A Cassel Misconception - New England Patriots Forums

***Miguel*** · 01-20-2009, 10:40 AM

Because agents have done a great job of fluffing up the contracts given to top draft picks there is now a current myth (See 2 posts in the past week) that Cassel will be cheaper to sign than a high draft pick.
Fluffing up example - Matt Ryan's contract was reported to be a 6 year, $72 million with over $34 million in guarantees.
That sounds like a great deal until one looks at the details.
Here was actually guaranteed.
His 2008 salary of $295,000.
A 2008 roster bonus of $2,505,000.
His 2009 salary of $3,500,000.
His 2010 salary of $4,200,000.
His 2011 salary of $4,900,000.
His 2012 salary of $5,600,000.
His 2013 salary of $6,300,000.

That is a total of $27.3 million. That is all Ryan was scheduled to get. To get more Ryan has to reach the incentives/escalators in his contract. One can subtract a million from Ryan's potential take from this deal because he did not reach the one million incentive for the Falcons winning the Super Bow this year.

What are the chances that Cassell will sign a long-term deal that pays him just $3 million in the 1st year??that is mostly incentive-laden??whose salaries are limited to a 25% increase??

JSn · 01-20-2009, 10:49 AM

Great post. It's true, I assumed a lot about Ryan's contract and this is a big help. Thanks for that, Miguel.

Pats726 · 01-20-2009, 11:33 AM

Great point...as alaways...good that you can cit through the numbers and find the REAL numbers..and what is important!!

Pujo · 01-20-2009, 11:53 AM

Good info, but your title could have used a pun.

"Cassels Made of Sand"
"A Man's Team is his Cassel"
"Fortifying Our Cassel"

***ctpatsfan77*** · 01-20-2009, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pujo

Good info, but your title could have used a pun.

"Cassels Made of Sand"
"A Man's Team is his Cassel"
"Fortifying Our Cassel"

Or, as the folks dressed in medieval garb just before Halloween had on their signs, "Guard the Cassel."

But you have to admit, it's a pretty easy joke.

WhiZa · 01-20-2009, 12:15 PM

This guaranteed contract is quite similar to Matt Schaub's guaranteed contract. It's really 20 million over 3 years with incentive bonuses reaching $48 million over 6 years. So in reality the contracts are about the same, but are you probably willing to give the contract to the experienced QB over the rookie.

Houston Texans Examiner: The truth about Matt Schaub's contract

billdog3484 · 01-20-2009, 12:34 PM

i think this is a great post. however, i think it is important to keep in mind, that with Rookie QBs, you never know what you are going to get. So, yes, money is cheap early, but, you may be stuck paying a guy 7M in year 5 when he turns out to be Tim Couch or David Carr

JSn · 01-20-2009, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billdgo3484

i think this is a great post. however, i think it is important to keep in mind, that with Rookie QBs, you never know what you are going to get. So, yes, money is cheap early, but, you may be stuck paying a guy 7M in year 5 when he turns out to be Tim Couch or David Carr

Dude, don't diss Eric Carr!

D-Money · 01-20-2009, 12:55 PM

If we could trade Matt Cassel, i think the Lions would be the perfect team.Get the 20th pick from them.

***Rob0729*** · 01-20-2009, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Miguel

Because agents have done a great job of fluffing up the contracts given to top draft picks there is now a current myth (See 2 posts in the past week) that Cassel will be cheaper to sign than a high draft pick.
Fluffing up example - Matt Ryan's contract was reported to be a 6 year, $72 million with over $34 million in guarantees.
That sounds like a great deal until one looks at the details.
Here was actually guaranteed.
His 2008 salary of $295,000.
A 2008 roster bonus of $2,505,000.
His 2009 salary of $3,500,000.
His 2010 salary of $4,200,000.
His 2011 salary of $4,900,000.
His 2012 salary of $5,600,000.
His 2013 salary of $6,300,000.

That is a total of $27.3 million. That is all Ryan was scheduled to get. To get more Ryan has to reach the incentives/escalators in his contract. One can subtract a million from Ryan's potential take from this deal because he did not reach the one million incentive for the Falcons winning the Super Bow this year.

What are the chances that Cassell will sign a long-term deal that pays him just $3 million in the 1st year??that is mostly incentive-laden??whose salaries are limited to a 25% increase??

Ryan does have a "log" bonus of $7.4 million that brings his total guarantees up to a little under $35 million. Considering Ryan started every game in his rookie season, I think he already fulfilled the requirements. Even if he hasn't he would have to have a season ending non-football related injury not to get it. Log bonuses are near impossible not to make unless you are like Kellen Winslow who crashes his bike doing wheelies in the parking lot. So, technically Ryan has $7 million a year in guarantees because unless Ryan was a bonehead, his log bonus was virtually guaranteed.

As for the structure of Ryan's deal, Ryan didn't get a lot this season because the Falcons are limited in what they can give him based on the rookie pool.

I do agree with you that there isn't a huge difference between what Cassel will get and Ryan got last year and Cassel could ultimately get even more. But, at this point, Cassel is far more of a proven comodity than any rookie QB. For every Manning, Ryan, Flacco, etc. who are great high first round picks, there are more than plenty Tim Couchs, Rick Mirers, and Ryan Leafs. Cassel has been proven to play at a Pro Bowl quality level in the Pros.