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Contrary to a report on nbcsports.com, which suggests that Tom Brady’s knee injury is healing so slowly that he might have to sit out the 2009 season, my sources tell me that the Patriots quarterback is rehabbing daily at the team’s facility and expects to be ready for next year’s opener. In the meantime, the Pats are smart enough not to let Matt Cassel, due to become a free agent after the season, get away until they’re sure that Brady can return. Does that mean the Pats would be willing to franchise Cassel, potentially putting them on the hook for roughly $12 million in ‘09 salary (and tying up a reported $26 million of the salary cap for the team’s top two QBs)? As a certain former vice presidential candidate would say … You betcha. Yes, New England could make it work cap-wise, and no, the Pats wouldn’t let Cassel go for free even if they knew Brady was healthy. At the very least, franchising Cassel would allow them to get some compensation via a trade. Another question for the Pats: If a trade is made, who’ll be executing it? Sources say longtime vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli may finally be ready to end his successful partnership with coach Bill Belichick and listen to offers from Cleveland (which fired general manager Phil Savage on Sunday), Kansas City or other teams looking for a new front-office chief. Watching a guy who worked under him in New England, Thomas Dimitroff, enjoy enormous success as the Falcons’ first-year GM undoubtedly is influencing Pioli’s willingness to consider running his own show somewhere else. Under such a scenario Belichick, presumably, would hand-pick Pioli’s successor in New England. One man you can be sure he won’t be selecting: Pioli’s shameless father-in-law, Miami executive vice president of operations Bill Parcells, who according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen may be ready to execute an out clause relating to a Dolphins ownership change, pocket $12 million for a year’s worth of work and jump to another franchise. The report surfaced on the day the Dolphins were getting ready to play their biggest game in years. Stay classy, Tuna. Finally, a word on Belichick: After losing Brady in the season opener and numerous key players thereafter, he finagled an 11-5 record and near-playoff appearance out of a team that set an NFL record for fewest penalties (57) in a 16-game season. Think the man can coach a little?
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BB and Pioli are always prepared. If Pioli is leaving, then BB has known about it for months. They likely already have someone ready to step in.
Will we get compensation for Pioli?
We will get compensation for Cassel.
With our 1, two 2's, a 3 and a likely 3rd round comp for Asante, we are stacked. When you figure in a likely 1 and 3 (just a guess) for Cassel, then this draft in April will be huge.
Early prediction... a trade up for Aaron Curry from Wake Forest. The guy is a beast, can play OLB and ILB, and would look great next to Mayo.
While trading up, we would still be able to snag a good corner and a new SS on day 1.
BB and Pioli are always prepared. If Pioli is leaving, then BB has known about it for months. They likely already have someone ready to step in.
Hopefully Pioli has been honest about his intent. Belichick can't read minds.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LloydBraun
Will we get compensation for Pioli?
No.
Quote:
Originally Posted by LloydBraun
We will get compensation for Cassel.[/Quote
With our 1, two 2's, a 3 and a likely 3rd round comp for Asante, we are stacked. When you figure in a likely 1 and 3 (just a guess) for Cassel, then this draft in April will be huge.
No way. Maybe a round 1 2010 pick, or a round 2 2009 pick. Everyone knows the Pats will want to unload Cassel, and that's if they even franchise him.
No way. Maybe a round 1 2010 pick, or a round 2 2009 pick. Everyone knows the Pats will want to unload Cassel, and that's if they even franchise him.
I'm not so sure. Teams were making offers to the Browns for Derek Anderson of a 1st & 3rd. It doesn't matter that teams know the Pats want to unload him. All it takes is two teams to make a bidding war. This isn't like Manny & Boras where they are trying to get the Dodgers to bid against themselves; the Pats will have at a minimum two very real suitors for Cassel and that is all they'll need.
I'm not so sure. Teams were making offers to the Browns for Derek Anderson of a 1st & 3rd. It doesn't matter that teams know the Pats want to unload him.
Anderson wasn't a UFA so that made trading him a lot easier. That said, Cassel looked a lot better than Anderson did in 2007 when he had a great first half of the season and a crappy second half.
A 1st and 3rd sounds right. Detroit has two #1's and we could get the lower one (Dallas via the Williams trade). The Patriots would already get a 3rd round cmpensatory pick for Cassel if he were to go via free agency. Thats the starting point for negotiations.
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Anderson wasn't a UFA so that made trading him a lot easier. That said, Cassel looked a lot better than Anderson did in 2007 when he had a great first half of the season and a crappy second half.
I'm just talking about QB compensation value. DA was valued a 1+3, that had nothing to do with his status as a RFA vs. Franchise Player.
As long as there are clueless owners in the league ala Jerry Jones, Al Davis and Dan Snyder, there will be chances for the Pats to get a 1st round pick for MC.
As to Pioli's successor, Reis recently reported that Nick Cesario could be elevated to the position as he is #2 to Pioli right now.
Michael Silver on Pats/Brady
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