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The key assumption is that Cassel really was serious when he said that if the Patriots franchise him, he'll be a Patriot in 2009 (i.e., the Patriots do not plan to trade him in 2009).
Signing bonus: $14.6M
2009 salary: $5M
2010 salary: $6.5M
2011 salary: $8M
2012 salary: $9.5M
4-year total: $43.6M
Here's why I think this might work, if they were serious:
(1) It gives Cassel more first-year money than the franchise tag (an extra $5M).
(2) If a new CBA restores the salary cap in 2010, the Patriots should be able to spread out the pain of the extra ~$11M in SB proration over two years, instead of one.
(3) If the salary cap goes away, a team would only have to cough up $25M over three years for Cassel.
(4) It doesn't completely solve the problem, but it does give the Pats an extra $5M or so in cap room, enough to resign three or four vets.
Thoughts?
Signing bonus: $14.6M
2009 salary: $5M
2010 salary: $6.5M
2011 salary: $8M
2012 salary: $9.5M
4-year total: $43.6M
Here's why I think this might work, if they were serious:
(1) It gives Cassel more first-year money than the franchise tag (an extra $5M).
(2) If a new CBA restores the salary cap in 2010, the Patriots should be able to spread out the pain of the extra ~$11M in SB proration over two years, instead of one.
(3) If the salary cap goes away, a team would only have to cough up $25M over three years for Cassel.
(4) It doesn't completely solve the problem, but it does give the Pats an extra $5M or so in cap room, enough to resign three or four vets.
Thoughts?