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That doesn't make Cassel a better QB. Before the season started, few on this board wanted him on the team. The patriots can go to the playoffs with Cassel. We have a weak enough schedule and a solid enough team. The defense will need to play better. I just think that we would have a better chance in the playoff run and in the playoffs if we were to secure a better QB. I think that Belichick has decided the O'Connell won't be ready this year and Gute never will be ready. This argues for at least a backup veteran for the squad instead of Gute.
Just BTW, the backup vet should be signed to a contract through 2009 so we won't need to pressure Brady to come back too early next year.
Few on this board have a clue beyond what they hear from the media or think they see in pre season scrimmages...
Why do you persist in assuming that the term veteran equals better? Bill said yesterday in his PC that the ability to make reads has less to do with experience than capacity. He obviously doesn't see a veteran out there with the capacity to run this team. He apparently hasn't seen one beyond Vinny or Flutie or Miller over the last 7 years and each of them were aging or injured to the point they really couldn't have played with any consistency for any stretch of time. They were here to mentor and be a veteran presence and in game emergency stop gap. Cassel already provided that stop gap 2 games of transition service in 2008 coming in in week one after a devastating injury to Brady and now he's become the transition to the young inexperienced guy who at least knows the offense and will be coached up to run it as the starter. He represents 2 for the price of 1.
They likely will sign a veteran presence of some sort in the off season because Cassel is a UFA, but primarily to mentor O'Connell and serve as a short term transitional stop gap to him in case O'Connell is showing signs of his development lagging. You won't get that expensive veteran backup starter so many of you :blahblah: about unless O'Connell tanks entering his sophomore season, as apparently Gutierrez did...because only at that juncture with a rehabbing Brady will that player represent sufficient value to consume both a roster spot and significant cap space.