Will Cassel be franchised tomorrow (Feb 5/09)?

[E Belichick Unum]

No harm in that, if we go from, say, $20M to $5M available it doesn't make any difference. We can't use the difference to sign anyone (of our own players) because when we do eventually Franchise Cassel we won't have the money available then.

I don't know, I think $20 is a lot of money, so $20M is unfathomable. I am assuming that Cassel will not be a Patriot on March 1 and that the Patriots will tag him and trade him in a 24 hour period. Besides, if they tag him today and he sign the tag tomorrow, they are on the hook for that money even if he is hit by a car. If something did happen to Matt, and he was lost for the season, that money still applies to the cap.

It makes all trhe sense in the world to minimize that potential liability and wait until the last minute.

 

[DNR]

But they will franchise him tomorrow so that he can begin talks with teams to see what kind of contract he wants and who is interested in paying that to him. Better to get that ball rolling sooner rather than later.

This would be my opinion.

It would only make sense that they give Cassel and other teams as much time as possible to work out an agreement. This would most likely speed up the trade process, and minimize the time that they are handcuffed by the 14+ mill Franchise tag amount.

I expect it will be announced by tomorrow, followed quickly by the first of many Tom Brady "setback" rumors we are guaranteed to hear.....

 

[borg]

According to Reiss, the Pats wait till last possible day to tag....

Thursday marks the first day that NFL teams can assign the franchise tag to a player on their roster. Here is a look at the Patriots' history with assigning the tag:


Adam Vinatieri (2002) -- Designated franchise player on Feb. 21, 2002 (deadline day). Franchise designation removed on March 15, 2002 when he signed a multi-year contract.


Tebucky Jones (2003) -- Designated franchise player on Feb. 20, 2003 (deadline day). Traded to New Orleans on April 14, 2003.


Adam Vinatieri (2005) -- Designated franchise player on Feb. 22, 2005 (deadline day). Played the 2005 season under a 1-year franchise player contract.


Asante Samuel (2007) -- Designated franchise player on Feb. 16, 2007 (deadline was Feb. 22, 2007). Played the 2007 season under a 1-year franchise player contract.

 

[CanadianPat'sFan]

I don't know, I think $20 is a lot of money, so $20M is unfathomable. I am assuming that Cassel will not be a Patriot on March 1 and that the Patriots will tag him and trade him in a 24 hour period. Besides, if they tag him today and he sign the tag tomorrow, they are on the hook for that money even if he is hit by a car. If something did happen to Matt, and he was lost for the season, that money still applies to the cap.

It makes all trhe sense in the world to minimize that potential liability and wait until the last minute.

I agree BB usually does not designate his Franchise Tags until the last day or very close to. Reise looks at that today

Timing & the tag - Reiss' Pieces - Boston.com

I am sure BB knows what he is going to do and is not in a hurry right now....but you know he is working like a beaver behind the scenes to get this done.

 

[JSn]

This is a different situation (we assume), though. His value must be maximized for trade, they're not trying to negotiate a long-term deal for him to stay or just hang on to a solid player one more year. In all likelihood, they specifically want to cash him in. To me, that means they need to immediately make that undeniably clear asap - well, that they own the guy for a year, I mean. And then let the bidding and scrambling begin.

 

[CanadianPat'sFan]

This is a different situation (we assume), though. His value must be maximized for trade, they're not trying to negotiate a long-term deal for him to stay or just hang on to a solid player one more year. In all likelihood, they specifically want to cash him in. To me, that means they need to immediately make that undeniably clear asap - well, that they own the guy for a year, I mean. And then let the bidding and scrambling begin.

Sounds reasonable to me and this situation is unlike any other the Pats have faced so maybe BB will throw the franchise tag on him early this time. Either way we are all like kids at Christmas, we can not wait for morning to get our presents AKA 2 first rounders.

 

[JSn]

Sounds reasonable to me and this situation is unlike any other the Pats have faced so maybe BB will throw the franchise tag on him early this time. Either way we are all like kids at Christmas, we can not wait for morning to get our presents AKA 2 first rounders.

Yeah, no kidding, eh?

There will be fun days of surfing other forums when a bidding war starts and all the anti-cassel guys (Bear's fans being my favourite crop of loonies) begin to wonder more seriously about him.

 

[swheeler23]

The Patriots history says they will wait to the last day possible ,while trying to sign him to along term contract.If the rumors of a brady setback are true it would be better to sign Cassel to a contract so there would be less of a cap hit for 2009. If Brady can not play in 2009 would the Patriots pay him the 3 million signing bonus he is due Feb 27th. To me that day will tell us alot.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I don't know, I think $20 is a lot of money, so $20M is unfathomable. I am assuming that Cassel will not be a Patriot on March 1 and that the Patriots will tag him and trade him in a 24 hour period. Besides, if they tag him today and he sign the tag tomorrow, they are on the hook for that money even if he is hit by a car. If something did happen to Matt, and he was lost for the season, that money still applies to the cap.

Not quite: "If a player subject to a Franchise Player designation accepts the Required Tender, the resulting Player Contract shall be fully guaranteed if the player’s contract is terminated because of lack of comparative skill; as a result of an injury sustained in the performance of his services under his Player Contract; and/or due to a Club’s determination to create Room for Salary Cap purposes."

The point is that the salary is not literally guaranteed; if Cassel were to pull a Kellen Winslow II, the Pats could refuse to pay him (although I'm not 100% sure if they'd get the cap room back).

 

[ctpatsfan77]

The Patriots history says they will wait to the last day possible ,while trying to sign him to along term contract.If the rumors of a brady setback are true it would be better to sign Cassel to a contract so there would be less of a cap hit for 2009. If Brady can not play in 2009 would the Patriots pay him the 3 million signing bonus he is due Feb 27th. To me that day will tell us alot.

