Lomardi says the Patriots have to franchise Cassel

[BelichickFan]

I know I could have put this in a Cassel thread but . . .

The National Football Post | National Football Post Diner News

"I am convinced the Patriots will have to Franchise Matt Cassel this off season for two reasons. (1) He is a legitimate asset. He continues to improve each week and he continues to be one of the best players on the field no matter who he plays."

 

[SVN]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

What a game last night. By the end of it, Kerry Rhodes, the safety from the Jets, proved to be right when he said, “Every time we play these guys we make more mistakes than they make and we lose.” And last night—finally—the Patriots were the team that made too many mistakes in the game. Dropping coverage in overtime on a 3rd and 20 was a killer; getting nailed for a defensive holding penalty in the red zone, which gave the Jets another set of downs, was another killer. Bad kick coverage, too many mental mistakes, and the Pats gave the Jets the game.

this is more telling

 

[Mack Herron]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

I tried to say this a couple of weeks ago and everyone jumped all over me. Cassel is looking more and more like a QB who can win a championship in this sytem. That is huge value and the Pats simply cannot afford to let it walk away.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

I know I could have put this in a Cassel thread but . . .

The National Football Post | National Football Post Diner News

"I am convinced the Patriots will have to Franchise Matt Cassel this off season for two reasons. (1) He is a legitimate asset. He continues to improve each week and he continues to be one of the best players on the field no matter who he plays."

How far have we gone where in September the Pats were blasted by the national media for not having a veteran back up to now where there are national guys talking about a QB controversy or needing to franchise Cassel.

The only way you franchise Cassel is to trade him away. No way can you do what the 49ers did in the late 80s/early 90s and keep two starting QBs on their roster especially with Brady making one of highest salaries in the league and Cassel making the average of the top 5 QBs.

 

[BradyManny]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

I know I could have put this in a Cassel thread but . . .

The National Football Post | National Football Post Diner News

"I am convinced the Patriots will have to Franchise Matt Cassel this off season for two reasons. (1) He is a legitimate asset. He continues to improve each week and he continues to be one of the best players on the field no matter who he plays."

Good stuff. But I still think issue #2 is moot. Brady's health can't factor into it. If we franchise Cassel, he has to be moved, we can't afford to pay him that tag, we can only tag and trade.

And Cassel is playing well enough that any chance of us re-signing him as a backup is gone. So I don't see any scenarios where Cassel will remain with this team next year, so tag and trade may be our best bet if we can work it.

 

[fumbrunner]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

How far have we gone where in September the Pats were blasted by the national media for not having a veteran back up to now where there are national guys talking about a QB controversy or needing to franchise Cassel.

The only way you franchise Cassel is to trade him away. No way can you do what the 49ers did in the late 80s/early 90s and keep two starting QBs on their roster especially with Brady making one of highest salaries in the league and Cassel making the average of the top 5 QBs.

They will not tie up almost 30 M on two players in the same position. Not happening.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

The only way you franchise Cassel is to trade him away. No way can you do what the 49ers did in the late 80s/early 90s and keep two starting QBs on their roster especially with Brady making one of highest salaries in the league and Cassel making the average of the top 5 QBs.

I agree in principle although we actually could do it for one year as we have room under the cap and not many UFA this offseason. If Brady is slow to come back (which I DON'T expect) then we could play next year with $28M or so at QB. More likely, though, I agree, it's to trade him.

Keep it up, Matt, you're playing for your future - and the Patriots'

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

They will not tie up almost 30 M on two players in the same position. Not happening.

For one season they might depending on Brady. "Tie up" long term ? Of course not. But you aren't being tied up if you only do it for one year.

 

[MassPats38]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

Looking to 2009, Seymour, Wilfork, Mankins and plenty of others will be looking at final years of deals. While there may be some salary cap room, would you dump the reserve money to Cassel rather than signing some of the acknowledged great players on the roster to long-term deals?

Cassel will not replace Brady unless Brady shows he cannot recover from this surgery. Thus, you would be rolling the dice with the future of the team on the chance (1) another team is sufficiently interested to trade for him knowing his price just went way up from his present contract while at the same time indicating willingness to part with high draft picks or players or (2) that Brady does not return healthy and Cassel is immediately needed.

The effect of two players sitting on the roster chewing up that much cap space has huge implications on the ability of the Pats to sign or resign talent presently on the team or from free agency.

 

[juxtapoz15]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

Good stuff. But I still think issue #2 is moot. Brady's health can't factor into it. If we franchise Cassel, he has to be moved, we can't afford to pay him that tag, we can only tag and trade.

And Cassel is playing well enough that any chance of us re-signing him as a backup is gone. So I don't see any scenarios where Cassel will remain with this team next year, so tag and trade may be our best bet if we can work it.

Good point, but the problem then becomes that all potential suitors know that the Pats must trade Cassel in order to clear the cap space. That would definitely drive the asking price down.

Also, how long do you have after you can apply the franchise tag and trade someone before free agency starts? I don't think that BB/SP would want to be hamstrung in free agency because they could possibly have that much money tied into the QB position.

I'm not sure what the front office will do with this situation, but they do have a lot to consider.

 

[JDSal45]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

Doesn't Detroit have the Cowboys' number one pick? That will probably be in the 20's. They could use their (likely) number one pick on other needs, then get a proven NFL starting QB with their pick in the 20's. Seems like a no-brainer.

I'd ask for Detroit's second #1 and a #3 after you franchise Cassel. The cap hit would only be temporary, a month or so, until you can work out a trade.

J D Sal

 

[juxtapoz15]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

Doesn't Detroit have the Cowboys' number one pick? That will probably be in the 20's. They could use their (likely) number one pick on other needs, then get a proven NFL starting QB with their pick in the 20's. Seems like a no-brainer.

I'd ask for Detroit's second #1 and a #3 after you franchise Cassel. The cap hit would only be temporary, a month or so, until you can work out a trade.

J D Sal

Sounds like a great idea to me! I would think a lot of teams would throw that asking price to the Pats for potentially the next Tom Brady.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

Doesn't Detroit have the Cowboys' number one pick? That will probably be in the 20's. They could use their (likely) number one pick on other needs, then get a proven NFL starting QB with their pick in the 20's. Seems like a no-brainer.

I'd ask for Detroit's second #1 and a #3 after you franchise Cassel. The cap hit would only be temporary, a month or so, until you can work out a trade.

J D Sal

That's true. It would be pretty much understood that Cassel would renegotiate a new contract with his new team. So it's not like we're permanently losing that cap space.

 

[NEPatriot]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

Cassel struggled on the first half but he played well on the second half. I don't think that franchising Cassel is a good idea because of his inconsistence performance. He can't duplicate this kind of performance in every game.

As long as he depends on the D to do the job, we are going to fail. We have 6 more weeks to play and if we get in the playoff as a wild card, you can forget about Cassel.

 

[VJCPatriot]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

Cassel struggled on the first half but he played well on the second half. I don't think that franchising Cassel is a good idea because of his inconsistence performance. He can't duplicate this kind of performance in every game.

As long as he depends on the D to do the job, we are going to fail. We have 6 more weeks to play and if we get in the playoff as a wild card, you can forget about Cassel.

It would be a tag and trade, not a tag and keep. Much as Cassel is improving before our eyes, Tom Brady is still going to be our QB in 2009.

 

[NEPatriot]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

It would be a tag and trade, not a tag and keep. Much as Cassel is improving before our eyes, Tom Brady is still going to be our QB in 2009.

You have to be SURE that another TEAM wants him. Frankly, there is no way that you know it. It's not like another team start to call Pats and makes their reservation on him. If you don't, you are SCREWED.

 

[JSn]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

Here's a logical option. Every option besides letting him walk is risky, frankly. Letting him go, he gave us a lot for a low round pick and low dollars and deserves to get paid out there.

But if we franchise him and keep him until camp, we could very well have our pick of players from a team that needs a QB and can spare a defensive player or three. It also keeps us in the running in case of Brady not being good to go.

However, looking at how low-rounders are performing, O'Connel being a third rounder might be the greatest QB of all time, lol.

I know the cap implications, but I like the idea of having Cassel as Brady insurance.

If Cassel keeps getting better and you can extend him and you're feeling iffy about Tom... well, I'll save my hide on those prognostications, but if you develop an elite system QB on one year of play who is six years younger than your starter... anyway, I'm out. TFB is a legend and probably has at least one legendary season left in him and a few pretty awesome ones.

 

[Bella*chick]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

It would be a tag and trade, not a tag and keep. Much as Cassel is improving before our eyes, Tom Brady is still going to be our QB in 2009.

Well, of course, but I gotta admit, watching Cassel progress is a lot of fun. He's been really dumped on and I like to see him doing well.

 

[LloydBraun]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

You have to be SURE that another TEAM wants him. Frankly, there is no way that you know it. It's not like another team start to call Pats and makes their reservation on him. If you don't, you are SCREWED.

I amy be wrong, but I think you can rescind the franchise offer.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

Cassel struggled on the first half but he played well on the second half. I don't think that franchising Cassel is a good idea because of his inconsistence performance. He can't duplicate this kind of performance in every game.

Cassel has been VERY consistent. High completion%, poor downfield, constantly improving pocket presence and almost no INT. He had one "should have been" INT last night, rarely has more than one of those and two of his seven weren't bad throws. Nit pick at last night's first half vs. second half if you like, then look at the first halves Brady, Manning, Romo, et al, often have.

Cassel's QB rating is 87.3; before last year Brady's career high was 92.6 and his career average before last year was 88.5. Admittedly Cassel has better WR than Brady had throughout but this is also his first year playing since high school.