Matt Cassel Franchised

Hazys

Matt Cassel has been franchised by the Patriots and is set to earn $14million if he doesnt get traded to another team and sign a contract with them.

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2009/02/timing_the_tag.html

The timing of the tag is very significant i think. All other players the Patriots have tagged were on the deadline, Matt is very early. I feel they are tagging him and hoping to trade him before free agency starts. Also with Brady reported as being to be on time in is rehab.

His value has varied from analyst to analyst, some saying a single 2nd round pick to 2X 1st round picks. If Matt Schaub can be valued at 2X 2nd round picks without having a full season under his belt, I could see Matt being worth at least a 1st and a 3rd.

Possible locations:
Chiefs (Obvious pick with Pioli at the helm)
Jets (If the price is right i could see it happening)
Vikings
Detriot (Depends on the draft)
Panthers
Bucs (They only have 4 QBs at the mo...)
Rams (Depends on the draft)
49ers (Depends on the draft)

As a Pats fan I want to thank Matt for his excellent season and the extra draft picks he earned us and i hope he gets payed a bundle.

What do ye think he's worth and where could he end up?

Chucky the tree

Hazys wrote: »

I feel they are tagging him and hoping to trade him before free agency starts.

They doing it this early so they can get trade picks for this years draft and not next years. He also wont be traded to any team in the division, unless Jets are willing to go Rickey Williams crazy. I can see the chiefs giving up there 2nd for him.

Karlusss

I can't see him going to the Rams for picks, to be honest, we need the picks to build a team more than we need a new starting quarterback right now. Chiefs might be happy with what they have. Hard to say straight up where he would go, depending on what the Pats want for him.

themont85

Matt Cassell. IMO you would have to be ridiculousely confident as a GM to bring him in.

Royal Seahawk

I expect Cassel to be moved, but I don't expect it until closer to the start of the season. Right now, he's an insurance policy in case Brady isn't ready to go. If he is, Cassel will be traded, but I doubt the Patriots want to risk starting the season with Kevin O'Connell under center.

I wouldn't be surprised if Cassel was traded after the season starts actually.

tallaghtoutlaws

Royal Seahawk wrote: »

I expect Cassel to be moved, but I don't expect it until closer to the start of the season. Right now, he's an insurance policy in case Brady isn't ready to go. If he is, Cassel will be traded, but I doubt the Patriots want to risk starting the season with Kevin O'Connell under center.

I wouldn't be surprised if Cassel was traded after the season starts actually.

Lets not forget if a team offers a contract to Cassel and the Patriots don't want to match it, Cassel is gone and the Pats recieve 2 draft picks in compensation. The only way the Patriots can reject an offer from a team now that Cassel is on a non exclusive franchise tag is by offering him more money than the other team.

"A "non-exclusive" franchise player must be offered a one-year contract for an amount no less than the average of the top five salaries at the player's position in the previous year, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater. A non-exclusive franchise player may negotiate with other NFL teams, but if he signs an offer sheet from another team, the original team has a right to match the terms of that offer, or if it does not match the offer and thus loses the player, is entitled to receive two first-round draft picks as compensation."

You see the Pats run a great risk trying to hang on to Cassel until August especially if a team does actually offer him a contract. We would have to make it better and sign him. Leaving us with 2 QBs being payed 25% of the teams Cap.

davyjose

That's a very shrewd move by the Pats actually*

*If anyone read this before the edit: ignore it, I'm tired :P

Peyton Manning

Belichick said he was looking forward to working with Cassel in 2009. However, this could be just Bill Belichick being Bill Belichick.

davyjose

Archimedes wrote: »

Belichick said he was looking forward to working with Cassel in 2009. However, this could be just Bill Belichick being Bill Belichick.

That's the thing though, unless they actually have doubts about Brady's knee (my pre-edit post ), they won't keep Cassell. Makes absolutely no sense, BUT they can use him for some nice bartering this way, if they have to.

Belichick is freakishly ahead of the game sometimes.

Peyton Manning

davyjose wrote: »

That's the thing though, unless they actually have doubts about Brady's knee (my pre-edit post ), they won't keep Cassell. Makes absolutely no sense, BUT they can use him for some nice bartering this way, if they have to.

Belichick is freakishly ahead of the game sometimes.

I think he just likes messing with the press

Chucky the tree

I think the pats will go after a veteran QB to replace/back-up if brady isnt there. I'd be confident Bellichick could find somehow who is more then capable to start if needs be at a much cheaper price then Cassell.

kryogen

Franchising him was the best option in fairness, and now we can get something of real value for him i would hope......

Shame to see him go, but Brady is Brady, what can you do!

SantryRed

I wouldn't trade him in. Too risky.

kryogen

too expensive to keep both though, Brady will be getting around 15mil this yeasr so having a back up earning 14 mil would be ridiculous and would never happen

KOC will be a good backup, maybe too raw to be a starter but as a backup he would be fine, he knows the system and he looks to have the natural ability to be a good qb, if there are any serious doubts then im sure the pats could get in someone older and cheaper then cassel if needed to steady the ship if Brady wont be ready, i fully expect Brady to be ready for the opening game anyway, and be firing on all cylinders by week 4

raven136

whats the chances of the Jets going for him?

