Fencer

I was arguing against Ken's theory that Cassell would willingly sign a contract RIGHT NOW at a big discount to a one-year franchise tag number.

TruthSeeker

Excuse me, they won. What are you talking about?

Oh, you're talking about the people who bet on the game. Well, that sure wasn't the Steelers, their players, their coaches or their owners.

TruthSeeker

Exactly. The idea is right on - but the numbers would need to be changed (for 2009) in order for Cassel to sign. Give him $5 million now and enough to play for next year (in case the Patriots don't trade him) in order to retain the rights to trade him is a reasonable shot.

DaBruinz

Just because they won doesn't mean they weren't jobbed at the end of that game.

patfanken

OK, OK, pardon me for being less than articulate in explaining why EXTENDING Cassel THIS year is the best way to gain SOME compensation for him beyond a comp pick in the 2010 draft.

Right now Cassel is making around $500,000 Yet he is starting at a position where currently in the league starters make in the range of $6-12MM and elite QBs make even more. My thought, and I have had it for weeks now, is in exchange for allowing the Pats to control his contract through 2009, Cassel would get a lump some right now (BEFORE THE FINAL REPORT CARD ON HIS SEASON IS WRITTEN).

I put down $5MM as a signing bonus, it could be higher...or lower, the bottom line is that for this CURRENT YEAR, Cassel would be paid a salary commensurate with his starting position on a playoff contender. Obviously this would have been cheaper for the Pats if they'd done it before the Indy game, but it still could be done.

What Cassel gains is IMMEDIATE financial security. Now regardless of what happens the rest of the year he is financially protected from potential injury or the fact that teams will adjust enough to render him ineffective...and thus uninteresting to other teams (see Trent Edwards who at one time was the "flavor of the month").

The bottom line is that the 2nd year of the contract doesn't mean *****. You can put any number there. All the second year does is give the Pats his negotiation rights. The team that trades for him (ASSUMING that he continues to remain healthy and playing well) doesn't care about that year. No team will trade for him WITHOUT signing him to a multi year contract, so WHATEVER the second year is, its going to be ripped up.

So in essence, Cassel gives up VERY little, since (again assuming he remains healthy and effective) he is likely to get a starting job and a new 3-5 year contract at the going rate for an NFL starting QB (which is a great 'going rate"). Essentially all he gives up is the complete freedom to choose where he will go, and even that could be negotiated in the extension... to some degree. And on the plus side he gets some big money NOW, without the risk of injury or bad play.

THUS I see this is a win win situation for BOTH sides. Mr Kraft has to fork over $5+MM to MC that he isn't normally subject to, in exchange for a few draft picks. Under my scenario, MC will STILL get his big money deal AND a starting position in the QB starved NFL, , BUT the Pats would be compensated for developing a decent starting QB.

I hope that this clears up my opinion.

ctpatsfan77

I'm sure the Pats are trying to find a way to make the most of this. Who knows exactly what that is, but I'm sure they're working on it.

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mgcolby

Why be such a d!ck? Disagree but don't be an a jerk about it!

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patfanken

This is a silly remark. Do you have any idea of the preparation these "part time" officials go through, or the support they already get from the league. Are you delusional enough to believe that refs DON'T review tape. :That they DON'T get reports on what to look in the game. Teams routinely inform the refs PRIOR to games to alert them to special formations or gadget plays. The league is CONSTANTLY sending refs clips on what are or are not a penalties in particular circumstances. All refs ROUTINELY go to training camps to work with teams on what is or is not allowed. To explain new rules or interpretations.

OBTW. I know for a FACT that the league would lose in excess of a minimum of 40% of their current officials if they forced them to become full time at once...and thats on the LOW side.

Where are you going to find the replacements. All college refs are part time. What would you pay them for being full time.

BTW- I have no problem with full time refs. Its just that the fact remains, BECAUSE THEY ARE HUMAN, mistakes will STILL be made. So you are trading a period of instability while you transitioning from part time to full time, for little or no gain. It just doesn't make sense.

b[[/QUOTE]----And because other officials in another sport are NOT good as full time..that means what?? Reallly nothing at all. Compare apples and oranges..it doesn't work.[/QUOTE]

Not at all! I'm merely pointing out that because you are using humans to officiate games, they will ALWAYS be subject so SOME error. Now that is an straight apples to apples comparison

cI don't think we disagree here. No one is more critical of what I consider bad PI or illegal contact calls than I. Where we DO disagree is that I don't believe having full time refs would solve that problem. There would still be guys throwing flags every now and then based on what they PERCEIVED happened rather than on what ACTUALLY happened (see the Mike Vrabel holding call). I'm afraid the only way that problem would be solved is if the NFL refs called the rules based on MY interpretation of the rule. (subject of a very long thread in the future. )

[[/QUOTE]d---As to yout BS...what happened in the Jets game was PURE embarrassment to anyone who CARES about the game..Vrabel gets called for holding..while Law holds Moss and gets NO flag at all?? Are you going to tell me if the officials are given film training as to what IS holding and what is not..that this would still happen?? Apprently there are officials on the same crew who call things differently NOT EVEN other crews. Where is there any consistency? [/QUOTE]

The very fact that you AREN'T aware that in the preseason and before EVERY game NFL officials do EXTENSIVE film training, and have seen COUNTLESS clips of what is or is not holding, PI, etc. They are being constantly made aware of changes in interpretations and sent clips of every contraversial call of the past week with commentaries. Not seemingly to be aware of this kind of makes your diatribe moot.

Again I understand your frustration with seemingly bad calls. The fact is that until you can replace the human element entirely, there are going to be bad calls, just as long as humans are running the officiating. The loss you would see in the transition in going to full time refs would be much greater than the gain...and at a higher cost.

Miguel

Except that the 2nd number will affect the 2008 cap hit, Cassel's cap number until he is indeed traded, and maybe his 2009 dead money hit.

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Miguel

Let's say Cassel does not extend his contract by a year. Why would this not happen if this is such a win-win deal??

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