We need to extend Cassel

[amazinPats]

Maybe a 1-2 year contract then trade him before the second year is out. I think the team can get some decent picks for him. Extend now!!

 

[richpats]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

Sorry, Cassel is playing his way to a well-deserved big-money contract next year. I thought there was a chance of keeping him before last night but he took over the game like an NFL QB should. I will always be proud of his contribution to the '08 Pats, playoffs or no.

 

[DaBruinz]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

Maybe a 1-2 year contract then trade him before the second year is out. I think the team can get some decent picks for him. Extend now!!

Why would Cassel do this? He and his agent know that there are at least 2 teams that will be looking for a starting QB to transition over to a draftee this year. And they are both NFC teams. One is Minnesota. The other is Detroit. The Seahawks may also be in the running considering Hasselbeck's age and injury history. The 49ers may also be looking for a QB since it would seem that Alex Smith is on the Outs there. The Titans may also be looking for one since Vince Young can't stay committed to football and Collins isn't getting younger. Houston may be looking for someone to replace Schaub since he's not proving to be durable. And, I hate to say this, but the Jets may ALSO be looking for a QB since there is no guarantee that Favre will be back.

 

[BelizePats]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

Cassel won't do this. Its just one of those situations for us where he will walk and cash in big time and the team won't get anything from him once the season is over. Its all about timing and because this is happening in his last year rather than a year ago, it works for him but not so much for us. Too bad because if it was last year that this happened, we'd probably get a couple of 2 or maybe a 1 from someone desperate.
What can you do?

 

[amazinPats]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

It's true that Cassell might have other ideas, but it would be nice if we can extend him quickly before he becomes a real stud!

But even if we do lose him to a big contract somewhere else, we won't end up emptyhanded. There might be a 3rd round compensatory pick the following year.

 

[BradyManny]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

The way he played last nite, the idea of franchise and tag isn't looking so absurd. He's gotten better every week, and while he still has a lot to work on, he has the most important traits of a good QB - decision making and mental toughness.

I know the transition tag is considered useless, but it wouldn't be the worst thing here. If we transition tagged him with a contract that was somewhat beyond what we truly would want to pay him but nothing outrageous, it would at least guarantee that clubs that were interested would have to sign him to that level of contract, and thus guarantee we'd get a good comp pick the ensuing year.

EDIT: Yup, not how transition tag works, see below...

 

[DaBruinz]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

The way he played last nite, the idea of franchise and tag isn't looking so absurd. He's gotten better every week, and while he still has a lot to work on, he has the most important traits of a good QB - decision making and mental toughness.

I know the transition tag is considered useless, but it wouldn't be the worst thing here. If we transition tagged him with a contract that was somewhat beyond what we truly would want to pay him but nothing outrageous, it would at least guarantee that clubs that were interested would have to sign him to that level of contract, and thus guarantee we'd get a good comp pick the ensuing year.

So, because of 1 game, you now think that Cassel is worth 14.6 million on a 1 year deal? I am fairly certain that neither BB nor Pioli believe this.

I think you are confused about the transition tag. There is no contract offer from the Patriots involved in the transition tag. All the transition tag does is give the Patriots the right of 1st refusal on any contract offers that Cassel gets. In other words, it gives the Pats the right to match that contract and nothing more. And the only thing it guarantees is that the Pats would get some sort of compensatory pick in 2010 IF the Pats didn't sign someone of a similar pay grade.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

So, because of 1 game, you now think that Cassel is worth 14.6 million on a 1 year deal? I am fairly certain that neither BB nor Pioli believe this.

I think you are confused about the transition tag. There is no contract offer from the Patriots involved in the transition tag. All the transition tag does is give the Patriots the right of 1st refusal on any contract offers that Cassel gets. In other words, it gives the Pats the right to match that contract and nothing more. And the only thing it guarantees is that the Pats would get some sort of compensatory pick in 2010 IF the Pats didn't sign someone of a similar pay grade.

Not quite. More accurately, "if the Pats have a net loss of quality free agents, AND didn't sign someone of a similar pay grade." If Cassel were the Pats' only loss, and they signed even one semi-decent FA, they'd get nothing for Cassel, except maybe a 7th for a net loss of talent.

 

[DaBruinz]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

Not quite. More accurately, "if the Pats have a net loss of quality free agents, AND didn't sign someone of a similar pay grade." If Cassel were the Pats' only loss, and they signed even one semi-decent FA, they'd get nothing for Cassel, except maybe a 7th for a net loss of talent.

Well, if you are going to get REALLY technical, then its a net loss of QUALIFYING free agents. They signed FAs this year that won't be qualifying.

 

[BradyManny]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

So, because of 1 game, you now think that Cassel is worth 14.6 million on a 1 year deal? I am fairly certain that neither BB nor Pioli believe this.

I think you are confused about the transition tag. There is no contract offer from the Patriots involved in the transition tag. All the transition tag does is give the Patriots the right of 1st refusal on any contract offers that Cassel gets. In other words, it gives the Pats the right to match that contract and nothing more. And the only thing it guarantees is that the Pats would get some sort of compensatory pick in 2010 IF the Pats didn't sign someone of a similar pay grade.

Yup, sorry about the transition tag, you're right on that. But, still, the point remains, it would at least guarantee the Pats would be in the running for a comp pick (yes, assuming they don't sign someone of similar pay grade, which I don't think they will).

And its not just one game, Cassel has gotten better each week, and he's been playing at a high level since the St Louis game. I'm just assuming he keeps this level of play up, at which point he will have shown he's decidedly better than at least half of the QBs out there starting. Again, he still wouldn't be worth $14 mill by any stretch, but the tag would be a means to an end.

