Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in '09

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Interesting views on the decisions the team will have to face shortly after their season is over .

The comments are about midway through this ESPN blog by writer Tim Graham

ESPN - Pats have decisions to make on Cassel, Brady - AFC East

 

[JoeSixPat]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

Interesting views on the decisions the team will have to face shortly after their season is over .

The comments are about midway through this ESPN blog by writer Tim Graham

ESPN - Pats have decisions to make on Cassel, Brady - AFC East

Maybe I'm just seeing it through Patfans glasses but I fail to find one helpful comment among the bunch

I mean, they're saying - "well if Brady's knee looks to be in good shape, obviously you go with him... if not you sign Cassell"

Thanks Football Einsteins!

Understanding these are just short comments, something more helpful would be to acknowledge that Cassell's a free agent and that a full understanding of the health of Brady's knee won't be known at the time that he's going out to bid, as well as the fact that the Patriots won't be the sole bidder and whether or not the Patriots are willing to have TWO QBs tied into long term high priced contracts because that's what it's going to take to sign Cassell - and even then you'll probably have to spend MORE than any other team because all things being equal Cassell would take the same amount of money that the Pats offer from another team if he can be the starter.

Why didn't even one of these execs broach the actual facts of the matter in their comments? Or more importantly, why doesn't ESPN seem to recognize the dynamics at play here?

Perhaps they think that the Pats will franchise Cassell and he won't mind that at all and hapilly play under a one year contract rather than threatening to sit out? Are they that naive?

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

I agree with that one guy that said when Cassel is gone and thats a definate then I think the team turns EARLY in the offseason for a backup like a Kerry Collins type if there are any available

I don't even think the organization will have any idea of what Brady's knee will cause him in performance if there any problems at all in the spring, so early in the offseason so its a no brainer that you look for a vet,At least sign one till the franchise comes back

I don't want to see Kevin O'Connell and Matt Gutierrez as the only QBs besides Brady next season by the time TC comes around.

 

[upstater1]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

The stupidity of some of those people amaze me.

In the NFL, QBs go down left and right. Give me a player like Brady any time who has commanded the pocket well in 7 years of play. Only twice in those seven years has he taken a severe hit to the legs.

Other QBs around the league are much more injury prone.

If you go with Matt Cassell over the long haul, nothing will guarantee you that he will have the durability that Brady has had.

That's why people like Armey who worry about Brady's ability to stay healthy having hurt his knee once are being silly.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

The stupidity of some of those people amaze me.

In the NFL, QBs go down left and right. Give me a player like Brady any time who has commanded the pocket well in 7 years of play. Only twice in those seven years has he taken a severe hit to the legs.

Other QBs around the league are much more injury prone.

If you go with Matt Cassell over the long haul, nothing will guarantee you that he will have the durability that Brady has had.

That's why people like Armey who worry about Brady's ability to stay healthy having hurt his knee once are being silly.

I think the chances of Brady having a similar injury and going on IR for most of the season again is not very likely

In fact I cannot remember a HOF QB ever going down on IR twice for a whole season

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

Franchise to trade. I know I know, it's illegal. Let me rephrase it. Franchise b/c you have no idea how Brady's knee is. Then trade.

Or, if you don't like the YOU CAN'T DO THAT reaction, yes, sign Matt and deal him after 09.

PFnV

 

[Sivy]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

what some people write just to get hits.

 

[unoriginal]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

I agree with that one guy that said when Cassel is gone and thats a definate then I think the team turns EARLY in the offseason for a backup like a Kerry Collins type if there are any available

I don't even think the organization will have any idea of what Brady's knee will cause him in performance if there any problems at all in the spring, so early in the offseason so its a no brainer that you look for a vet,At least sign one till the franchise comes back

I don't want to see Kevin O'Connell and Matt Gutierrez as the only QBs besides Brady next season by the time TC comes around.

I know what you mean. Remember how bad we looked in the 2008 Preseason behind Cassel? I think the Pats coaching staff will look at the results of that and say, Never Again!

We were lucky Rattay and Simms were still available after Brady went down that year.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

I know what you mean. Remember how bad we looked in the 2008 Preseason behind Cassel? I think the Pats coaching staff will look at the results of that and say, Never Again!

We were lucky Rattay and Simms were still available after Brady went down that year.

Well if you like O'Connell to start the season more power to you,99% of the rest of us want a veteran to hold down the fort until Brady returns if he can't make it in time for week 1

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

Well if you like O'Connell to start the season more power to you,99% of the rest of us want a veteran to hold down the fort until Brady returns if he can't make it in time for week 1

No! Not Culpepper time again! Save us from the time loop!!!

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

Well if you like O'Connell to start the season more power to you,99% of the rest of us want a veteran to hold down the fort until Brady returns if he can't make it in time for week 1

They felt comfortable enough with Cassel in '06 that he was Brady's only backup for half the season.

If they think O'Connell can carry the load, they may not bring a veteran in.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

Well if you like O'Connell to start the season more power to you,99% of the rest of us want a veteran to hold down the fort until Brady returns if he can't make it in time for week 1

I think it's more likely 99% of us get why that won't happen. A vet may be brought in to help mentor the kid and start in a pinch in an injury situation. If the starter is out longer than a game they ramp up the kid...that's Bill's formula and why Flutie and Vinny moved on.

