Should the Pats keep Cassel over Brady?

[aluminum seats]

Let me start by saying until this year I can't remember the last time I missed a Pats' game, but due to unprecedented business travelling, I've missed a bunch.....so I acknowledge at the outset I haven't seen Cassel play nearly as much as I would like.

Having said that, what I saw against the Jets was a confident, energetic, very impressive performance from Cassel. He threw the ball well, led the team, moved extremely well (his scrambling ability is obviously better than Brady's), and overall did an outstanding job. In the few areas he seemed off--eg, the deep ball--I sensed that a little more experience would work to correct that. He's also 26.

Next season Tom Brady will be 32, coming off major knee surgery--surgery that does not appear to be healing as it should. Where he'll be come September, nobody knows.....but let's say for the purposes of this argument his health remains uncertain as next season rolls around.

Don't misunderstand--I don't for a second underestimate Tom Brady. He has clearly been one of the best QBs of all time, and could (should?) have several top-level years ahead of him. I would also suggest that he might be one of the few guys who should be retained simply for the purpose of sustaining the integrity of the franchise--meaning, for pursposes of history, emotion, etc. But I'm not sure that's the way BB will ever do business, with the possible exception of keeping Troy Brown last year, which obviously didn't mean much.

Belichick and the overall organization doesn't go by names, or history, or salary, or sentiment. He and they go by what they see in front of them, and act in whatever way is in the best interests of the team.

So my question to the board is, come next year, is it possible that the Pats would be better off with Matt Cassel than Tom Brady? And if so, what should the Pats do about it?

 

[mtbykr]

I thought this was a joke thread by the title, I guess not....wow!

 

[TBonePatsFan]

NO!

As I'm typing I realize I should NOT have responded and allowed this $%^$#^% topic to fall off the first page of PatsFans.

 

[TBonePatsFan]

I think you might have picked up the "stupid bug" on all of that business travel. Please go to your doctor immediately.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Sad thing is it's not the first idiotic thread like this since Thursday...

For the love of God, mods, use the tools Ian has provided...

 

[fumbrunner]

Yes, lets give up on possibly the best QB of all time in his prime, coming of a record setting year.

 

[patriotsdynasty12189]

We really should like franchise this guy tho and trade him. We really could get a nice stock pile of draft picks.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Get rid of a HOF QB in his EARLY 30s for a guy that has yet to prove he can throw the long ball consistently and has trouble in red zone TDs

You must have had an Aluminum Seat get bashed over your head when you were a child - Thats the only way I can understand the stupidity this thread brings.

 

[BelizePats]

Not too long ago Ian asked the members to think before they start a new thread.
I guess you were traveling and missed.

 

[Scooter_McGruder]

Who let Marshall Faulk on here?

This isn't Drew Bledsoe we're replacing...

 

[mtbykr]

We really should like franchise this guy tho and trade him. We really could get a nice stock pile of draft picks.

The problem with that is that I believe the number would be around $10 mil.....so that's a devistating cap hit (especially with TB's being $14mil) if we can't trade him. If we go on and win the superbowl then someone will pay that price, but if we don't go far I can't see another team paying that much for him.

 

[SVN]

marshall faulk has finally joined our forum

 

[Fencer]

If Matt Cassel is the league MVP, as Steve Young was in backing up Joe Montana, the idea should be carefully considered before it is rejected.

Otherwise -- no.

And by the way, he won't be. Not even close.

 

[aluminum seats]

Wow, these responses are even pissier and more reactionary than I thought. I was hoping that between the "Help! You cad! You villian!" and the "Moderators, save us! I have the vapors!" posts I might get some feedback about the ultimate potential upside of Cassel vs. Brady entering his mid-thirties coming off major surgery, or something, you know, responsive like that.

Take a minute to breathe, and actually read the post. Nobody knows what Brady's recovery is going to be like--we've heard nothing but bad things. I didn't say it was the end for Brady. What I DID say was, let's posit that next September Brady's health isn't what was hoped.....raising the possibility that next season could be largely lost as well. What we then would have would be a GREAT qb entering his mid-thirties (yes, the next year would be 33....I'll give 30, 31, and 32 to early, but sorry, 33 belongs to mid) with questionable health.

