr old Cassel threw for 3700 yds 63% 21TDs 11 Int last year and went to the Pro Bowl.

THIS IS A DECISION THAT DEFYS LOGIC. ARE YOU LISTENING COMMISSIONER?

by eagleal on Mar 2, 2009 12:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs