Random thought...total speculation...

[Va_Pats_Fan]

Cassel is a FA after this year. O'Connell is the QB backup of the future...if O'Connell impresses, and Cassel does well....

Trade? Maximize value?

 

[JDSal45]

Cassel is a FA after this year. O'Connell is the QB backup of the future...if O'Connell impresses, and Cassel does well....

Trade? Maximize value?

They'd have to franchise Cassel. As you said, he is an unrestricted free agent otherwise.

J D Sal

 

[JAYHAWKS34]

Cassel is a FA after this year. O'Connell is the QB backup of the future...if O'Connell impresses, and Cassel does well....

Trade? Maximize value?

your right this is "total speculation" we need to get through this season before we can get that ahead of ourselves

 

[Va_Pats_Fan]

your right this is "total speculation" we need to get through this season before we can get that ahead of ourselves

The trade deadline is in Oct. I meant this year...not next...

 

[alamo]

The trade deadline is in Oct. I meant this year...not next...

I don't think the Patriots are willing to write off this season and miss the playoffs. Which is what would have to happen to trade Cassel.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Cassel is free after this year so there would be no compensation

And who knows if Cassel will even be in the league next year?

Beating KC and the Jets looked like a good start on his resume but how about the team facing a non-creampuff team who actually has a good chance to make the playoffs before we crown Cassel as an adequate QB replacement

I do agree O'Connell is the #2 backup next year,Gutz will probably go elsewhere if anywhere and the team will probably look at a FA late in the summer or draft another QB late in the 5th or 6th

 

[jeffbiologist]

Best case scenario would be to franchise him, then sign/trade him. I dont know the cap restricutions..... If he proves to be a top 20 qb in the league I can see it, if he is "servicable" he wont be worth it(likely a 1st rd pick). You have to like his chances, its nice to have the control over your next contract rather than sitting on the bench....But most coaches now know that ALOT of our "talent" has to do with the system and talent around him. It would be a gamble, but you can try and trade him....and if you cant then you take the tag off.

 

[Salva135]

The market for starting QBs in the NFL these days is a lot like the market for starting pitchers in MLB ... given the dearth of real talent out there, if you can prove yourself serviceable, let alone GOOD, you can make some big money. If Cassel can continue what he's doing, put up 18-20 TDs and lead this team to a playoff spot, he could have a great shot at getting some 4-5 yr, $40M deal playing for a crappy team in desperate need of a starter.

It's already been said on here that Cassel would be too expensive to franchise, and assuming Brady is back 100% in '09, there would be absolutely no reason to go this route. Personally, I hope in the back of his mind he's thinking about playing for a big contract with another team and starting a career as a starter... gives him all the more incentive to go out there and kick some ass.

 

[patfanken]

I was just going to post something on this topic.

I was thinking since Cassel is going to be a FA next season, wouldn't it be worth the risk to offer the kid a 2 year extention (this year and Next) and give him $5-6Million over the 2 years with 4 guaranteed.

From HIS point of view, that would greatly increase his income immediately. He then could be traded next year for a 2nd or 3rd assuming he has a good season and OConnell progresses as planned.

Sure, if he has a good year, might make more immediately in FA, but this way he can put $4MM in his pocket. And if things go well for him, he becomes great trade bait in the off season and only delays his BIG HUGE payday by a year. Hey $4MM in the hand is worth more than the HOPE of a great FA payday.

 

[ScottieC]

They'd have to franchise Cassel. As you said, he is an unrestricted free agent otherwise.

J D Sal

No way they Franchise Cassel. He'd make more than Brady, can you imagine that?

They will try and trade him, I guess.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

I was just going to post something on this topic.

I was thinking since Cassel is going to be a FA next season, wouldn't it be worth the risk to offer the kid a 2 year extention (this year and Next) and give him $5-6Million over the 2 years with 4 guaranteed.

From HIS point of view, that would greatly increase his income immediately. He then could be traded next year for a 2nd or 3rd assuming he has a good season and OConnell progresses as planned.

