Fencer
Pro Bowl Player
- Joined
- Oct 2, 2006
- Messages
- 14,293
- Reaction score
- 3,986
There's a school of thought arguing that the Pats need to give the impression of doubt about Brady's recovery in order to get away w/ franchising Cassell. I'm skeptical of that.
However -- the more doubt they have about his recovery, the more value Cassell has to the Pats as a player. And hence the more they are justified in asking for him in a trade.
So it's to the Pats' advantage to create the impression they have doubts about the timing of Brady's return.
What's more, this isn't just an issue vis-a-vis other teams' management. It's also an issue vis-a-vis those teams' fan bases. "What??? You gave up a 1st and a 2nd for this guy, and he had a bad game??" is easier to fight off if there's a theory as to why the Pats wouldn't have settled for less.
However -- the more doubt they have about his recovery, the more value Cassell has to the Pats as a player. And hence the more they are justified in asking for him in a trade.
So it's to the Pats' advantage to create the impression they have doubts about the timing of Brady's return.
What's more, this isn't just an issue vis-a-vis other teams' management. It's also an issue vis-a-vis those teams' fan bases. "What??? You gave up a 1st and a 2nd for this guy, and he had a bad game??" is easier to fight off if there's a theory as to why the Pats wouldn't have settled for less.