If they don't, then Brady becomes an unrestricted free agent.

 

[PATSNUTme]

I heard on NEST last night that they cannot tag anyone before 8PM tonight. I have no idea if that is true or not.

 

[signbabybrady]

I heard on NEST last night that they cannot tag anyone before 8PM tonight. I have no idea if that is true or not.

might they have been saying 8 am because that would make more sense?

 

[Jimke]

According to Reiss, the Pats wait till last possible day to tag....

Thursday marks the first day that NFL teams can assign the franchise tag to a player on their roster. Here is a look at the Patriots' history with assigning the tag:


Adam Vinatieri (2002) -- Designated franchise player on Feb. 21, 2002 (deadline day). Franchise designation removed on March 15, 2002 when he signed a multi-year contract.


Tebucky Jones (2003) -- Designated franchise player on Feb. 20, 2003 (deadline day). Traded to New Orleans on April 14, 2003.


Adam Vinatieri (2005) -- Designated franchise player on Feb. 22, 2005 (deadline day). Played the 2005 season under a 1-year franchise player contract.


Asante Samuel (2007) -- Designated franchise player on Feb. 16, 2007 (deadline was Feb. 22, 2007). Played the 2007 season under a 1-year franchise player contract.

I will be very surprised if the Patriots franchise Cassel until right

before the deadline.

 

[PatsFaninAZ]

I'm not really sure I understand what the patriots have to gain by franchising him before they have to. I've read the thread and I think the point may be going over my head. It seems to me that everything that is being suggested can all still happen whether or not he's tagged.

On the other side, if the patriots have any intention whatsoever to explore a sign and trade, rather than a franchise, shouldn't they wait?

 

[VJCPatriot]

I'm not really sure I understand what the patriots have to gain by franchising him before they have to. I've read the thread and I think the point may be going over my head. It seems to me that everything that is being suggested can all still happen whether or not he's tagged.

On the other side, if the patriots have any intention whatsoever to explore a sign and trade, rather than a franchise, shouldn't they wait?

Tagging Cassel accomplishes 2 things.
1. The Patriots declare their intent to retain their rights to Cassel. If teams want him, they have to deal with the Pats.
2. Placing the nonexclusive franchise tag on him allows Cassel to negotiate with other teams without the risk of 'tampering' charges.

 

[mgteich]

There is one advantage to the patriots of tagging early. This would make it more likely that the situation will be solved earlier rather than later. Tagging Cassel today would make it possible that a deal could be made by February 27th with Cassel (with 2 firsts as compensation), or with Cassel and the pats (for less). There is a major advantage to the patriots to have the situation solved by February 27th. Even if this doesn't happen, a two week head start when Cassel is virtually the only QB that teams can talk would seem to useful.

 

[JSn]

There is one advantage to the patriots of tagging early. This would make it more likely that the situation will be solved earlier rather than later. Tagging Cassel today would make it possible that a deal could be made by February 27th with Cassel (with 2 firsts as compensation), or with Cassel and the pats (for less). There is a major advantage to the patriots to have the situation solved by February 27th. Even if this doesn't happen, a two week head start when Cassel is virtually the only QB that teams can talk with would seem to useful.

Actually, that's huge. Impatience is going to be a huge factor for teams in dire need of that missing piece... interesting.

 

[Metaphors]

There is one advantage to the patriots of tagging early. This would make it more likely that the situation will be solved earlier rather than later. Tagging Cassel today would make it possible that a deal could be made by February 27th with Cassel (with 2 firsts as compensation), or with Cassel and the pats (for less). There is a major advantage to the patriots to have the situation solved by February 27th. Even if this doesn't happen, a two week head start when Cassel is virtually the only QB that teams can talk would seem to useful.

I believe he is still under contract until the new league year begins (generally around March 1st). So I don't believe anyone can talk to Cassel until he is a free agent...franchised or otherwise.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I believe he is still under contract until the new league year begins (generally around March 1st). So I don't believe anyone can talk to Cassel until he is a free agent...franchised or otherwise.

From the CBA:

"if the Club extends the tender pursuant to this Subsection (a)(i), the player shall be permitted to negotiate a Player Contract with any Club . . ."

Furthermore, if the Patriots plan to franchise Cassel, they can grant him permission to negotiate with other teams.

 

[ScottieC]

According to Reiss, the Pats wait till last possible day to tag....

Thursday marks the first day that NFL teams can assign the franchise tag to a player on their roster. Here is a look at the Patriots' history with assigning the tag:


Adam Vinatieri (2002) -- Designated franchise player on Feb. 21, 2002 (deadline day). Franchise designation removed on March 15, 2002 when he signed a multi-year contract.


Tebucky Jones (2003) -- Designated franchise player on Feb. 20, 2003 (deadline day). Traded to New Orleans on April 14, 2003.


Adam Vinatieri (2005) -- Designated franchise player on Feb. 22, 2005 (deadline day). Played the 2005 season under a 1-year franchise player contract.


Asante Samuel (2007) -- Designated franchise player on Feb. 16, 2007 (deadline was Feb. 22, 2007). Played the 2007 season under a 1-year franchise player contract.

I don't think he will be franchised today.

However, they could work this differently as most of the examples above were franchised to stay with the club, and Cassel (IMO) will not be with the club unless Tom's leg falls off in the next 3 weeks.

Even if Tom has to start the year on the PUP, I don't see Bill passing up on the value that Cassel currently has - However, I could be wrong.......nah, I'm right.