The Patriots won't get an opportunity to "trade" Cassel - Page 3 - New England Patriots Forums

Patsrock · 02-03-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobs My Uncle

I don't think the Jets can afford to hire even a new ballboy. But the Bucs, the Texans, the Vikes, the Titans, the Lions (Dallas' pick), maybe the Bears, the Eagles ........

If Detroit signs Cassel, wouldn't they have to give up their own picks?

***Spiral*** · 02-03-2009, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobs My Uncle

The key here is that the team needs to pounce on Cassel PRIOR to him signing his tag tender BEFORE he becomes a contracted player to and thus, under control of, the Pats.

As I understand it, Cassel is still under contract to the Patriots until the end of the league year. The time period for franchise player designation ends before the league year. Whether or not he's franchised, he will be under the Patriots' "control" until the beginning of the league year (March 2, I believe). If and when he is franchised, the Patriots would receive compensation if he's signed by another team, which cannot happen until the beginning of the league year unless the Patriots allow permission, something they likely wouldn't do unless a sign/trade arrangement has been worked out.

Holy Diver · 02-03-2009, 05:23 PM

bottom lines....

Kraft holds all the cards.

Cassel will be a millionaire.

The Patriots will get some high draft picks.

***maverick4*** · 02-03-2009, 05:32 PM

What is interesting is that in this scenario, Cassel will get a bigger payday, and the Pats will get more high picks, than the trade scenario. A win-win for us.

Fencer · 02-03-2009, 05:39 PM

Clearly, your analysis proves that the upper bound on the value the Pats receive for Cassell is two first-round picks.

It further suggests that Cassell has a lot of control over where he ends up. After all, if he isn't willing to sign a long-term deal with a team, it would take an odd and risky series of events for him to wind up there.

I agree on both counts.

***ctpatsfan77*** · 02-03-2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mainefan

What are the tampering rules?

If I'm not mistaken, as soon as a team offers a franchise tender, the player is free to negotiate with other teams until he signs the tender.

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevedogc

The Jets have no money to deal with. The Panthers are below the cap, but not by much and have two huge UFA in Gross and Peppers. Although, I read somewhere that cutting Delhomne would save them 6 million in cap space. But I think it would be to tight for them. And the Lions, KC and SF all have draft picks to high in rnd 1 and are unlikely to improve a great deal next season. Resulting in their 2010 pick being in the top 10. I cant see a team giving up 2 top 10 picks for Cassel.

As a not-so-minor point--whatever team signs Cassel would need to have $14M in cap space at the time they sign him (although they would be able to restructure contracts to make it work).[/QUOTE]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patsrock

If Detroit signs Cassel, wouldn't they have to give up their own picks?

Yes. You cannot use a lower pick than your own, but you can use a higher one (e.g., the Pats can use SD's pick for a second-round tender).

***maverick4*** · 02-03-2009, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctpatsfan77

As a not-so-minor point--whatever team signs Cassel would need to have $14M in cap space at the time they sign him (although they would be able to restructure contracts to make it work).

Well that really narrows down the possibilities then.

***BelichickFan*** · 02-03-2009, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ctpatsfan77

As a not-so-minor point--whatever team signs Cassel would need to have $14M in cap space at the time they sign him (although they would be able to restructure contracts to make it work).

Quote:

Originally Posted by maverick4

Well that really narrows down the possibilities then.

A lot of teams have a lot of cap space.

According to this :

Ask The Commish.com - Projected 2009 Salary Cap Figures

Only 10 teams have under $14M available and only 5 of those are way out of the range. Cap space, or lack thereof, isn't what it used to be.

farn · 02-03-2009, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deus Irae

Quick question.......

With the possible exception of the Jets, would anyone care what team Cassel signed with if it brought back 2 first round picks?

I'll field it : don't care who gets him (for two #1s). Though I would say that if he went to an NFC team, I'd prefer that EVEN if it was for a #1 & #2 than to a division rival. Sure, we hate the Jets more... but how would it feel to go 1-1 vs Miami and lose out another tie-breaker with Cassel as QB (not that they need a QB, but in the spirit of the question) ?

***patchick*** · 02-03-2009, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobs My Uncle

The biggest restriction (to Cassel's agent) is relinquishing control of the situation over to the Pats. They do this the second they sign the tender and contract him to the Pats.

But Cassel has to agree to a deal in principle with his new team before a trade happens regardless. Nobody's going to fork over significant draft picks to have Cassel play under the one-year franchise contract. And he's free to negotiate, or not, with any team he wants.

So suppose Cassel is tagged, thus free to negotiate with any team, and he comes to terms with the team of his choice. Why on Earth would that team decide to fork over 2 firsts instead of approaching the Patriots to negotiate a lower level of compensation?