What does BB think is the best for the team?

[slash83]

Its a simple question, whats best for the team?

A. Keep Cassel and pay him almost 15 million to almost certainly carry a clipboard on the sidelines during a game.

B. Make a trade free up alot of cap space and use the saved money to resign probowl players such as Wilfork, Mankins, Seymour, use the extra draft picks which we would get for trading Cassel and help rebuild a championship defense.

BB always does whats best for the team, keeping Cassel for that amount of money is not in the best interest of the team bottom line.

 

[HEY BRO! WHAT UP?]

If Tom Brady is healthy, you have to trade Cassel. If Tom isn't going to be ready come training camp, you keep Cassel.

 

[AzPatsFan]

If Tom Brady is healthy, you have to trade Cassel. If Tom isn't going to be ready come training camp, you keep Cassel.

That is all i have been saying...

 

[ausbacker]

Its a simple question, whats best for the team?

A. Keep Cassel and pay him almost 15 million to almost certainly carry a clipboard on the sidelines during a game.

B. Make a trade free up alot of cap space and use the saved money to resign probowl players such as Wilfork, Mankins, Seymour, use the extra draft picks which we would get for trading Cassel and help rebuild a championship defense.

BB always does whats best for the team, keeping Cassel for that amount of money is not in the best interest of the team bottom line.

How about you wait out the process and see what comes of it?

 

[Patjew]

Its a simple question, whats best for the team?

A. Keep Cassel and pay him almost 15 million to almost certainly carry a clipboard on the sidelines during a game.

B. Make a trade free up alot of cap space and use the saved money to resign probowl players such as Wilfork, Mankins, Seymour, use the extra draft picks which we would get for trading Cassel and help rebuild a championship defense.

BB always does whats best for the team, keeping Cassel for that amount of money is not in the best interest of the team bottom line.

When you phrase it like that, the answer is pretty obvious. So why ask it?

I think you need to relax. This is going to give you a heart attack. You should drink from now until Feb 2007 and repeat to yourself "In BB I trust, In BB I trust, In BB I trust, In BB I trust..."

 

[slash83]

all u cool guy posters need to actually chill out not me, I post maybe a couple times a day or two believe me the situation don't bother me one bit my life don't revolve around cassel Brady or the patriots. I was stating my opinion and what I think is going to happen just like the hundred other members on this board have so back up off me if u think the thread sucks don't check it out simple as that.

 

[Patjew]

all u cool guy posters need to actually chill out not me, I post maybe a couple times a day or two believe me the situation don't bother me one bit my life don't revolve around cassel Brady or the patriots. I was stating my opinion and what I think is going to happen just like the hundred other members on this board have so back up off me if u think the thread sucks don't check it out simple as that.

No, it's not that at all. I think I was confusing you with another poster. Sorry about that.

So to answer your question, I think it is B.

 

[RayClay]

no, it's not that at all. I think i was confusing you with another poster. Sorry about that.

So to answer your question, i think it is b.

b.......................

 

[PatsAttack]

BB knows that having a competent and able body QB is the most important thing for his team. With that being said, he already knows he has two.

He is going to get back at Goodell for stealing our first rounder last season. Just imagine if we had that pick last season...thoughts of Kenny Phillips with Meriweather.

He knows that having so much money tied up in one position will do him no good, especially with all the free agents this season. What is best for the team, as much talent in the draft as possible, to build a winner not just in 09, but for the next 8 years.

I love what Cassel has done, but I'm convinced if they trade him and brady is not back for the first few games that Gutz or Oconnell can manage the game with a revamped defense behind them

18 mill in free space to sign a big name and sign all those young draft picks. that is what BB will do. Who he will draft and sign is a different story.

 

[LeonPowe]

I say keep Cassel and franchise tag O'Connell next year, that way we'll have the 3 headed hydra

 

[slash83]

Great post patsattack I'm looking at it same way you are.

 

[DarrylS]

all u cool guy posters need to actually chill out not me, I post maybe a couple times a day or two believe me the situation don't bother me one bit my life don't revolve around cassel Brady or the patriots. I was stating my opinion and what I think is going to happen just like the hundred other members on this board have so back up off me if u think the thread sucks don't check it out simple as that.

The issue is that this is the same topic framed in a different way that has been discussed ad infinitum... there seems to be a consensus that Cassel will be gone, the issue is repitition and beating dead horses.

 

[Sicilian]

My purely speculative thought on Bill's thinking is that he believes three things:

1) That Brady is going to come back and be fine. If not at the beginning of the season, then at the end, like Manning this past year.

2) That the likelihood of him getting hurt that bad again is fairly low.

3) That he can (right or wrong) coach up O'Connell or whoever else they bring in like they did with Cassel, should the unthinkable happen.

I mean, O'Connell was higher rated coming out of college than either Cassel or Brady, he's had a year to study and get acclimated, and I believe we would see a similar progression of development if he were forced to play the whole year.