Sure, if he has a good year, might make more immediately in FA, but this way he can put $4MM in his pocket. And if things go well for him, he becomes great trade bait in the off season and only delays his BIG HUGE payday by a year. Hey $4MM in the hand is worth more than the HOPE of a great FA payday.

Hang over his head that if he doesn't sign for two years that they will bring in a Vet to start after the bye week and promise him that if Brady comes back fully healthy to camp they will trade him and I can't see him not signing.

 

[Disco Volante]

In a thread that's self admittedly getting ahead of itself, I think it's appropriate to bring up a possibility that would suck if Cassel ends up doing great.

1) Brett Favre retires next year.
2) Jets sign UFA Cassel as QB of the future.

 

[Spiral]

The franchise number for QBs must be over $10M. The Patriots would have to clear that much cap space before franchising him, which would limit their ability to retain players and/or sign new ones during the free agent period. And if I'm Cassel, I sign that franchise tender the second I get it, so forget about pulling that offer back.

I hope he has a great year and earns a great contract--from an NFC team like SF or Chicago.

 

[ScottieC]

The franchise number for QBs must be over $10M. The Patriots would have to clear that much cap space before franchising him, which would limit their ability to retain players and/or sign new ones during the free agent period. And if I'm Cassel, I sign that franchise tender the second I get it, so forget about pulling that offer back.

I hope he has a great year and earns a great contract--from an NFC team like SF or Chicago.

It's over $10 Million - Close to $11+ I think. Should be out there on the Internet somwhere.

 

[JDSal45]

No way they Franchise Cassel. He'd make more than Brady, can you imagine that?

They will try and trade him, I guess.

Umm, well they CAN'T trade him UNLESS they franchise him. He is a free agent (unrestricted) otherwise. He can sign with whomever he wants.

I was thinking franchise him, THEN trade him (long before free agency is over, so while he'd temporarily affect your cap, it wouldn't make a difference in the big picture because you trade him within a few weeks).

J D Sal

 

[JDSal45]

The franchise number for QBs must be over $10M. The Patriots would have to clear that much cap space before franchising him, which would limit their ability to retain players and/or sign new ones during the free agent period. And if I'm Cassel, I sign that franchise tender the second I get it, so forget about pulling that offer back.

I hope he has a great year and earns a great contract--from an NFC team like SF or Chicago.

It depends on how well he plays, but any franchising would be temporary. I think they'd have that much room temporarily, but Miguel would know better than me.

J D Sal

 

[BelichickFan]

If he does well they can Franchise and Trade him. Miguel has already verified a player who has signed his Franchise tag can be traded - and we know a tagged player who hasn't signed the offer can be traded.

We're about $25M under next year's cap right now :

http://www.patscap.com/futureyears.html

so we can Franchise him with no plan to actually pay it. Worst case we could get a minimal pick for him assuming he does reasonably well, if not this conversation is moot.

 

[spacecrime]

The trade deadline is in Oct. I meant this year...not next...

Then the whole idea is crazy. Cassel is the best QB they have this year. They are 2-0 and rolling. They aren't trading Cassel this year.

Next year they only way Cassel won't be a starter for another team is if the Pats franchise him and keep him like the Chargers did Brees.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...-cassel-plays-like-competent-nfl-starter.html

 

[spacecrime]

I was just going to post something on this topic.

I was thinking since Cassel is going to be a FA next season, wouldn't it be worth the risk to offer the kid a 2 year extention (this year and Next) and give him $5-6Million over the 2 years with 4 guaranteed.

From HIS point of view, that would greatly increase his income immediately. He then could be traded next year for a 2nd or 3rd assuming he has a good season and OConnell progresses as planned.

Sure, if he has a good year, might make more immediately in FA, but this way he can put $4MM in his pocket. And if things go well for him, he becomes great trade bait in the off season and only delays his BIG HUGE payday by a year. Hey $4MM in the hand is worth more than the HOPE of a great FA payday.

This is a aterrific idea. Certainly win-win for the Pats. It would protect against complications in Brady's recovery that might extend him into the regular season, and the Pats certainly have hte cap room.