Karlusss

You mean the chances of the Pats letting him go to the Jets? Low, I'd say.

raven136

cant see it happening myself and would prefer if the Jets went for byron leftwich.

kryogen

no chance of him being allowed go to the jets, absolutely no chance

the chiefs seems the likely one, with Pioli after joining them already you could deffo see him wanting Cassel and we could use a couple of their draft picks

tallaghtoutlaws

Well the choice of a move is now on Cassel. He just signed the tender.

http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/02/07/cassel-likely-to-remain-in-new-england/

Means if the Patriots want him out now its up to Cassel now where he goes. Still doesnt mean we will keep him. I would imagine Cassel will be smart and move elsewhere is Brady is 100% come camp.

Pyjamarama

Only thing the Pats could do really.

I doubt any team will give up anything too crazy for the guy. Proving you can win with the Patriots is a lot different to being able to win with the chiefs/Lions etc. I guess the lions could take a shot on him with their second pick and draft a Left Tackle with pick no1.

Karlusss

If the Lions want to sell seats in 2009, they'll draft a quarterback at number 1.

Chucky the tree

With the OT position so deep in this draft I'd be suprised if they didnt copy the falcons and go 1. QB 1a or 2 LT and then the other pick on a CB. There defensive is awful though, so I could also see them going 1. QB and then go defense with their other two top picks.

jdivision

Chucky the tree wrote: »

With the OT position so deep in this draft I'd be suprised if they didnt copy the falcons and go 1. QB 1a or 2 LT and then the other pick on a CB. There defensive is awful though, so I could also see them going 1. QB and then go defense with their other two top picks.

Well they drafted a QB in the second round a couple of years ago and haven't given him a chance. I do take your point so to be honest I'd like to see them trade No 1 pick for a first and second and offer a second round pick for Leinart. Time to see if he's got what it takes. Resign Dre Bly too, he got cut by the Broncos. Lions need two o line, a QB, two linebackers, a corner, a safety, a DT and a DE. If they don't trade out of No 1 they have no hope of addressing all those needs, even with the picks they got from Dallas for R Williams.

Chucky the tree

jdivision wrote: »

Well they drafted a QB in the second round a couple of years ago and haven't given him a chance. I do take your point so to be honest I'd like to see them trade No 1 pick for a first and second and offer a second round pick for Leinart. Time to see if he's got what it takes. Resign Dre Bly too, he got cut by the Broncos. Lions need two o line, a QB, two linebackers, a corner, a safety, a DT and a DE. If they don't trade out of No 1 they have no hope of addressing all those needs, even with the picks they got from Dallas for R Williams.

I wouldnt rely on Stanton stepping up, the fact he couldnt get ahead of the muck they started ahead of him isnt a great sign. A 2nd rounder for Leinart is to high aswell I think, at the moment he's looking like a bust so I wouldnt give up a higher 2nd for him. I'd try and get Brady Quinn for a 2nd but I dont think the Brown would accept.

Unfortunatly it's very difficult to trade out of number 1 spot due to the money a number 1 gets. I also think this year it's going to even tougher since there isnt a true standout great player.

Ceartgoleor

I think the best thing the Lions could realistically do with the No.1 spot is spend it on a top class OL, and retain Culpepper at QB. Neither Stafford nor Sanchez will have the instant success Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco had imo (both underclassmen, Sanchez in particular has played very little), and shopping around and taking a chance on someone like Matt Leinart or Brady Quinn as suggested is just as risky as going with a rookie. Invest the draft picks in putting some talent on the roster, not risking them trading for some probable bust like Leinart.

tallaghtoutlaws

Ceartgoleor wrote: »

I think the best thing the Lions could realistically do with the No.1 spot is spend it on a top class OL, and retain Culpepper at QB. Neither Stafford nor Sanchez will have the instant success Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco had imo (both underclassmen, Sanchez in particular has played very little), and shopping around and taking a chance on someone like Matt Leinart or Brady Quinn as suggested is just as risky as going with a rookie. Invest the draft picks in putting some talent on the roster, not risking them trading for some probable bust like Leinart.

They wont get Brady Quinn but maybe Derek Anderson is an option.

Hazys

The countdown is on.

Only 8 days to free agency and Cassel hasn't been traded or signed a new contract. Currently the Pats have only $3/4million in cap space, they need to get something done with Cassel before free agency starts if they plan on getting anybody.

Ceartgoleor

tallaghtoutlaws wrote: »

They wont get Brady Quinn but maybe Derek Anderson is an option.

Rumours going around that the Buccaneers are taking a real look at Derek Anderson. Could be a very good move for them.

Daniel81

yeah Matt had a great season. It was a big ask for him to try and fill Bradys Boots but he gave it his best!! LETS GO BRADY!!!
Pats all the way!

kryogen

i understand Matt going to KC but im disappointed to lose Vrabel to them too