ctpatsfan77

I ask because the numbers seem rather ridiculous, and they seem to be growing by the day:

Adam Schefter, 11/16: It will be similar to the six-year, $65 million contract that Green Bay recently awarded its quarterback, Aaron Rodgers.

Peter King, 2/10: "He'll make about $11 million a year."

Peter King, 2/23: "And while I understand it's a millstone around Cassel that he'd require probably two fairly high picks plus an average of $14 million-ish a year in a contract, I still think I'd rather have Cassel as my quarterback of the future than, say, Matthew Stafford. And the money's not that much different."

Fox Sports, 2/25: "The general consensus is that Cassel wants about $75 million over five years, which includes $35 million in bonuses."

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mayoclinic

I don't know how much he is looking for, but the Rodgers contract is a good benchmark. They both came out of the 2005 draft, had relatively little experience before the 2008 season, and put up fairly similar numbers (Rodgers actually put up better numbers: yards 4038 > 3693; TDs 28 > 21; rating 93.8 > 89.4; completion % 63.6 > 63.4). Green Bay extended Rodgers after about 7 games last season based on how he was doing. I believe $20M was guaranteed. Jacksonville gave David Garrard a somewhat similar deal (something like $60M/6 years with $20M guaranteed). Tony Romo got slightly less, but $30M guaranteed.

These are all reasonable ballparks for talented young QBs all of whom had one succesful season under their belts at the time they were given long term deals. I could see guaranteeing more money to Cassel right now (more like the $30M Romo got). But all of these $14M+ estimates seem to me ridiculous. If he is looking for that kind of money, I think the Pats will hae a hard time moving him.

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JoeSixPat

If Cassel were a free agent I'd suspect that he'd have no problem getting a figure much higher than any of us would think (i.e. I think the $35 million in bonus $ is on the high side now)

But he's not a free agent - teams need to give up high draft pick(s) to get him - and while one might make a case that not having to pay a #3 rookie this year makes that a wash, for some lower 1st round picks, that might be a consideration for some teams, making a high salary/bonus structure plus the loss of a top draft pick too steep a price to pay.

The problem for the Patriots is that teams need to both satisfy their own need for a QB, the Patriots need for high pick(s) and Cassel's need for fair market value guaranteed money. That's not as simple an equation as it might sound - especially if Cassel decides to rule out Turd Teams where he might at best, never have success, and at worst, get killed.

Regardless of what some think about Cassel losing some negotiating ability having signed the tender, he's largely in the drivers seat, able to block any trade he doesn't like and having the luxury of collecting $15 million this season and probably just as much guaranteed money if he hits the market next year, when its unlikely the Patriots will choose to tender him at a $16 million price tag.

VJCPatriot

I'm thinking he will get around Aaron Rodgers money.

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Deus Irae

I think he really just wants a hug.

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Seneschal2

I can't give you a serious answer about the $$$ because I seriously doubt he's looking for a specific figure.

What I'm sure he wants is: the best opportunity to be a starter and not hold a clipboard for a long, long, time. And, a decent organization if he's in a position to choose. The $$$ is something he and his brothers dreamed about... and now one of them is about to rake it in. The figure doesn't really matter.

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"What we want to try to do is maximize each spot on the roster; we want to be stronger at No. 1 than the opponent, stronger at No. 25 than they are, and stronger at No. 53 than they are, we're always looking to upgrade the talent level on the team, and play together to be functional."
- Bill Belichick -

mgteich

I continue to be amazed with regard to how little money supposedly matters to posters. The figures do matter to Cassel and his agent and to his prospective team.

MoLewisrocks

Well, while it's naive to assume the average NFL player would really play for free, I think Matt has a lot more in common with his buddy and mentor than their California roots. Both are driven competitors who had to suffer playing behind bigger names and got labled as backups at best and didn't get drafted until most of the audience lost interest. They have goals that in addition to making money include proving their armchair critics wrong.

Coming off a breakout season what matters to Matt most is likely striking while the iron's hot and potentially capitalizing on his pipe dream situation (a Walmart candidate playing well for a team who lost the MVP in the first quarter of week 1) by landing a starting job with a team ASAP so he has a halfway decent shot at turning in the kind of followup season that will cement him as a potential $100M career earner.

At 26 even if he signs a 6 year deal he'd be in line for an extension in 4-5 years if he plays well and on the roster for at least 3 years which can span coaching regimes. Sit on the bench for $14M and he's set for life by most measures but less likely to achieve the ultimate earnings goal of a franchise QB. But he's willing to do that because he's a team player at heart and this is the only team he's ever known and the only one that ever gave him a shot at starting. In exchange for that and $14.6M guaranteed he's willing to do whatever the team wants within reason. He's pprobably not going to sign a long term deal for much less guaranteed money than someone like Rogers got, but I doubt he's gonna try to give Eli a run for his money. Although any team interested would be well served to get Cassel signed before Condon negotiates Forrest Gumps new deal that will likely top $16M AAV and $40M guaranteed...and impact the rookie QB deals done in 2009.

Remember too his agent gets 2% of $14.6M with nothing else guaranteed (he could wreck his career running the scout team here in 2009 or damage his stock in as little as 1 lackluster appearance in pre season or the regular season mopping up for Brady) or 3% of upwards of 4 or more times that...

Next season is an uncapped one and the Patriots could tag him again (or just tender him as an expensive RFA) or potentially worse for him they could let him walk (and what might the talking heads read into that) in a market where perhaps a couple of new flavors of the month have emerged as potential franchise QB's or a couple of more highly touted QB's have emerged in the opinion of the draft gurus than the two red flagged questionmarks available this season.

Matt can be a much wealthier version of Matt Schaub or a become a slightly wealthier version of Derek Anderson or Billy Volek. I think Matt will go to most anyone who wants him. And first and foremost that means compensating this team for the right to sign him to any deal within reason. QB's with real drive believe they can change any teams destiny and then reap their rewards.

Matt's handled himself to date in a manner that screams first and foremost I'm a guy willing to do what it takes to help my team win. Those guys don't generally get sidetracked over contractual bragging rights. Matt Ryan made it clear even to Tom Condon last season that while he wanted his money he wasn't going to make the kind of mistake guys like Lienart and Quinn made by holding out and opening the door for an alternative. Cassel is a genuinely smart guy, like Ryan and...Brady. He will do whatever it takes to be a starter in the NFL if the opportunity again presents itself, as it should, and he'll worry about the total dollars after he's earned them.

Seneschal2

Speaking for myself, you sir, are correct. I've spent over half of my life evaluating football talent, so the size of a football player's contract is not my preferred area of interest.

His agent and prospective team wasn't part of the question. As for Cassel, I stand by my initial post. This will be his first big contract...he's about to become a millionaire...I doubt his thoughts are focused on how many millions. He can deal with that issue when the time comes for him to re-up. But first things first -- he wants to know where he'll be the starting QB. And I really believe that's his focus at-this-time -- not how much.

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"What we want to try to do is maximize each spot on the roster; we want to be stronger at No. 1 than the opponent, stronger at No. 25 than they are, and stronger at No. 53 than they are, we're always looking to upgrade the talent level on the team, and play together to be functional."
- Bill Belichick -

ctpatsfan77

You make some excellent points, Mo, but there's one thing here that needs to be corrected.

Yes, Cassel is loyal, and yes, the Patriots gave him a shot at starting, but to say that they're "the only one that ever gave him a shot" is misleading at best. If any other team had drafted Cassel--let alone drafted him at the level his talents merited--they would have been branded as idiots. Heck, he already had an agreement with Norm Chow to go to TEN as a UDFA after the draft was over.

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