ARE YOU NEW HERE? NOT LOGGED IN? PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO REGISTER FOR AN ACCOUNT AND LOGIN TO REMOVE THIS WINDOW
Welcome to PatsFans.com. Do you have an account? If not - please take a moment to register for our forum and experience a much smoother experience with fewer ads, along with no longer having to see this notification window. Also learn about how you can receive a free Patriots T-Shirt from the Patriots Official ProShop by CLICKING HERE. Please enjoy your stay here, and Go Pats!
I hope everybody (and that includes you, lurking journalists) is able to take a moment to look away from who's not QB for the Patriots this week, and contemplate the amazing human-interest story of the man who is.
Matt Cassel was the proverbial golden boy. Growing up in Southern California, he was an all-sports standout. As a Little Leaguer he helped lead his town to the Little League World Series. As a high school student, he made headlines and all-star lists as the star of the football and baseball teams, leading both to city titles. He was intensely recruited as a college quarterback, and chose the ultimate SoCal golden boy dream: quarterback for USC. He had the world by a string.
As it happened, though, he wasn't the only golden boy who committed to USC. After a redshirt year, he spent his freshman and sophomore seasons on the bench as the #2 QB behind Heisman winner Carson Palmer. No shame in that. Junior year the team would be his...except it wasn't. Heading into the season, young Matt Leinart narrowly beat out Cassel for the starting job. Leinart became King of L.A., Cassel became invisible. Facing two more seasons on the bench, he had a tough decision: stick it out, or transfer to a lower-division school where he could finally play football again?
Cassel stuck with USC, and even agreed to play some tight end to get onto the field. He may have still been one of the top QB prospects on the country, but who would know? He entered the 2005 draft as a football player who didn't play football, a QB who hadn't started a game since high school.
Yet against all odds, Cassel was drafted. The Patriots took a flyer in the 7th round, intrigued by his potential. A major draft website flayed the Patriots for the pick, calling it an "arrogant" move by Scott Pioli, a selection of a worthless player just to make the exec look smarter than everyone else. Here at PatsFans.com, the phrase "wasted pick" seemed like Cassel's middle name.
But darned if the kid didn't make the roster. He worked hard, studied hard, and soon found himself in a familiar position: backup to a superstar. A season passed, then two, then three. Cassel began this season as a dedicated professional football player who hadn't seen meaningful time on the field in nine years.
Think about that. How can that possibly feel?
In 2008 he had a weak preseason, and many fans and journalists predicted he'd be cut. But again, he stuck it out. And then it happened. First game of the year, the reigning NFL MVP goes down.
This Sunday Matt Cassel, the most patient football player in America, gets his first start of the 21st century. Leading the defending conference champions, opposite Brett f'in Favre. How's that for a story to root for?
And p.s....Matt Leinart's warming the bench in Arizona on Sunday.
FEATURED ADVERTISEMENT
DONATE TO PATSFANS.COM
RECEIVE A FREE PATS T-SHIRT AND SAVE 15% OFF WHEN YOU BUY FROM THE OFFICIAL PROSHOP!
Free T-Shirt & Save 15% Off!
Like Our Site? Please help support our site and server costs by DONATING TO PATSFANS.COM and receive a FREE PATRIOTS T-SHIRT and SAVE 15% off EVERY purchase you make from PatriotsProShop.com. You'll also receive added benefits to your account including Removing All Ads During Your Experience Here At Our Forum.
NEEDED YEARLY SITE DONATIONS: 345 | CURRENT # OF SUBSCRIBED SUPPORTERS: 98
And p.s....Matt Leinart's warming the bench in Arizona on Sunday.
And Carson Palmer is starting for the Bengals!
__________________
"Avert thine eyes! You're not hot enough to be looking at me." To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I hope everybody (and that includes you, lurking journalists) is able to take a moment to look away from who's not QB for the Patriots this week, and contemplate the amazing human-interest story of the man who is.
Matt Cassel was the proverbial golden boy. Growing up in Southern California, he was an all-sports standout. As a Little Leaguer he helped lead his town to the Little League World Series. As a high school student, he made headlines and all-star lists as the star of the football and baseball teams, leading both to city titles. He was intensely recruited as a college quarterback, and chose the ultimate SoCal golden boy dream: quarterback for USC. He had the world by a string.
