Triumph

Couldnt NE lower Bradys number too? Thus lowering Cassels Tag #.

That would show intent on keeping Cassel if Brady isnt ready.

spacecrime

Think about it. The franchise tag is for ONE year. After that he is free to sign that 18 upfront deal.

So the only thing that makes sense is to sign the 14 mil franchise this year, then next year sign the 18 mil guaranteed deal next year.

That is what Asante did, basically doubled his guaranteed money. He was just to dumb to understand what was happeneing until after it was over, then said, "Oooo, wait, I got myh big contract PLUS and extra $10 Mil!"

Or Cassel can choose to force the Pats to revoke the tag by refusing to do a deal with any team the Pats work a trade with, then go negotiate with that team (and all the others) as a free agent. Pats would be stuck with a non-tradable $15 mil a year player.

Up to Cassel, whatever he wants to do.

Cassel holds all the cards.

Triumph

There are a few problems with this though.

1.Sure, Cassel can sign the tag and sit on the bench and watch Brady play. Next season will his value be as high? If he and his agent are smart they will strike while the iron is hot.

2.The Tag is almost like a death sentence. Say Brady isnt ready and Cassel goes out and suffers a career ending injury. Hell be damaged goods.

Cassel can more money in Signing Bonus via a long term contract plus salary and play in the NFL. A 1st round pick is a bargain for a battle tested QB who can step right in and takeover.

Miguel

There are two ways to lower Brady's 2008 cap number.

Get Brady to agree to a paycut. Even he did, the savings would not be that much as Brady has been paid for 13 weeks.
5,000,000 / 17 * 13 = 3,823,529
730,000 / 17 * 4 = 171,765
Total = 4,117,647

That would result in lowering the tag number by $176,000.

Convert part of his 2008 salary that is over the minimum with Brady's years of experience into a signing bonus. Tag number would be reduced by about$59,000.

Why would Brady agree to a paycut??
Why would the Pats convert part of Brady's 2008 salary thereby increasing his future cap hits??

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MoLewisrocks

Cassel holds none of the cards.

If he signs the tag pre-emptively he's telling every GM in the league he doesn't think his market is more than $14M. He's also telling them he isn't driven to start. Big red flag for any future takers... If Brady returns in pre season Matt sits and drops off the radar dramatically. Asante didn't have Champ Bailey coming back from injury to take his job. He was a starter who got a second shot at showcasing his talent, although he'd have just as soon been traded and gotten his big bonus deal a year sooner without assuming the risk of a career ending injury or his stock dropping... If Brady returns to put up record production again, Matt looks more like a poor mans system fallback than a bonefide starter come 2010.

If Matt forced them to revoke the tag by being uncooperative, which they can do until July, they're then stuck with NO CAP HIT...although he's missed an entire critical offseason of becoming immersed with his new team and a new offense so that wouldn't really work for him, either...Not to mention some teams who wanted him will have moved on because they have to... His highest value will be pre draft. And under the standard non exclusive tag he and his agent are free to talk to all comers on the first day of FA and gauge interest and establish preferences based on situation and contract potential. Then it's up to his agent and the NEP FO to find a match that accommodates both sides desire to get him gone to be a starter. If both sides cooperate a deal gets done, if not one or both are in an untenable position - which is why those deals historically get done.

I think Matt is smart enough to know you go along to get along in this league. You don't bite the hand that fed you unless you have ego problems (like Mangini did...). There is enough of the once burned fear of former BB system allstars already that it wouldn't take much gossip behind the scenes for GM's to be too leary to risk their jobs on another.

AzPatsFan

And 2010 isa an UNCAPPED year, so he could pocket real money immediately too. In addition Brady probably won't be fully healthy until well into the next season. So Cassel probably is guaranteed at least half a season of Starts.
with a Team that is now in ther top dozen, and will finish the rebuilding of its Defense this offseason. The Pats should be favorites to make the Superbowl in 2010. How much will he be worth coming off a Superbowl appearance, with no CAP?

