How do we keep the jets from getting Cassel next year?

[BradyManny]

If I were Matt Cassel I would be interested in getting as much money as possible while going to a good team. If I were Matt Cassel I would want my new team to be in the best place possible to surround myself with talent. That is, I would not want my new team to trade for me because I want my new team to have all of its draft picks.

Therefore, I would employ the following tactics.
If the Patriots tag me, I would hold a press conference stating that I have appreciated my time with the Patriots and that I have benefited greatly by being on the Patriots. But it is time for me to move on. I will like to be a winner. I can better my chances of winning is by not helping the best team of the past several years get more draft choices as Scott Pioli and Bill Belichick are among the league's best, if not the best, in drafting. Therefore, I will not agree to a trade until after the 2009 draft and if the Pats have not rescinded their tag I will sign the franchise tender the day after of the draft and play for the Pats during the 2009 season. I am hoping this declaration will compel the Pats to rescind their tag so I can move on.

Can the Pats afford to have over $29 million in cap space tied up in two QBs during the first several weeks of free agency???That is THE question.

But can't the Pats work out a trade without Cassel signing the tender anyway? I thought this was the case as we discussed this scenario during the Asante holdout. I don't think Cassel is going to care much if the Pats get compensated with draft picks or not, he probably - like the rest of the sporting world - just wants to know he has a paycheck.

 

[Miguel]

I think best thing for PATs and Cassel is to come to some mutual beneficial
agreement before threats and statements are made public.

Tagging Cassel is a public statement by the Pats that they want to control where he goes. I have no problem with a player publicly stating that he wants to control where he goes. It is fair. It is just business.

 

[billdog3484]

im not totally knowledgeable of the way this would work, but theres no way we let this guy go without getting at least a 2nd round pick. we will probably try to franchise him then trade him eaerly in the offseason

 

[Miguel]

Also one disadvantage for Cassel in holding out until AFTER the 2009 draft is some teams may solve their QB issue by drafting a QB. This would limit where he might end up.

It would be within the rules for Cassel to talk to a team and come to a mutual agreement on contract terms and for that team to then wait for the Pats to rescind the offer. A gamble but if the Pats are willing to tag Cassel at that high price that says something good about Cassel to other teams.

 

[billdog3484]

i think the cassel situation is differnet than Asante because we promised not to tag him

 

[Miguel]

But can't the Pats work out a trade without Cassel signing the tender anyway? I thought this was the case as we discussed this scenario during the Asante holdout. I don't think Cassel is going to care much if the Pats get compensated with draft picks or not, he probably - like the rest of the sporting world - just wants to know he has a paycheck.

If Cassel is about the paycheck and he is traded to another team without his signing the tender, then his next logical step would be to sign the tender and gain the upper hand in contract negotiations with his new team. I just do not think that a team would trade for Cassel without him agreeing to a contract with them.

 

[BradyManny]

If Cassel is about the paycheck and he is traded to another team without his signing the tender, then his next logical step would be to sign the tender and gain the upper hand in contract negotiations with his new team. I just do not think that a team would trade for Cassel without him agreeing to a contract with them.

But hypothetically, something could be worked out in the advantage of both the Patriots and Cassel without him ever signing the tender, and the Patriots - even temporarily - allocating 14 million to him? The team would have to agree to a contract w Cassel, the Pats would have to agree to terms w the team in trade, and Cassel would have to cooperate and be OK with the team to which he was being shipped, and the contract he'd receive.

 

[Rob0729]

If I were Matt Cassel I would be interested in getting as much money as possible while going to a good team. If I were Matt Cassel I would want my new team to be in the best place possible to surround myself with talent. That is, I would not want my new team to trade for me because I want my new team to have all of its draft picks.

Therefore, I would employ the following tactics.
If the Patriots tag me, I would hold a press conference stating that I have appreciated my time with the Patriots and that I have benefited greatly by being on the Patriots. But it is time for me to move on. I will like to be a winner. I can better my chances of winning is by not helping the best team of the past several years get more draft choices as Scott Pioli and Bill Belichick are among the league's best, if not the best, in drafting. Therefore, I will not agree to a trade until after the 2009 draft and if the Pats have not rescinded their tag I will sign the franchise tender the day after of the draft and play for the Pats during the 2009 season. I am hoping this declaration will compel the Pats to rescind their tag so I can move on.

Can the Pats afford to have over $29 million in cap space tied up in two QBs during the first several weeks of free agency???That is THE question.

