If you were Cassel (is it legal?) - New England Patriots Forums

Gumby · 12-29-2008, 03:43 AM

Would you sign a 1 year contract extension with the Patriots for a $1M SB and whatever in salary call it $4M with the following 2 proviisions

1 contract is voided or subject to renegotiation upon a trade to a new team.
2 Cassel gets veto rights over any trade.

That would save Patriots from having to book off all that cap room for a franchise tag but still give us ability to trade him for picks and give him flexibility to pick his destination.

Could also give flexibility to hold onto Cassell if TB needs more rehab time too; but I think that would be bad from Cassel's perspective as if he will be a starter - he will want to work with new team in camps.

Only bad side for the Pats is the dead money hit once he gets traded. But it essentially trades cash $$ now for time and cap room flexibility. (if is legal to have a voidable contract - which I think it is)

Fanfrom1960 · 12-29-2008, 04:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gumby

Would you sign a 1 year contract extension with the Patriots for a $1M SB and whatever in salary call it $4M with the following 2 proviisions

1 contract is voided or subject to renegotiation upon a trade to a new team.
2 Cassell gets veto rights over any trade.

That would save Patriots from having to book off all that cap room for a franchise tag but still give us ability to trade him for picks and give him flexibility to pick his destination.

Could also give flexibility to hold onto Cassell if TB needs more rehab time too; but I think that would be bad from Cassell's perspective as if he will be a starter - he will want to work with new team in camps.

Only bad side for the Pats is the dead money hit once he gets traded. But it essentially trades cash $$ now for time and cap room flexibility. (if is legal to have a voidable contract - which I think it is)

You really seriously have to spell Matt's name right if you expect people to get through your post and respond to it. One L.

TheBostonStraggler · 12-29-2008, 04:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gumby

Would you sign a 1 year contract extension with the Patriots for a $1M SB and whatever in salary call it $4M with the following 2 proviisions

1 contract is voided or subject to renegotiation upon a trade to a new team.
2 Cassell gets veto rights over any trade.

That would save Patriots from having to book off all that cap room for a franchise tag but still give us ability to trade him for picks and give him flexibility to pick his destination.

Could also give flexibility to hold onto Cassell if TB needs more rehab time too; but I think that would be bad from Cassell's perspective as if he will be a starter - he will want to work with new team in camps.

Only bad side for the Pats is the dead money hit once he gets traded. But it essentially trades cash $$ now for time and cap room flexibility. (if is legal to have a voidable contract - which I think it is)

No way. Cassell is in for a big pay day, end of story. At the very very worst, Cassell gets the franchise tag, signs it and guarantees himself >10m salary for 2009. But the Patriots are not going to carry two big contracts for the QB position (though they may do it for a very short period, like a season, if the value and need to do it was high). It is counter to their philosophy of not tying too much cap money up for one position.
The Patriots will franchise Cassel then trade him for, hopefully, a very high draft pick. To me it seems this is a no brainer. You simply do not let a QB that played like MC to just walk away. I think we will get a first for MC. And if my memory is correct, the Patriots would then have 2 firsts, 2 seconds and 2 thirds. Should make for an interesting draft for us Patriot fans....

TheGodInAGreyHoodie · 12-29-2008, 04:24 AM

Absolutely not. If I am Matt Cassel the only way I sign with the NEP is under one of the following conditions:

1) Brady has been traded.
2) Brady is declared on IR for the season
3) A provision in the contract that if Brady takes more snaps than me this season I get a $25 million dollar bonus (this would be if 1 or 2 had not occurred and the team was insisting I sign a contract before they trade Brady or was claiming they expect Brady out but it was too early in the season to put him on IR)

Bottom line: Matt Cassel is not only deserving of a pay day, but he wants to start not hold Tom's clipboard.

***Miguel*** · 12-29-2008, 06:41 AM

Why has not he sign such a deal already???

I would answer that it was not in his best interest.

tart · 12-29-2008, 06:58 AM

Why in the world would Cassel do that? He is always 1 play away from being out of the NFL of seriously injured, he must capitalize on the opportunity and acquire as much guaranteed money as possible to provide himself long term stability. What if he pulls a Derek Anderson and sucks next year? Or he tears his ACL? His value plummets and he's left with only the $4M he'd get next year. Cassel is going to be getting his money, one way or another, be it with the Pats or another team.

JoeSixPat · 12-29-2008, 07:04 AM

You might want to make clear to everyone what you think Cassel would prefer that over a $14 million franchise tag salary, or twice as much guranteed in a new contract.

Loyalty to the team that's paying him $500k right now?

vyrago · 12-29-2008, 07:24 AM

Cassell has the very real example of one T. Brady to remind him that life is very precarious in the NFL. I'm not saying that Brady's career is over. I don't think it is, but that one dumb Pollard play that looked like it happened in slow motion, put him out for the year and maybe more. Cassel runs a lot which puts him in even more jeopardy. He'd be smart to get his money while he can.

He's no Dustin Pedroia who took what looked like short money to stay with the team that drafted him and that seems to have a chance to win every year.
I think he's more like Kevin Youkilis (or Jonathan Papelbon) who will wait till he has maximum leverage for the big payday.

And I don't blame him.

Gumby · 12-29-2008, 08:11 AM

Quote:

You might want to make clear to everyone what you think Cassel would prefer that over a $14 million franchise tag salary, or twice as much guranteed in a new contract.

Loyalty to the team that's paying him $500k right now?

The $1M signing bonus would be cash in hand. non-refundable.

A Franchise Tag is 100% salary: i.e. he doesnt see it til the season starts and he gets it in game checks. If he gets hurt - he doesn t get a game check.

Either way at his new destination Cassel gets whatever contract & SB he negotiates but rest is a choice between:

A. Franchise tag for NO MONEY that he will ever see and NO CHOICE IN DESTINATION.

versus

B. $1M cash in hand, and a vote on destination. (again with a contract negotiated with the new team for the "big payday" same as in choice 1)

he gets 2 beenies for helping out the Pats who groomed him to be the player he is. Who else was going to draft let alone play a QB with exactly 0 starts in college. I know most would be mercenary about it; but could be he feels a little bit of loyalty due back.

***ctpatsfan77*** · 12-29-2008, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gumby

The $1M signing bonus would be cash in hand. non-refundable.

A Franchise Tag is 100% salary: i.e. he doesnt see it til the season starts and he gets it in game checks. If he gets hurt - he doesn t get a game check.

Wrong. Quoth the CBA:

Quote:

(c) If a player subject to a Franchise Player designation accepts the Required Tender, the resulting Player Contract shall be fully guaranteed if the player’s contract is terminated because of lack of comparative skill; as a result of an injury sustained in the performance of his services under his Player Contract; and/or due to a Club’s determination to create Room for Salary Cap purposes.

If he signs the tender and gets hurt, the Pats are still on the hook for $14M.

As for whether your suggestion is technically legal, AFAIK it is, but I have to agree with those who think Cassel would have to be an absolute idiot to sign that contract.