Sorry, if Cassel is as good as he looked to me the other night--and again, thanks for such insight here--what to do at QB is something the Patriots' organization would take some time thinking about. Unlike, apparently, anyone on this board.

 

[Disco Volante]

Nobody knows what Brady's recovery is going to be like.

Then you shouldn't have made a thread asking if we should part ways with him.

 

[Ice Cold Bruschi]

This isn't that stupid a thread I don't know why everyone is ripping on this guy. This is going to be a legitimate problem come the off season.

 

[patsgo]

Let me start by saying until this year I can't remember the last time I missed a Pats' game, but due to unprecedented business travelling, I've missed a bunch.....so I acknowledge at the outset I haven't seen Cassel play nearly as much as I would like.

Having said that, what I saw against the Jets was a confident, energetic, very impressive performance from Cassel. He threw the ball well, led the team, moved extremely well (his scrambling ability is obviously better than Brady's), and overall did an outstanding job. In the few areas he seemed off--eg, the deep ball--I sensed that a little more experience would work to correct that. He's also 26.

Next season Tom Brady will be 32, coming off major knee surgery--surgery that does not appear to be healing as it should. Where he'll be come September, nobody knows.....but let's say for the purposes of this argument his health remains uncertain as next season rolls around.

Don't misunderstand--I don't for a second underestimate Tom Brady. He has clearly been one of the best QBs of all time, and could (should?) have several top-level years ahead of him. I would also suggest that he might be one of the few guys who should be retained simply for the purpose of sustaining the integrity of the franchise--meaning, for pursposes of history, emotion, etc. But I'm not sure that's the way BB will ever do business, with the possible exception of keeping Troy Brown last year, which obviously didn't mean much.

Belichick and the overall organization doesn't go by names, or history, or salary, or sentiment. He and they go by what they see in front of them, and act in whatever way is in the best interests of the team.

So my question to the board is, come next year, is it possible that the Pats would be better off with Matt Cassel than Tom Brady? And if so, what should the Pats do about it?

your brains are made out of aluminum

 

[Disco Volante]

How can any poster be able to make this decision in early November?

Cassel still hasn't established himself as a franchise QB, despite his losing performance last Thursday night.

We also shouldn't start being overly concerned with Brady until we see what his status is in 2009.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Wow, these responses are even pissier and more reactionary than I thought. I was hoping that between the "Help! You cad! You villian!" and the "Moderators, save us! I have the vapors!" posts I might get some feedback about the ultimate potential upside of Cassel vs. Brady entering his mid-thirties coming off major surgery, or something, you know, responsive like that.

Take a minute to breathe, and actually read the post. Nobody knows what Brady's recovery is going to be like--we've heard nothing but bad things. I didn't say it was the end for Brady. What I DID say was, let's posit that next September Brady's health isn't what was hoped.....raising the possibility that next season could be largely lost as well. What we then would have would be a GREAT qb entering his mid-thirties (yes, the next year would be 33....I'll give 30, 31, and 32 to early, but sorry, 33 belongs to mid) with questionable health.

Sorry, if Cassel is as good as he looked to me the other night--and again, thanks for such insight here--what to do at QB is something the Patriots' organization would take some time thinking about. Unlike, apparently, anyone on this board.

Get it through your head

Tom Brady in a wheelchair is better than Matt Cassel

Don't get me wrong,Matt has done an admirable job as a substitute filling in for the 2nd greatest QB ever to play the game (Montana #1) - But if Tom can hold a football and stand up on both legs,he will be the starting QB if he is ready in week 1 - If not it looks like O'Connell or better yet,A veteran QB will hold down the fort until then.

Cassel will no longer be here next season - He has shown enough to move on and compete for a starting job elsewhere - Sort of like holding the door open to your son the day he is 18 and moving into his first apartment,you let him go and mature off into the sunset.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Since the Pats FO always knows more and sooner then they tell us and never lets on, you can look for several things and small signs in the offseason of Brady's progress if Tom,his doctor and BB discuss the possibility of him not returning in time for week 1

Look for a sudden and quick move for a Veteran QB in March or April or if you see the team draft another QB in the mid to late rounds then you know Brady will be out till late fall or early winter - Otherwise if those things are not done then they pretty much are confident Brady will hit TC ready to go