What Reese said about Cassel before joining the Pats

[ctpatsfan77]

Based on these, do you think the Pats hiring Reese changes their outlook on Cassel?

From ESPN.com.

After Cassel's game in Oakland:

To have the wherewithal or ability or gumption or whatever it takes to be able to pull off what he did was indeed special. There's a lot of us in the football world who think we're pretty tough, but when something like that comes along it brings you to your knees. For him to be able to pull it off was a special performance.

On Cassel's trade value:

It would have to be multiple choices and very high choices to get Cassel. Two first-rounders, or a one and a two and a three ... It'll be something very, very expensive.

It's definitely a seller's market. A team like New England can sit back and bide their time.

If you take the actual number of franchise quarterbacks in the NFL, there's maybe 15. Who's Detroit's starting quarterback? You can go down a long list. All of those teams would be in the bidding.

You don't have to be in a hurry. There's always teams out there in need of a quarterback, teams who'll think "We don't like this guy. We can't win with him."

And a general comment on QBs yesterday, from Patriots.com:

Q: You said you've been through almost everything over the years, but the Patriots are in a bit of a unique situation here with Matt Cassel, a backup quarterback turned potential franchise quarterback. What are your thoughts on that situation? I know you really haven't hit the ground running yet, but what are your thoughts on Matt Cassel and how that might unfold?

FR: It will be interesting and I'm sure there will be a lot of discussion on it. I've always been one of those who has said that if you think you have two quarterbacks you probably don't have one. But this is a situation where having two quarterbacks may very well be true. That will be something that we'll have to sit down and work out and I'm sure there will be a lot of discussion back and forth.

 

[amazinPats]

Putting together Matt's latest comments on various media sources, where he indicates that he could play as Brady's backup if he had to, along with Reese's prior comments, it seems as if there is a good chance that Cassel will stay with the Pats. He could still be traded, but it will take a huge offer. We cannot rule out that scenario either.

 

[E Belichick Unum]

The most interesting quote is:

I've always been one of those who has said that if you think you have two quarterbacks you probably don't have one. But this is a situation where having two quarterbacks may very well be true.

hearing something like that makes me wonder if more people around the league think the same thing.

I kind of think that the Pats have already made their minds up on Matt's future in NE. They really can't resign him to back up Tom Brady, or even as insurance against him not being ready. Matt isn't going to take a "hometown discount" large enough to let the Pats keep him. If I had to guess, Bill Belichick probably talked in generalities with a few teams at the Senior Bowl. Nothing illegal, but theoretical player A type stuff.

It is a shame, I really like Matt.

 

[StyLeZ X]

we cannot afford both QB's especially when Brady looks like he will be ready for 09

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The most interesting quote is:
hearing something like that makes me wonder if more people around the league think the same thing.

Which part?

 

[BradyManny]

We also have Kevin O'Connell. If the Pats were OK with going into a season w Cassel as the only backup (2007), then I think they will be OK w Brady and O'C.

 

[BadMoFo]

Regardless, I think we will be in a good situation this offseason.

We trade him, and from the sound of Reese, it sounds like we will not be shortchanged here. I'm thinking a first-rounder at least with the way he spoke of Cassel.

Or we keep Cassel, a guy we like.

I'll be happy either way.

 

[patchick]

Cassel is THE offseason issue that has to be addressed before all others. I can't imagine that BB hadn't already made up his mind what to do, or that he's going to hand over the decision to Reese and say "whatever you feel like, Floyd." So no, I can't imagine that the addition of Reese will change Cassel's fate. I can imagine, though, that it will be Reese's job to get a trade done. That's just the kind of task you'd put in the hands of a respected veteran personnel man who knows EVERYBODY and who knows the ins and outs of getting a delicate deal done.

 

[signbabybrady]

Cassel is THE offseason issue that has to be addressed before all others. I can't imagine that BB hadn't already made up his mind what to do,

While I am sure BB has made up his mind on what to do I do not think that the issue needs to be resolved immediately before we can be active in FAency. the 14 mil in space we need to have to franchise Cassell can be used once he is traded on the rookies and on our own pending FA. Whatever we have ontop of the 14 can be used immediately on FA and does not need to be saved for rookies and if needed some could be saved for pending FA.