As it happened, though, he wasn't the only golden boy who committed to USC. After a redshirt year, he spent his freshman and sophomore seasons on the bench as the #2 QB behind Heisman winner Carson Palmer. No shame in that. Junior year the team would be his...except it wasn't. Heading into the season, young Matt Leinart narrowly beat out Cassel for the starting job. Leinart became King of L.A., Cassel became invisible. Facing two more seasons on the bench, he had a tough decision: stick it out, or transfer to a lower-division school where he could finally play football again?
Cassel stuck with USC, and even agreed to play some tight end to get onto the field. He may have still been one of the top QB prospects on the country, but who would know? He entered the 2005 draft as a football player who didn't play football, a QB who hadn't started a game since high school.
Yet against all odds, Cassel was drafted. The Patriots took a flyer in the 7th round, intrigued by his potential. A major draft website flayed the Patriots for the pick, calling it an "arrogant" move by Scott Pioli, a selection of a worthless player just to make the exec look smarter than everyone else. Here at PatsFans.com, the phrase "wasted pick" seemed like Cassel's middle name.
But darned if the kid didn't make the roster. He worked hard, studied hard, and soon found himself in a familiar position: backup to a superstar. A season passed, then two, then three. Cassel began this season as a dedicated professional football player who hadn't seen meaningful time on the field in nine years.
Think about that. How can that possibly feel?
In 2008 he had a weak preseason, and many fans and journalists predicted he'd be cut. But again, he stuck it out. And then it happened. First game of the year, the reigning NFL MVP goes down.
This Sunday Matt Cassel, the most patient football player in America, gets his first start of the 21st century. Leading the defending conference champions, opposite Brett f'in Favre. How's that for a story to root for?
And p.s....Matt Leinart's warming the bench in Arizona on Sunday.
Thanks PC,
This guy has worked hard and deserves his shot. I wish fans would just back
off for the time being and let this play out without the usual character
assassination rhetoric. In BB I trust he is doing what is best for the team
and if he says this is it, I've got his back. Give 'm hell Matty, best the Jets!
__________________
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
I hope everybody (and that includes you, lurking journalists) is able to take a moment to look away from who's not QB for the Patriots this week, and contemplate the amazing human-interest story of the man who is.
Matt Cassel was the proverbial golden boy. Growing up in Southern California, he was an all-sports standout. As a Little Leaguer he helped lead his town to the Little League World Series. As a high school student, he made headlines and all-star lists as the star of the football and baseball teams, leading both to city titles. He was intensely recruited as a college quarterback, and chose the ultimate SoCal golden boy dream: quarterback for USC. He had the world by a string.
As it happened, though, he wasn't the only golden boy who committed to USC. After a redshirt year, he spent his freshman and sophomore seasons on the bench as the #2 QB behind Heisman winner Carson Palmer. No shame in that. Junior year the team would be his...except it wasn't. Heading into the season, young Matt Leinart narrowly beat out Cassel for the starting job. Leinart became King of L.A., Cassel became invisible. Facing two more seasons on the bench, he had a tough decision: stick it out, or transfer to a lower-division school where he could finally play football again?
Cassel stuck with USC, and even agreed to play some tight end to get onto the field. He may have still been one of the top QB prospects on the country, but who would know? He entered the 2005 draft as a football player who didn't play football, a QB who hadn't started a game since high school.
Yet against all odds, Cassel was drafted. The Patriots took a flyer in the 7th round, intrigued by his potential. A major draft website flayed the Patriots for the pick, calling it an "arrogant" move by Scott Pioli, a selection of a worthless player just to make the exec look smarter than everyone else. Here at PatsFans.com, the phrase "wasted pick" seemed like Cassel's middle name.
But darned if the kid didn't make the roster. He worked hard, studied hard, and soon found himself in a familiar position: backup to a superstar. A season passed, then two, then three. Cassel began this season as a dedicated professional football player who hadn't seen meaningful time on the field in nine years.
Think about that. How can that possibly feel?
In 2008 he had a weak preseason, and many fans and journalists predicted he'd be cut. But again, he stuck it out. And then it happened. First game of the year, the reigning NFL MVP goes down.
This Sunday Matt Cassel, the most patient football player in America, gets his first start of the 21st century. Leading the defending conference champions, opposite Brett f'in Favre. How's that for a story to root for?
And p.s....Matt Leinart's warming the bench in Arizona on Sunday.
Post of the Year!
__________________
Citing the Bible as proof of God is like citing comic books to prove the existence of Superman.
The Incredible Journey of Matt Cassel
It would be something if this kid could actually get it done. The OL & running game really need to step it up now!
And Carson Palmer is starting for the Bengals! 
Linear Mode
