YouTube Video - Cassel Hassle

Marshall Faulk is always finding some way to discredit the New England Patriots, for whatever reason. It's not his apparent bias that I care about, though - it's the way he came down hard on backup QB Matt Cassel and the New England Patriots early this (pre)season. Are you man enough to admit you were wrong, Faulk?

Straight from his mouth (regarding Matt Cassel):

"This guy could not get this team a win if Tom Brady got hurt and they had the lead."

Matt Cassel came into the Kansas City Chiefs game with 7 minutes to go in the first quarter, and the score was 0-0 at that time. On his first drive, the Patriots are pinned down at their own one-yard line on a 3rd and 11, and Cassel's first throw is a 51-yarder to Randy Moss. The Patriots won the game 17-10.

Matt Cassel's first official "start" in the NFL was a win on the road over the New York Jets, 19-10. He led his team on five scoring drives. That's twice he's led his team to victory, and twice he's proven Marshall Faulk wrong.

He's currently 29 of 41 (70.7%) for 317 yards, 1 touchdown and 0 interceptions (a 101.4 QB rating).

Faulk, I think Cassel deserves an apology.

Looks like there will be an extra body competing for the offensive line this offseason.

The Patriots bolstered the depth on their offensive line today by agreeing to contract terms with free-agent tackle Oliver Ross. The team announced the official signing this afternoon.

The 6-foot-4, 327-pound Ross has played in 89 games with 53 career starts. He has spent time with the Cowboys (1998), Eagles (1999), Steelers (2000-2004) and Cardinals (2005-2007). The most productive stretch of his career came with the Steelers, where he was part of some mauling offensive lines that helped Pittsburgh annually rate as one of the league’s best running clubs.

The 33-year-old Ross has been limited by injuries at times over his career. Most recently, he missed last season after he was placed on injured reserve in August with a torn left triceps.

As for how Ross fits in New England, he has experience at both left and right tackle positions, with the right side his most natural spot. The Patriots have Matt Light returning as their starting left tackle and Nick Kaczur as their starting right tackle (he also swings to the left side).

Third-year man Ryan O’Callaghan was the team’s top backup tackle last year; he’s strictly a right tackle. Swing tackle Wesley Britt is fourth on the depth chart.

So Ross adds another layer of depth at the position for the Patriots, who did not select an offensive lineman in the draft.

Source: Reiss' Pieces

Here are some quick contract details.

A follow-up on the contract signed by veteran offensive lineman Oliver Ross with the Patriots:

It's a one-year package, with a base salary of $730,000, which is the minimum for a player with Ross's experience. The deal also includes a $20,000 signing bonus.

The contract qualifies for the minimum salary benefit, meaning that Ross's salary cap charge is $471,000.

The New York Times is reporting that Matt Walsh has finally sent the National Football League the videotapes he claimed to have in his possession from his tenure with the Patriots. Among the eight tapes, there was no evidence to support the accusations levied against the Patriots that they had taped the Rams walkthrough prior to the Super Bowl.

Ex-Patriots Assistant Sends the N.F.L. Eight Tapes

I hope this finally puts to rest this whole Spygate fiasco. The article pretty much just sums up what we already knew - the Patriots filmed other team's signals since Bill Belichick became the head coach in New England (though it does provide some more elaborate details on what was actually filmed).

I suppose it's also worth mentioning that Matt Walsh and Roger Goodell are still scheduled to meet on May 13th, so we'll probably have some more info come out by then. As of now, though, that seems to be the entire film collection he took once he was fired.