AzPatsFan

Are these actual compensations, or merely CAP accounting fictions? Miquel says the franchise tag uses the accounting CAP figures not actual compensation, and he ought to know, but I would think the ACTUAL compensation figures should apply.

Miguel

My name is spelled and should be typed as Miguel. It is a pet peeve of mine when people spell my name wrong especially when it is spelled correctly on the screen for you.

Should has nothing to do with it. I am just following the rules.

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DaBruinz

Miguel -
If 2010 stays as an uncapped year, then players with less than 6 vested seasons, but are at the end of their contracts, become RFAs. Players with 6 or more vested seasons are UFAs.

What would Cassel's status be if he signed the Franchise tender as a UFA? We he go back to being an RFA at the end of 2009? Or would he be a UFA? I think it would be stupid to force players who have attained their UFA status back to being RFAs, but then, stranger things have happened...

I think that will play a huge part in whether or not Cassel would have any inkling to sign the Franchise contract.

Miguel

[QUOTE=DaBruinz;1184376]Miguel -
We he go back to being an RFA at the end of 2009?
Yes.

Please remember that this is a poison pill to get the players to agree to an extension of the CBA.

If Cassel signs the franchise tag and plays for the Pats at that number for the 2009 season, in order for the Pats to make him a RFA tender they would have to tender at 110% of his 2009 salary or $16,116,100 if the 2008 franchise tag is 14.651 million.

From the CBA

(ii) For Restricted Free Agents with four Accrued Seasons (in Uncapped Years):
(1) Right of First Refusal: one year Player Contract with Paragraph 5 Salary of at least $771,600 for the 2006 League Year, $925,000 for the 2007 League Year, $1,002,000 for the 2008 League Year, $1,085,000 for the 2009 League Year, $1,176,000 for the 2010 League Year, $1,275,000 for the 2011 League Year, or $1,383,000 for the 2012 League Year, as applicable;
(2) Right of First Refusal and Draft Selection at Player’s Original Draft Round: one year Player Contract with a Paragraph 5 Salary of at least (a) the amount set forth in Subsection (b)(ii)(1) above; or (b) 110% of the player’s prior year’s Paragraph 5 Salary, whichever is greater; in addition, if option (b) applies, all other terms of the player’s prior year contract are carried forward unchanged (this Subsection is subject to the rules of Subsection (c) below);
(3) Right of First Refusal and One Second Round Draft Selection: one year Player Contract with a Paragraph 5 Salary of at least (a) $1,375,000 in the 2007 League Year, $1,492,000 in the 2008 League Year, $1,620,000 in the 2009 League Year, $1,759,000 in the 2010 League Year, $1,910,000 in the 2011 League Year, or $2,075,000 in the 2012 League Year, as applicable, or (b) 110% of the player’s prior year’s Paragraph 5 Salary, whichever is greater; in addition, if option (b) applies, all other terms of the player’s prior year contract are carried forward unchanged
(4) Right of First Refusal and One First Round Draft Selection: one year Player Contract with a Paragraph 5 Salary of at least (a) $1,673,000 for the 2006 League Year, $1,975,000 for the 2007 League Year, $2,142,000 for the 2008 League Year, $2,323,000 for the 2009 League Year, $2,521,000 for the 2010 League Year, $2,736,000 for the 2011 League Year, or $2,971,000 for the 2012 League Year, as applicable, or (b) 110% of the player’s prior year’s Paragraph 5 Salary, whichever is greater; in addition, if option (b) applies, all other terms of the player’s prior year contract are carried forward unchanged; and
(5) Right of First Refusal, One First Round Draft Selection, and One Third Round Draft Selection: one year Player Contract with Paragraph 5 Salary of at least (a) $2,196,600 for the 2006 League Year, $2,475,000 for the 2007 League Year, $2,687,000 for the 2008 League Year, $2,917,000 for the 2009 League Year, $3,168,000 for the 2010 League Year, $3,442,000 for the 2011 League Year, or $3,741,000 for the 2012 League Year, as applicable, or (b) 110% of the player’s prior year’s Paragraph 5 Salary, whichever is greater; in addition, if option (b) applies, all other terms of the player’s prior year contract are carried forward unchanged.

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