The Comments by Reese before joining us are really interesting because at the time he was an unbiased opinion. I don't think his unbiased opinion will change our thinking as that is a BB decision and as stated above I would imagine it has been made and all that is left is to find the trading partner and hagel the right compensation.

 

[billdog3484]

Cassel is THE offseason issue that has to be addressed before all others.

With all due respect I disagree wholeheartedly. While I do think this issue may end up being the Patriots #1 decision in terms of importance, I think a wait-and-see approach would be the most effective. We cannot trade Cassel unless we are 100% certain that Brady will be able to come back and be effective. You cannot trade a franchise QB, as Floyd Reese and many others have called Matty, unless you are certain beyond a doubt that what you have is good. So, while i think this decision is very, very important, it may end up being one of the last decisions made.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

With all due respect I disagree wholeheartedly. While I do think this issue may end up being the Patriots #1 decision in terms of importance, I think a wait-and-see approach would be the most effective. We cannot trade Cassel unless we are 100% certain that Brady will be able to come back and be effective. You cannot trade a franchise QB, as Floyd Reese and many others have called Matty, unless you are certain beyond a doubt that what you have is good. So, while i think this decision is very, very important, it may end up being one of the last decisions made.

sure the pats can trade him........prior to last season, cassel was a stiff......if cassel can do what he did last year, O'connell can do even better

get draft picks, build for the future.....something cassel is not a part of

 

[billdog3484]

sure the pats can trade him........prior to last season, cassel was a stiff......if cassel can do what he did last year, O'connell can do even better

is that serious logic or sarcasm?

 

[signbabybrady]

is that serious logic or sarcasm?

I don't think it is sarcasm but it isn't serious logic I would call it flawed logic.....Which somehow could be true but hopefully we never find out.

 

[E Belichick Unum]

Which part?

I've always been one of those who has said that if you think you have two quarterbacks you probably don't have one. But this is a situation where having two quarterbacks may very well be true

It only takes a couple of GM's to think in those terms to create a bit of bidding war for Cassel. It's kind of funny, you go onto the forums and the fans don't think Matt is worth a #1, but they'll lay down that same #1 and more money for Sanchez. Cassel had an 11-5 record in the NFL, Sanchez had an 11-1 record at USC, where is the comparison? All they talk about is Cassel being a "system" QB, go figure. The thing is, if you look at how he played, he would make a great West Coast type of guy, with all the short to medium passes and the occasional bomb.

One thing is probably true, the Patriots really can't fix what ails them and keep both Brady and Cassel. Cassel may only have one year under his belt, but he is an athlete. I have seen him play in many celebrity type sporting events, as well as on TV, and seeing him in person creates a whole new opinion.

 

[patchick]

You cannot trade a franchise QB, as Floyd Reese and many others have called Matty, unless you are certain beyond a doubt that what you have is good. So, while i think this decision is very, very important, it may end up being one of the last decisions made.

While I am sure BB has made up his mind on what to do I do not think that the issue needs to be resolved immediately before we can be active in FAency. the 14 mil in space we need to have to franchise Cassell can be used once he is traded on the rookies and on our own pending FA. Whatever we have ontop of the 14 can be used immediately on FA and does not need to be saved for rookies and if needed some could be saved for pending FA.

I really, really hope it doesn't come to this. Maintaining flexibility to keep $14+ million under the cap -- or not -- would put the Patriots at a very significant competitive disadvantage in personnel planning.

Going by Miguel's current figures, the Patriots are $18.6 million under the cap without without RFAs, ERFAs, or franchisees. Say you tender Woods and Britt, franchise Cassel, and leave room for your rookies...then you're pretty well done, without even re-signing the likes of Paxton, Evans or Sanders. That's scary stuff.

I could well be off in this (I don't pretend to be a cap expert), but until someone can show me differently I'm treating the wait-and-see option for Cassel as a worst case scenario.

