ctpatsfan77

They felt comfortable enough with Cassel in '06 that he was Brady's only backup for half the season.

If they think O'Connell can carry the load, they may not bring a veteran in.

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MoLewisrocks

I think it's more likely 99% of us get why that won't happen. A vet may be brought in to help mentor the kid and start in a pinch in an injury situation. If the starter is out longer than a game they ramp up the kid...that's Bill's formula and why Flutie and Vinny moved on.

Cassel didn't warrant a veteran beyond Brady after 2006. And Brady didn't warrant a veteran sounding board because he is one now. And if he's performed well as a #3 and scout QB Gutierrez, with two full seasons in the system, may also stick instead of a veteran who couldn't land a starters job with no system experience.

And if Cassel's stock remains so high anonymous GM's are being asked to predict a choice for NE between he and Tommy, he will be tagged...and traded. Bill didn't draft a QB in the 3rd round so he could spend $30M in cap on the position... Because the long term ramifications of doing that in this system, even absent a cap going forward, would be staggering.

Deus Irae

Is this the same "99%" that wanted Cassel cut in camp?

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RayClay

Did Gutierrez get cut? Why would they start O'Connell?

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billdog3484

theyre gonna franchise and trade him. they have to. we arent keeping 2 QBs at 15M per season and we arent giving him up for nothing

JSn

Yeah and they re-signed him when Brady went down, remember?


If Matt gets hurt. Kevin is #2 on the depth chart. I'm willing to guess there's a reason for that.

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RayClay

Well, if they need a quarterback next season then we'll know. Damon Huard was #2 on the depth chart when Bledsoe went down.

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VJ11

Don't really care for all these "what-if" scenarios. The facts are that Cassell will become a free agent after the season is over, Brady has only just started his recovery process, and that O'Connell and Guttierez are signed as back-ups/third string.

Unless Pioli is working on an attractive contract extension proposal for Cassell, to be signed before the season is over, Cassell will get an opportunity to test the market - there are several teams who would take a chance on Cassell, despite the fact he has been starting for just one season. Some teams will fear for a "Derek Anderson" effect, some others won't be deterred because of desperation to get a decent QB on the team. Whatever offer the Patriots could be making to Cassell may be easily matched by some GM who has more salarycap-room to dip into, or is simply determined to get him at any price.

I don't see the Patriots sign a veteran QB as a back-up. Simply because the guys that would be familiar with the Patriots-system aren't there anymore, with the exception of Damon Huard. All these other vets out there have enough question marks to make the Patriots stay away from them. Remember Week 1, when everyone was talking about the Patriots potentially signing a Chris Simms, or some other QB FA? That was quickly shot down. Because the Patriots knew that veteran from outside the team would have trouble digesting the playbook, and would struggle with timing with the receivers.
However, I can see them bringing in one or two veteran QBs they have at the top of their list to work them out, get a fitness check, to see how they actually grade out, during the offseason. I wouldn't even be surpised if they would take a chance on a promising lower-round draft choice at QB.

Regarding Brady: the Patriots will keep a close eye on his recovery. Knowing Brady he will be either exactly on time for training camp, or they may allow for some leeway and he will report a few days later. For the Patriots, Brady at 100% health is the most important thing. If anything happens that they interpret as a setback, they will adjust some timetables, increase the workload for O'Connell and Gutierrez, but not much more.

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flasox27

The Pats will franchise or transition Casel until they are comfortable about Brady. Then they will trade Casel. Does anyone think that the Pats will let Casel leave with no compensation?

MoLewisrocks

No, he wasn't - Brady was - that's why he replaced Drew in game... That was one of the reasons Huard left when his deal was up and they didn't flinch. They had drafted Davey to develop in the 4th in 2002. After Huard left they added Jim Miller probably intending he bridge the gap to Davey, but he was rehabbing a shoulder injury and never got right. He was #3 behind Davey throughout 2004. Then in 2005 they replaced Miller with Flutie and drafted Cassel - and Matt pushed Rohan off the roster as a rookie.

In 2006 Flutie retired because he knew Cassel had passed him as #2 on the depth chart. They went with 2 QB's for the first 8 games (which should have told folks here something) before adding Vinny down the stretch as the #3 and a veteran presence. By 2007 they didn't need a veteran presence and added Gutierrez as a developmental UDFA. But they drafted O'Connell in 2008 in part because it was Cassel's last contract season but also because they knew the 2009 draft projected as devoid of potential NFL QB's. And he pushed Gutierrez off the roster after the pre season...

O'Connell has been the #2 QB since Brady went down and Cassel took over. Doesn't mean Gutz won't stick in 2009 as opposed to some veteran jag with no system experience when he will then have 2 full seasons in the system, but he's clearly a #3 which is why he was still available for our PS a week after cuts when Brady went down. They only way he passes O'Connell on the 2009 depth chart is if Kevin fails to develop altogether (as Rohan did - although based solely on rookie glimpses he doesn't look to be that guy...and Rohan always did).