Cassel didn't warrant a veteran beyond Brady after 2006. And Brady didn't warrant a veteran sounding board because he is one now. And if he's performed well as a #3 and scout QB Gutierrez, with two full seasons in the system, may also stick instead of a veteran who couldn't land a starters job with no system experience.

And if Cassel's stock remains so high anonymous GM's are being asked to predict a choice for NE between he and Tommy, he will be tagged...and traded. Bill didn't draft a QB in the 3rd round so he could spend $30M in cap on the position... Because the long term ramifications of doing that in this system, even absent a cap going forward, would be staggering.

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

Well if you like O'Connell to start the season more power to you,99% of the rest of us want a veteran to hold down the fort until Brady returns if he can't make it in time for week 1

Is this the same "99%" that wanted Cassel cut in camp?

 

[RayClay]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

Well if you like O'Connell to start the season more power to you,99% of the rest of us want a veteran to hold down the fort until Brady returns if he can't make it in time for week 1

Did Gutierrez get cut? Why would they start O'Connell?

 

[billdog3484]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

theyre gonna franchise and trade him. they have to. we arent keeping 2 QBs at 15M per season and we arent giving him up for nothing

 

[JSn]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

Did Gutierrez get cut?

Yeah and they re-signed him when Brady went down, remember?

Why would they start O'Connell?

If Matt gets hurt. Kevin is #2 on the depth chart. I'm willing to guess there's a reason for that.

 

[RayClay]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

Yeah and they re-signed him when Brady went down, remember?




If Matt gets hurt. Kevin is #2 on the depth chart. I'm willing to guess there's a reason for that.

Well, if they need a quarterback next season then we'll know. Damon Huard was #2 on the depth chart when Bledsoe went down.

 

[VJ11]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

Don't really care for all these "what-if" scenarios. The facts are that Cassell will become a free agent after the season is over, Brady has only just started his recovery process, and that O'Connell and Guttierez are signed as back-ups/third string.

Unless Pioli is working on an attractive contract extension proposal for Cassell, to be signed before the season is over, Cassell will get an opportunity to test the market - there are several teams who would take a chance on Cassell, despite the fact he has been starting for just one season. Some teams will fear for a "Derek Anderson" effect, some others won't be deterred because of desperation to get a decent QB on the team. Whatever offer the Patriots could be making to Cassell may be easily matched by some GM who has more salarycap-room to dip into, or is simply determined to get him at any price.

I don't see the Patriots sign a veteran QB as a back-up. Simply because the guys that would be familiar with the Patriots-system aren't there anymore, with the exception of Damon Huard. All these other vets out there have enough question marks to make the Patriots stay away from them. Remember Week 1, when everyone was talking about the Patriots potentially signing a Chris Simms, or some other QB FA? That was quickly shot down. Because the Patriots knew that veteran from outside the team would have trouble digesting the playbook, and would struggle with timing with the receivers.
However, I can see them bringing in one or two veteran QBs they have at the top of their list to work them out, get a fitness check, to see how they actually grade out, during the offseason. I wouldn't even be surpised if they would take a chance on a promising lower-round draft choice at QB.

Regarding Brady: the Patriots will keep a close eye on his recovery. Knowing Brady he will be either exactly on time for training camp, or they may allow for some leeway and he will report a few days later. For the Patriots, Brady at 100% health is the most important thing. If anything happens that they interpret as a setback, they will adjust some timetables, increase the workload for O'Connell and Gutierrez, but not much more.

 

[flasox27]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

The Pats will franchise or transition Casel until they are comfortable about Brady. Then they will trade Casel. Does anyone think that the Pats will let Casel leave with no compensation?

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Several well known football executives and agent on the Cassel/Brady decisions in

Well, if they need a quarterback next season then we'll know. Damon Huard was #2 on the depth chart when Bledsoe went down.

No, he wasn't - Brady was - that's why he replaced Drew in game... That was one of the reasons Huard left when his deal was up and they didn't flinch. They had drafted Davey to develop in the 4th in 2002. After Huard left they added Jim Miller probably intending he bridge the gap to Davey, but he was rehabbing a shoulder injury and never got right. He was #3 behind Davey throughout 2004. Then in 2005 they replaced Miller with Flutie and drafted Cassel - and Matt pushed Rohan off the roster as a rookie.

In 2006 Flutie retired because he knew Cassel had passed him as #2 on the depth chart. They went with 2 QB's for the first 8 games (which should have told folks here something) before adding Vinny down the stretch as the #3 and a veteran presence. By 2007 they didn't need a veteran presence and added Gutierrez as a developmental UDFA. But they drafted O'Connell in 2008 in part because it was Cassel's last contract season but also because they knew the 2009 draft projected as devoid of potential NFL QB's. And he pushed Gutierrez off the roster after the pre season...

O'Connell has been the #2 QB since Brady went down and Cassel took over. Doesn't mean Gutz won't stick in 2009 as opposed to some veteran jag with no system experience when he will then have 2 full seasons in the system, but he's clearly a #3 which is why he was still available for our PS a week after cuts when Brady went down. They only way he passes O'Connell on the 2009 depth chart is if Kevin fails to develop altogether (as Rohan did - although based solely on rookie glimpses he doesn't look to be that guy...and Rohan always did).