BradyManny
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Mar 13, 2006
- Messages
- 11,103
- Reaction score
- 1,520
QUESTION
A) If we franchise Cassel and he signs the tender, what happens if we cut him at various times (before the draft, before the season and during the season). If the team isn't obligated for the season, perhaps $875K per game isn't so bad, except that the incentive would be to bring Brady back too early.
SOME THOUGHTS ON FRANCHISING MATT CASSEL
1) We would not have $14M available as others competed for free agents.
2) If Cassel signs the tender for $14M for one year, would the team owe him anything if they were unable to make a trade? Note that Cassel doesn't need to cooperate with a trade. He can just sit tight knowing that he will make $14M or be cut and then negotiate with a team that will not need to give up a draft pick.
3) Unfortunately, the patriots may need to work directly with Cassel to secure his service for the patriots. Brady is by no means a guarantee to be near 100% to start the season. And playing next year with O'Connell as the #2 may not be the best approach. As several have indicated, perhaps the best approach is a 2 year extension at $6M or so per year (or the 3 years, with theird being a fake year). This would be able to be fit it to the patriots cap structure, as is more reasonable, than one year at $14M.
I doubt Cassel would go for that, though. He has to know that the instant Brady is healthy enough to play, Cassel is back to being 2nd string. Cassel is working towards establishing himself as a solid starter, which means he could get paid decently.
To me, a few draft picks would be worth going with O'Connel for the first few games of the year - if it even came to that. Again, Brady missing pre-season and the first few weeks is still a worst case scenario that probably won't happen.
I wish I knew the answer to your question regarding the franchise tag and cutting someone - hopefully someone w more knowledge than me chimes in, b/c thats certainly a factor.
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