robertweathers

I'm hesitant in having an opinion on whether Mallett is a viable backup or a potentially productive starting QB for the reason that the only action we've seen him in is pre-season and a handful of snaps in games. Clearly, BB likes the kid's raw talent and work-ethic. If he didn't he would have been gone like KOC was.

With that said, Mo is spot-on in bringing in someone to push Mallett. Cassel will be on the market as KC will not pay him the $7.5m he is due and depending on what they can afford and what Cassel is comfortable with, it's realistic to say that he could be in the fold here in 2013.

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rookBoston

It is worth bringing in another QB. Mallett wont be in Foxboro when Brady finally retires. He has a long road to run. As a measuring stick: Peyton will retire first, probably 2 or 3 years ahead of Brady.

I would say a draft pick at QB... a late pick... would signal to me that BB intends to find a home for Ryan elsewhere in the next year or two. And that seems like smart money.

For some QB desperate team to give up the 2nd rounder that would move him, they would have to be enamored with Ryan's college film, or they have to have been coaching on the Pats practice field over the last few years. Short of that, why make an investment of that magnitude?

After watching the Cotton Bowl, while Manziel was pretty impressive-- just a natural multi-dimensional player (we'll never draft high enough to even sniff that guy)-- the QB I thought BB would be interested in was Landry Jones in the losing effort. Here's what I liked: kid was poised, called the offense and the protections, set the tempo, scanned the field, had a clean arm motion and an accurate ball, moved in the pocket with his eyes downfield. He never lost his head even down three+ touchdowns. He's a guy that fits our system.

The fact that A&M was a wildly superior team is really not in Jones's control. I don't think the kid is a ready-now starter, and best of luck to any team who tries to win behind him as a rookie. But do think he's a legit prospect that I think BB could grow into an elite player, ready to take the field in a few years.

If (big if, and unlikely) someone gives us a 2nd or even an early 3rd + loose change for Mallett, I could imagine spending a 3rd on Landry and signing a journeyman veteran for QB depth.

And if no one is interested in our backup, which is more reasonable, spending a late pick on a third QB is still not out of the question. The fact that Jones lost his Bowl game helps us in that regard, because he'll drop lower and maybe into a zone where BB sees value. It comes down to a judgement call, whether drafting another QB project like Jones, is a luxury when we could use that pick at WR, OG or DB instead... a true FB would be nice, too. But maybe we solve those things in FA, and take a young OU QB on Day Two. I could go for that.

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Off The Grid

Mallett doesn't need to be pushed.

Mallett needs to be dumped.

Mad Bill has no Peer...but that doesn't mean he's flawless.

It doesn't mean he doesn't make mistakes.

Mallett was such a mistake...as I said at the moment he made it.

***

The Market if friendly, this year.

If we can get a 3rd & Change for'm ~ or even better, Praise the Gods ~ I say we do it.

***

But that is besides the point.

Mallett is not the kind of QB you want leading your Team...save on a 1 Out.

The Notion that trading'm for less than the 3rd that we expended on'm is STUPID.

Should we judge Brady's Market Value ~ if we were stupid enough to trade'm ~ by his DRAFT PICK???

***

Whatever The Market provides for Mallett ~ be it a 2015 7th Rounder or a 2013 2nd Rounder with OODLES of Change ~ is what we should trade'm for.

Because he sucks as a QuarterBack.

...As I've said 8 million TIMES, since we were foolhardy enough to burn a 3rd Rounder on'm.

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MassPats38

As BB proved with Cassel, the goal is a functional player at low cost who can step in when necessary. Cassel did well in the Pats system when Brady went down. Cassel was not a juggernaut as a backup (if memory serves, he threw a pick 6 in a blowout and Brady returned to the game the year prior to his taking the starting role in Brady's absence), and it is tough to say Mallett is awful based on 4 pass attempts and a bunch of kneel downs.

However, Cassel, with 1 decent year (2010) to 3 bad years with the Chiefs, is not exactly elevating Pats backup stock in the trade market. Hoyer was considered a better backup than Mallett in 2011 and statistically was better when in the game for the Pats, and no teams went diving for him when he became available this year (the Cards picked him up as a desperation move at the end of the season). If Mallet has minimal trade value (meaning a draft pick that would be at or lower than his draft pick), why dump the only guy on the roster who can back up Brady? Who becomes the only backup in a complex offensive system at that point if the QB market is so lean?

wizwor

I know. The point is that they didn't bring TB in because he was Andrew Luck and they didn't keep him around because they needed a fourth QB. A situation presented itself and BB let it play out. If the right quarterback is available in the right place in the draft, he will be drafted. If that QB is more valuable than the guy whose roster spot he will take, then he will remain on the roster. If they think he can be stashed on IR or the practice squad, he will. It's all situational.

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patfanken

I don't often disagree with you Grid, but I will here. Don't forget that it was the Mallett pick that precipitated my well known meltdown the night of that draft. (btw- where I predicted the beginning of the end of Pats dominance. )

It's not that I don't believe that you COULD be right. But the empirical evidence doesn't match your opinion. We have no real idea how Mallett will fare if/when he gets his chance. Even pre-season isn't a good test because of a myriad of reasons. IIRC Cassell looked a lot worse the preseason before the 2008 season.....and he ended up with 3700 yds, 21TDs and only 11 picks The point being is WE really don't know. The thing was Bill dd, and he kept him that year despite the fact none of us thought he'd even make the team.

The empirical evidence I mentioned is that Bill not only kept Mallett, he released a QB he previously trusted to be Brady's sole back up. In other words, Mallett beat out a guy who most of us thought (and some still do) was a pretty competent QB. And contrary to your harsh evaluation, BB has to feel that Mallett is a "pretty competent QB" as well, even better than Hoyer to make the move he did.

That being said, I see the Kafka signing as being a warning shot to Mallett that he'll have to compete for his job next season. I also see the signing as opening up a possibility for a trade of Mallett. As I mentioned before the Kafka signing and Cassell's eventual availability certainly sets the stage.

The only problem I see in that scenario is the lack of a market for Mallett that would bring the likes of a 2nd or 3rd round pick, or any pick for that matter. A combination of a lack of real game experience, and an existing plethora of QB's that do have some great game tapes to present.

I agree that Tom Brady will long outlast Ryan Mallett on the Patriots. But that doesn't mean his pick was as bad you and I first thought, or that he might not find some success after he leaves here. BB obviously has a higher opinion of his skills than you.

BTW- on Matt Cassell. People forget that he had a great year with KC in 2010. A year he had 27 TD's and only 7 picks. I am curious about what happened to him that allowed Brady Quinn to be able to beat him out just 2 years later.

BananaRepublican

Nobody in this thread has mentioned the possibility of an injury to Tom. Seeing that he wants to "play until 40" he better not be planning on taking shots like the Haynesworth pre-season shot or Mallet is going to be the man.

And that makes me cringe.

I want Vinny and Doug battling for #2 in camp. Forever. This country is for old men! Old men unite!

eagle eye

Yeah I remember a backup who looked just like that before he got his first start for the Patriots. His name was Tom Brady, no.12 I think!

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DocHoliday

I can't say I ever saw Brady in person back then, but I was under the impression that Tom was always mechanically sound and consistent.

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The Gr8est

If the Rats were in the NFC BB could get a #1+ from them for a QB with a "shiny" arm.

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