Assuming that position is adequate (not great, just adequate), I believe BB thinks if the rest of his team were stronger last year (i.e, the defense), then his backup QB would have been plenty good enough to get them into the playoffs. Hell, the team was good enough last year, just got hit with bad timing and missed at 11-5.

That being said, unless it is obvious that Brady will not be playing in 2009, I think BB will take the chance by trading Cassel, restocking the rest of the team, and making do with whatever QB they end up having to use.

Cassel wasn't even considered worth trading until the second half of the season, and yet we almost made the playoffs. I think if we improve the defense, we can coach up O'Connell or a vet to give us the same security and the team will be better off.

 

[Rob0729]

The issue is that this is the same topic framed in a different way that has been discussed ad infinitum... there seems to be a consensus that Cassel will be gone, the issue is repitition and beating dead horses.

I agree. We have danced this dance a thousand times now.

 

[JSn]

I think you need to relax. This is going to give you a heart attack. You should drink from now until Feb 2007 and repeat to yourself "In BB I trust, In BB I trust, In BB I trust, In BB I trust..."

That would take a LOT of alcohol...

 

[Sicilian]

That would take a LOT of alcohol...

Haha, I've felt like that before. All it takes is a night of heavy drinking and a trip to the library archives (don't ask).

"Whoa... is it REALLY 1957?"

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Its a simple question, whats best for the team?

A. Keep Cassel and pay him almost 15 million to almost certainly carry a clipboard on the sidelines during a game.

B. Make a trade free up alot of cap space and use the saved money to resign probowl players such as Wilfork, Mankins, Seymour, use the extra draft picks which we would get for trading Cassel and help rebuild a championship defense.

BB always does whats best for the team, keeping Cassel for that amount of money is not in the best interest of the team bottom line.

A valid question, though I believe it to be a little more complicated in scope:

-- "A" addresses one position, obviously a critical one, but BB needs to repeat his 2008 decision tree weighing the likely losses while developing younger players for the long term. O'Connell/Gutierrez at QB are two, but does BB give the young OLBs more reps to speed their development? It's looking like a given there will be young safeties to bring along. If Brady isn't ready, does BB "need" Cassel as the best available option to keep the team competitive while the youngsters are being worked up?

-- "B" talks about clearing cap space for extending top players, as well as the extra pick(s) from a Cassel trade, a desirable goal. The question needs to go beyond immediate Salary Cap benefits and retention of current roster stars, it needs to ponder what an extra pick(s) might do in the 2010 draft, for example; I'm projecting a fairly strong crop of 3-4 DL, spear-headed by Alabama's Mt. Cody and Nebraska's Boy Named Suh. Another factor is the uncapped year rules limiting playoff teams during Free Agency; draft picks in 2010 may be even more critical for restocking the team if stud Free Agents are unavailable under the new rules.

-- Salary cap room can be created by extending veterans with backloaded contracts to lower their cap hits. This may be the way to go "if" BB thinks having Cassel as his starting QB is the best option to protect the team while the youngsters develop.

-- Trading Cassel makes more sense when you look at 2010 and consider how you might need to rebuild through the draft.

-- Keeping Matt **better than Steve Young** Cassel can seriously be considered with an uncapped 2010 pending. However risky it may appear "on paper," it is a legitimate business option for the team's future - though it has the drawback of 'stunting' the growth of Kevin O'Connell.

I personally believe Tommy is on track for his return and keeping Matt isn't a critical need with the team of O'Connell/Gutierrez developing in his shadow. In the end, trading Matt isn't a 2009 focus, it's a 2010 focus, an insurance policy for an uncapped season with restrictive rules for playoff teams - buy the policy.

 

[BradyManny]

-- Keeping Matt **better than Steve Young** Cassel can seriously be considered with an uncapped 2010 pending. However risky it may appear "on paper," it is a legitimate business option for the team's future - though it has the drawback of 'stunting' the growth of Kevin O'Connell.

I personally believe Tommy is on track for his return and keeping Matt isn't a critical need with the team of O'Connell/Gutierrez developing in his shadow. In the end, trading Matt isn't a 2009 focus, it's a 2010 focus, an insurance policy for an uncapped season with restrictive rules for playoff teams - buy the policy.

He'd be even more expensive in 2010 - and while it may be uncapped, I'm sure the Krafts have a budget. Especially in this economy.

The reality is, to me, Cassel played well enough to play himself out of the Pats price range, and he didn't play well enough to deserve retaining at 14+ million (2009) and 14+ million x 120% (2010). The fact is BB got lambasted for going into last season with what was perceived as an inadequate and cheap solution at backup QB, and that worked out pretty good, so I say, let's do it again in 2009.

 

[Patjew]

That would take a LOT of alcohol...

Wow, I never realized I was stuck in 2007 (or earlier!).

 

[BradyManny]

Wow, I never realized I was stuck in 2007 (or earlier!).

It's all good. Speaking of time travel, I'm contemplating finding the island in LOST and seeing if I can somehow get back to end of January 2008 and warn Bill Belichick of the impending doom. Of course, according to the LOST writers, we can't change what's already happened, but its worth a shot, even if its at the expense of f-ing with time and space, right?