mgteich

There is no guarantee that Brady will be ready, so considering insurance in the way of franchising Cassel seems like a good idea. I think that the 2009 team is as good as last year's team, with the normal signings of 3-5 defensive backs.

I make similar assumptions to those of Miguel. I tender all of our ERFA's and sign almost all our Practice Squad players, as well as all of out RFA's. To better plan, I presume higher tenders than Miguel so I count on Woods, Britt and Alexander.

In addition, I presume the signing of three free agents: Evans, Paxton and a punter at a total of $3.5M. I then franchise Cassel. I am ready for free agency with no money and a full squad. Only the top 51 counts until Game 1, so there is room to bring in veteran free agents and minimum cost players with little effect. Obviously, changes need to be made to sign additional free agents and draftees and to have a few million left in case of emergencies, but we start in OK position.

2009 53 MAN SQUAD

QB (4) Brady, Cassel, O'Connell, Gutierrez
RB (5) Faulk, Maroney, Morris, BJGE, Evans
WR (6) Moss, Welker, Aiken, Washington, Ventrone, Price
TE (3) Watson, Thomas, DeVries
OL (10) Light, Mankins, Koppen, Neal, Kaczur, LeVoir, Britt, Yates, Connolly, O'Callaghan

DL (6) Seymour, Wilfork, Warren, Green, Adams, Smith
LB (10) Mayo, Guyton, Thomas, Vrabel, Bruschi, Woods, Crable, Redd, Ruud, Alexander
DB (6) Hobbs, Wheatley, Wilhite, Richardson, Meriweather, Slater
ST (3) Gostkoski, Paxton, Hanson

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS - OFFENSE
The offense is ready to go, although upgrades are always possible. This is basically this year's team, without Gaffney and Jordan, and with Brady and Maroney back.

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS - DEFENSE
A) I would like to re-sign Wright.
B) We also will consider a top draftee on the DL.
C) We've already brought in the help at LB.
D) although we need a draftee or to extend Woods.
E) The defensive backfield is a work in progress, needing rent-a-players as we did this year.
F) I would expect to see another two draftees in the defensive backfield.

BradyManny

Your wasting an entire offseason by paying Cassel the franchise tag under the assumption that Brady won't be ready. A doctor in the Globe recently said the odds were 1 in a couple million that Brady wouldn't be back to his normal self next year. I'll take those odds, reluctantly lose Cassel whether its tag and trade or free agency, and use some of that money to extend players on the roster or sign impact free agents.

We CAN tag Cassel, I have been advocating this for over a month. We'll have to agree to disagree on what happens next, but I strongly believe that we CANNOT allocate 29 million dollars - almost 25% of our salary cap - to 2 players who play ONE position. Either way, an eighth of our salary cap would be sitting on the bench next year, in one player, who contributes in no other aspect of the game, who doesn't rotate in or play special teams. That's not acceptable.

Brady will be fine. We either tag and trade Cassel and thank him for a fine job filling in and delivering us some draft picks in exchange, or we part ways.

mgteich

If on March 1st, doctors tell Belichick that there is a one in a couple million that Brady won't be back to his normal self, then I agree with your comments.

Mack Herron

No responsible doctor would say that, and none has.

mgteich

Consider this possible scenario
1) Brady is practicing by the end of February.
2) We franchise and get a draft pick or two for Cassel.
3) We have our extra draft picks and $14M of cap room to use to upgrade the defense, I mean the team.

JSn

I think Gaffney is a keeper, personally.

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Rob0729

From the Globe:

Infection slows Patriots quarterback Brady's rehab - The Boston Globe

Rob0729

I'm not ready to give Matt Cassel $12 million to be an insurance policy especially since it would mean the Pats would be cash strapped to improve in other areas. Can the Pats really pay a guy seven figures to never see the field even at 100%?

History has shown that Brady shouldn't have a problem making it back for the start of the season. He still could be ready by minicamp at this point. It looks like the infection has subsided, most agree he won't need to have his ACL redone, and he has over nine months until training camp which is the long end of the recovery period estimates. I would be surprised if Brady wasn't back and close 100% from day one.

If the Pats franchise Cassel, it better be to trade him. The Pats would have most likely another first round pick (why franchise him unless you think you can get at least a first rounder) and $12 million in cash. They can do a heck of a lot more with that than the using him on the rost for the remote chance that Brady doesn't come back.

Rob0729

Yeah, I expect Gaffney to be resigned for at or a little more than the veteran minimum.

BradyManny

See Rob0729's post a couple above.