BPF

Here's what he writes about Cassel today, wow!!:
I agree with him on franchising him, QB's are one of the most important commodities in the NFL so it makes sense to franchise him to either keep or trade. You don't let QB's who play this well simply walk away with nothing in return, you either keep the player and get on the field value or you get value back in terms of draft picks.

Another tidbit today from Michael Lombardi as it affects Pioli:

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"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit."
Aristotle

"I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance."
Socrates

STH since 1994....sec 236

swheeler23

Josh is in line for all "head jobs" ? Did he forget a word?

BelichickFan

The people who say "let him walk" are just crazy. Of course that could change if he lays an egg the rest of the season but RIGHT NOW it's nuts.

Example :

Last year the Browns were offered a #1 and #3 for Derek Anderson. Anderson of the 82.5 QB Rating (17th in the league) who put up most of his good numbers in the first half of the season. Now Matt Cassel has a 90.5 rating, 11th in the league, and people think he'll walk. Nope. Not if he keeps playing like this.

Two discalimers :

I know QB Rating isn't everything but it's the easiest way to take a quick look.

Even more important than the rating is the eye test. We've all seen every play. Has Cassel had a lot of near INTs ? Amazing catches ? Nope. He's had more unlucky INTs than "should have been" INTs and most of the catches have been great throws, perfect accuracy to keep the WR on the run. Plus when Cassel is throwing on the run he's still very accurate.

His QB Rating is good. His Eye Test rating to me is even better.

tanked_as_usual

teams whose QB situations are relatively uncertain for next season:

jets
titans
jags
texans
bengals
chiefs
eagles
bears
vikings
lions
buccaneers
seahawks
9ers
rams

there are other teams whose QB are pretty lousy, but are contractually committed to those stiffs

the pats will franchise cassel because he stands to be the best option available.......and some of those teams have a ton of resources to give up for him....in this case, it will be a sellers market

BelichickFan

I forgot one thing :

Forget the dumb arguments about "the new team having to give him a new contract" - all trades like this have that disclaimer from Schaub to Anderson.

Rob0729

I think now that Cassel stands to make more money on the open market than the franchise tag and he knows he has to strike while the iron is hot, the Pats can risk franchising him. Before last week, I thought it was too much of a gamble that he would sign the tender offer. Now it isn't in his best interest.

Ungeheuer

Guys, the situation with Cassel is really pretty simple. They CAN'T let him go, for two reasons. One is that they don't know if or when Brady is going to recover. Two is that he has too much value. So they have to franchise him, they have no choice really. And the reason it's not illegal is that they will do so fully prepared to keep him for a year. In fact the Pats' best and safest play is to franchise Cassel and keep him, at least until Brady can show he's healthy. For that reason the Pats will really need to be blown away by an offer at the trade deadline to get rid of Cassel.

If they can fit Cassel at all under the cap (and they can, right?) this is really a no brainer. The #1 consideration of any team going forward is the quarterback situation. Until Brady can show he's recovered, they can't depend on him. So they can't get rid of Cassel.

Lombardi is dead right on this one.

BelichickFan

Yes they can fit the Franchsise Tag value under the cap to begin FA.

I disagree with you slightly, they can get rid of Cassel but he provides a legitimate value that makes it impossible to question Franchising him.

Lifer

look, if Cassel throws for an average of 277 yards a game the rest of the way he is going to have a 4,000 yard season. In football, injuries happen, so it would be a good problem to have to have both of them. like was said, Brady isnt back yet and until he is you cant get rid of Cassel.

it will work itself out. in the meantime lets just enjoy this.

i am psyched to watch the Steeler game.

wistahpatsfan

I said this yeasterday. Right now, and there's no indications things will get worse, Cassel is a top 5 QB in the NFL. You don't let that slip away. Where's Brady going to be at week 8 next year? we don't know. I take a healthy Brady any day over Cassel, But I don't take a Brady who's only 60% healed over him...no way.

BB agrees with me. You do what's right for the team.