patsfanofNC12
Rotational Player and Threatening Starter's Job
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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.To play Devil's advocate here--don't the Patriots have two rather mutually exclusive goals here? (A) Have as good a backup QB as possible, (B) have as small a cap hit for Cassel as possible?
I believe the Pats have a number in mind...something like 2nd in 2009 and conditional 2nd in 2010 which becomes a 1st with reasonable playing time. That would be starting at the Schaub number but getting additional value if Cassel doesn't get hurt or totally flop. My reasoning behind this is that I don't believe that 2009 is the year to have an additional later 1st round pick...but the depth of the 2009 class is pretty solid
Gotta disagree big time here. I think the "anchor" of any Cassel trade is a 2009 first, with a 2009 second/third and/or 2010 conditional pick(s) being tacked on. But IMO there is no way he leaves without them getting immediate first round value in 2009.
The Patriots can't be so obvious about tag and trade, as the article suggests
Assuming the Pats do intend to trade him (and yes, I assume that), the beautiful thing is that it's in everyone's best interest to get it done ASAP. Cassel wants to get settled and learning his new offense. The new team wants certainty about their QB situation...and to get him settled and learning his new offense. And the Pats want their salary cap back before free agency in in their rear-view mirror.
When all parties' interests coincide, deals usually get done.
To play devil's advocate against myself, though, if there are multiple suitors then a countervailing force might be to try to take the time to squeeze out the best possible trade compensation. Personally, though, I'd rather just settle for a decent package that can close quickly.
Makes sense. My point was that if the Pats were looking for a 1st and 2nd as part of the deal, getting the 1st in 2010 and 2nd in 2009 may be a better order than the reverse. The 2009 draft class seems to be deep but not top heavy...meaning there doesn't seem to be 32 players with slam-dunk 1st round grades. Why would the Pats want two picks in this range?
Obviously the Pats could value this class differently. I was just putting my value system on the deal.
I think that as long as the Pats get something like "fair" value (whatever they deem that to be) they would rather close a deal fast than try to milk more out of it. They haven't been too "picky" in their trades the past 2 years. A lot of people griped that they should have got more from SF for 1(28) 2 years ago, but they ended up with Mayo and Moss out of it. A lot of people griped that they should have got more for their early third than SD's 2nd, which looked like a late 2nd at the time, but they are ending up with a mid-2nd round pick. So it doesn't seem like they are the type to hold up a good deal trying to squeeze out more.
One point that has not been brought up yet is that trading for Cassel early in the trading period may make that team look more attractive to other free agents. Suppose the Vikings are interested in sign Houshmanzdah as the #1 receiver, it may help the process out by having Cassel already on board. I think this may result teams getting involved right away may result n these teams putting time limits on the offer. Offer good til the end of the week for examle.
By February 27th the Pats will have had 3 weeks for teams to submit their best offers and a full week after the combine - for any teams that maybe thinking that Cassel's price is too steep and want to check out Stafford and Sanchez up close and personal.
They will have their best offer on the table by the 26th and at 12:01 am February 27th Matt Cassel will be the property of a team not named the Patriots.
Well, the combine is where a lot of free agent deals get done (Collusion?!? Did someone mention collusion?). I bet the Pats will be shopping Cassel there too.
I hope that Cassel is traded on the first day of free agency, but I won't hold my breathe. Sometimes these things take a while. I think everyone involved wants this done as fast as possible though.
IMO, the Pats want it done as soon as possible and are/will be using this three week period to work out a trade, and give time for Cassel and his agent to work out a deal with the new team.
Its in their best interest to have this situation done within minutes of the FA period, unless they don't plan on being a major player in FA or are already out of the running for the "big prize" FA they may have targetted.
It just makes to much sense for all parties involved:
1. The Pats get the compensation they want and free up the cap space within minutes of FA beggining.
2. The new team gets Cassel in time for the offseason and makes a big splash with their fans on the first day of FA.
3. Cassel for the first time in his collegiate or professional career goes into an offseason as the undisputed starter. That has to be a great feeling for him. Oh, and he gets the long term deal he wanted.
Its a win-win-win
The Pats may want to get the deal done quickly. I don't disagree that they want to get the deal done quickly. The problem is that there are a lot of moving parts to getting Cassel traded and sometimes the wheels move slower than we would want it to do. The Pats will need to get a trade deal in place and Cassel would need a long term contract done before a trade could happen. Even with three weeks, that might not be enough time.
Assuming Stafford and Sanchez don't decide to wait and throw to their own receivers at their Pro-Days...By February 27th the Pats will have had 3 weeks for teams to submit their best offers and a full week after the combine - for any teams that maybe thinking that Cassel's price is too steep and want to check out Stafford and Sanchez up close and personal.
They will have their best offer on the table by the 26th and at 12:01 am February 27th Matt Cassel will be the property of a team not named the Patriots.