 

[AzPatsFan]

we cannot afford both QB's especially when Brady looks like he will be ready for 09

Says who? Miguel the ultimate authority says, yes we can...

 

[signbabybrady]

I really, really hope it doesn't come to this. Maintaining flexibility to keep $14+ million under the cap -- or not -- would put the Patriots at a very significant competitive disadvantage in personnel planning.

Going by Miguel's current figures, the Patriots are $18.6 million under the cap without without RFAs, ERFAs, or franchisees. Say you tender Woods and Britt, franchise Cassel, and leave room for your rookies...then you're pretty well done, without even re-signing the likes of Paxton, Evans or Sanders. That's scary stuff.

I could well be off in this (I don't pretend to be a cap expert), but until someone can show me differently I'm treating the wait-and-see option for Cassel as a worst case scenario.

I was saying some of the 14 mil on Cassel can be used on the Rooks once you trade him so that is money you dont need to include in the argument. while 4 mil of free money is not ideal some teams are negative and don't have a 14 mil hit they can get back at the drop of a trade.

Like you said we have 18 mil....subtract the 14 mil for Cassell but keep in mind that is money you will get back once he is traded. So the rookie pool can come from there and the money to sign our own pending free agents in 2010 can come from there. That leaves us with 4 mil to resign out guys and sign FA. That does hamstring you a bit but I am sure we will free up some money between now and than through cuts and re-structures.

 

[mtbykr]

BB and company already know what they will do, and TB is really doing....it's just us that are left to speculate.

 

[AzPatsFan]

It only takes a couple of GM's to think in those terms to create a bit of bidding war for Cassel. It's kind of funny, you go onto the forums and the fans don't think Matt is worth a #1, but they'll lay down that same #1 and more money for Sanchez. Cassel had an 11-5 record in the NFL, Sanchez had an 11-1 record at USC, where is the comparison? All they talk about is Cassel being a "system" QB, go figure. The thing is, if you look at how he played, he would make a great West Coast type of guy, with all the short to medium passes and the occasional bomb.

One thing is probably true, the Patriots really can't fix what ails them and keep both Brady and Cassel. Cassel may only have one year under his belt, but he is an athlete. I have seen him play in many celebrity type sporting events, as well as on TV, and seeing him in person creates a whole new opinion.

What ails the Patriots? They were ALREADY top Four in Offense, and top Ten in Defense, (8th in Points allowed), and had a probowl kicker on ST, and TD returners, while they started a guy who hadn't played since HS at QB.

Is the Defense at Top Ten not good enough? It was better than for two of their Superbowl victories. Will it get better without a single change? You would think so, since they played 9 players as starters who were newcomers, either FA or rooks/sophs. They still won 11 games, even in a rebuilding year. I'd guess a year's experience together, would move them up at least a few positions. Is the Offense old, decrepit, and collapsing? Actually it is quite young, and got better, more balanced, with a feared rushing game.

So once again what couldn't they fix that ails them? Do they already plan on helping out their present squads by adding talent? I think an already existing Double Draft with picks in 1st, 2 2nds, 2 3rds, and probably 2 4ths and 2 5ths, might help, just a teeny, weeny, little bitty smidgen.

Maybe the correct question is what haven't they already rebuilt? Is there really anything more to do, than simply wait and let the experience improve the squad?

 

[patchick]

I was saying some of the 14 mil on Cassel can be used on the Rooks once you trade him so that is money you dont need to include in the argument. while 4 mil of free money is not ideal some teams are negative and don't have a 14 mil hit they can get back at the drop of a trade.

Like you said we have 18 mil....subtract the 14 mil for Cassell but keep in mind that is money you will get back once he is traded. So the rookie pool can come from there and the money to sign our own pending free agents in 2010 can come from there. That leaves us with 4 mil to resign out guys and sign FA.

But...the whole point of waiting to trade Cassel is to provide for the case where you KEEP him. Which means you CAN'T count on recouping that money to sign your rookies. Right? I totally don't understand a plan where you're banking on trading Cassel but you decide to sit out the whole free agency period first.