The one thing going for the Pats is that the 49ers would be one of the most likely trade partners in a tag and trade situation. Cassel grew up a 49ers fan. He might not be opposed to a tag and trade if the Pats speak to him and say they will do the best effort to get him to a team of his choice most notably the 49ers.

 

[mac]

The Patriot way would be to keep Cassell and trade Brady to Brady's hometown 49ers, thus repleshing the Pats with high picks and perhaps Willis.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Cassel will sign with a team several months before Farve decides if he is returning to the Jets next year. No worries.

 

[BradyManny]

The Patriot way would be to keep Cassell and trade Brady to Brady's hometown 49ers, thus repleshing the Pats with high picks and perhaps Willis.

I hope thats a joke. Brady's coming off the greatest season by a QB ever, and Cassel - while he's done extremely well - is no match for him. QB is the most important position in the game.

 

[Miguel]

But hypothetically, something could be worked out in the advantage of both the Patriots and Cassel without him ever signing the tender, and the Patriots - even temporarily - allocating 14 million to him? The team would have to agree to a contract w Cassel, the Pats would have to agree to terms w the team in trade, and Cassel would have to cooperate and be OK with the team to which he was being shipped, and the contract he'd receive.

Yes.

My point is to show that the best scenario for Cassel's future is for his new team not to have given up any draft picks for him. If I were Cassel, I would do what was best for me and for my new team, not what was best for the Patriots.

 

[BradyManny]

Yes.

My point is to show that the best scenario for Cassel's future is for his new team not to have given up any draft picks for him. If I were Cassel, I would do what was best for me and for my new team, not what was best for the Patriots.

OK, gotcha.

 

[tombonneau]

I think the problem with the Cassel franchise tag is there is a good chance if a contract with the average value of the top five QBs is put in front of him, he might very well sign it.

Raiders had this issue with Charles Woodsen a few years ago. They franchised him to gain leverage and he signed that puppy right away, pretty much screwing the Raiders.

Not sure what Cassel would do, but I doubt any FA contract he gets will be Top 5 QB money.

I'm curious about the transition tag, as it's not used often and I don't know much about it?

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I'm curious about the transition tag, as it's not used often and I don't know much about it?

Right of first refusal, at a lower salary number (last year's top 10 average v. last year's top 5 average). No compensation.

 

[VJCPatriot]

If I were Matt Cassel I would be interested in getting as much money as possible while going to a good team. If I were Matt Cassel I would want my new team to be in the best place possible to surround myself with talent. That is, I would not want my new team to trade for me because I want my new team to have all of its draft picks.

Therefore, I would employ the following tactics.
If the Patriots tag me, I would hold a press conference stating that I have appreciated my time with the Patriots and that I have benefited greatly by being on the Patriots. But it is time for me to move on. I will like to be a winner. I can better my chances of winning is by not helping the best team of the past several years get more draft choices as Scott Pioli and Bill Belichick are among the league's best, if not the best, in drafting. Therefore, I will not agree to a trade until after the 2009 draft and if the Pats have not rescinded their tag I will sign the franchise tender the day after of the draft and play for the Pats during the 2009 season. I am hoping this declaration will compel the Pats to rescind their tag so I can move on.

Can the Pats afford to have over $29 million in cap space tied up in two QBs during the first several weeks of free agency???That is THE question.

LOL yes your scenario makes sense if Cassel is a douche. But I don't think he is. He'll be happy to be the starting QB for his own team. I just don't see him doing something like that. That's like the worst case scenario. But thanks for raining on the parade.

 

[spacecrime]

we dont owe him anything

We owe him this season.

 

[spacecrime]

LOL yes your scenario makes sense if Cassel is a douche.

No, the Patriots will be the douches.

Cassel has been a good soldier. He is playing this year for what? $1.4 mil? Peanuts.

He deserves to be treated fairly and since the Pats are a classy organization, I'm sure Kraft will not permit us to foil his desires after he played so well for so little money.

the team we trade him to would sign him to a long term deal for a little more up front money than the tag .

And you guys have to remember that you CANNOT franchise a guy and trade him unless he agrees to go to that team. If he doesn't want to go there, he simply refuses to sign a long term deal with that team, and they won't trade for him.

If the Pats franchise him, they had better be prepared to let him go where he wants or be paying $15 mil for a backup QB in 2009.

 

[NEPatriot]

Jets will keep Bret.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

I see Cassel heading out to Brady's hometown and his college playing...errr college benching days next season and signing with the 49ers