 

[DaBruinz]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

Yup, sorry about the transition tag, you're right on that. But, still, the point remains, it would at least guarantee the Pats would be in the running for a comp pick (yes, assuming they don't sign someone of similar pay grade, which I don't think they will).

And its not just one game, Cassel has gotten better each week, and he's been playing at a high level since the St Louis game. I'm just assuming he keeps this level of play up, at which point he will have shown he's decidedly better than at least half of the QBs out there starting. Again, he still wouldn't be worth $14 mill by any stretch, but the tag would be a means to an end.

Whether the Pats use the transition tag or not, they would still be in the running for a comp pick if they lost Cassel.

The ONLY way I see the Patriots using the Franchise tag on Cassel is if Brady is going to miss the entire year next year because of his injury.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

Cassel needs to get to free agency and cash in. That is his objective. He doesn't want to hold Brady's clipboard for the next two years. He has another couple of games close to what he did last night and he could be a top 10 paid QB in the league next year.

The Pats best option is that Cassel's stock is so high at the end of the season that he can be franchised and traded. I didn't think it was a realistic possibility until last night.

 

[BradyManny]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

Whether the Pats use the transition tag or not, they would still be in the running for a comp pick if they lost Cassel.

The ONLY way I see the Patriots using the Franchise tag on Cassel is if Brady is going to miss the entire year next year because of his injury.

Yikes, let's not even bring that possibility up. And I don't think that'd come to pass. Even if Brady has to have another graft, which at this point seems unlikely, he'd still be ready near the start of the season.

So I'm not even factoring Brady into the equation right now. I have thought this as early as a month ago, and Cassel has played extremely well since...I just think that if you determine the interest in Cassel is high enough, you do whatever you can to retain him so you can earn something from him in trade. If that means temporarily dropping $15 milli on the table, then so be it. Again, unless they are 100% certain they have teams lining up willing to trade for him, you don't do it. Take the risk out.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

The ONLY way I see the Patriots using the Franchise tag on Cassel is if Brady is going to miss the entire year next year because of his injury.

The Patriots will Franchise him IF AND ONLY IF they are 100% (maybe 99%) that they could trade him under the one year contract for something - even a future 7th round pick. As long as they can trade him for anything, they can dump that $14M tag number. From there, they can hope to do better and they might just do that if he keeps playing well. But the only lose scenario is tagging him, having him sign the tag and then not being able to dump the one year deal. It's tough to say, from where I sit Cassel would be a good QB to build around and it's a weak QB draft. However there's marginally decent QB out there who can be had like Leftwich, maybe the Bengals would trade Fitzgerald, etc so who knows.

 

[fumbrunner]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

The Patriots will Franchise him IF AND ONLY IF they are 100% (maybe 99%) that they could trade him under the one year contract for something - even a future 7th round pick. As long as they can trade him for anything, they can dump that $14M tag number. From there, they can hope to do better and they might just do that if he keeps playing well. But the only lose scenario is tagging him, having him sign the tag and then not being able to dump the one year deal. It's tough to say, from where I sit Cassel would be a good QB to build around and it's a weak QB draft. However there's marginally decent QB out there who can be had like Leftwich, maybe the Bengals would trade Fitzgerald, etc so who knows.

Would the one year deal be transferrable upon a trade? If so, why would any team trade for Cassel with a 14 M price tag? I'm sure teams would be willing to offer Derek Anderson-type money, but not 14 M.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

Would the one year deal be transferrable upon a trade? If so, why would any team trade for Cassel with a 14 M price tag? I'm sure teams would be willing to offer Derek Anderson-type money, but not 14 M.

Yes, Miguel has verified way back that a player who has signed the tag is tradeable.

Why would a team do it ? If we asked for a very low price just to dump the $14M, I could see a team doing it to take a look at him and have exclusive negotiating rights for a year. If they have the cap money it's not much of a risk especially if we only get a 2010 #7 back. Of course, much more likely a team would give up more with a long term deal done but, worst case, we'd need to be confident someone would take him on the one year deal. And they might not; if not we get nothing but Cassel was still a well spent #7 pick for us.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

FWIW, Matt Cassel currently = Eli Manning and David Garrard.

Cassel - 65.8%, 6.96 YPA, 10 TD, 7 INT, 87.3 rating
Eli - 60.5%, 6.85 YPA, 14 TD, 6 INT, 88.8 rating
Garrard - 65.3%, 6.98 YPA, 8 TD, 5 INT, 87.6 rating

Not bad . . .

 

[fumbrunner]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

Yes, Miguel has verified way back that a player who has signed the tag is tradeable.

Why would a team do it ? If we asked for a very low price just to dump the $14M, I could see a team doing it to take a look at him and have exclusive negotiating rights for a year. If they have the cap money it's not much of a risk especially if we only get a 2010 #7 back. Of course, much more likely a team would give up more with a long term deal done but, worst case, we'd need to be confident someone would take him on the one year deal. And they might not; if not we get nothing but Cassel was still a well spent #7 pick for us.

Would we not get a comp pick anyways though?

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

Regarding Cassel's deep throws - which aren't good - most QB don't throw the ball deep often.

These stats are for the distance the ball is thrown, no YAC included :

Cassel is 1-6 between 21-30 and 1-10 from 21+.
Manning is 8-20 and 3-12 respectively.
Garrard is 5-16 and 0-4.

The biggest difference is pass attempts from 21-30, Cassel's % is low but one more completion (hi to Jabbar Gaffney) and he'd be right there with these two from a % standpoint.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: We need to extend Cassell

Would we not get a comp pick anyways though?

Depends on whether we sign other teams' UFAs this offseason. If we don't we could get a #4 comp pick for him as I'm guessing he'll get a nice deal somewhere.