Who really thinks we're going to hear major news on Cassel first day of free agency?

[fair catch fryar]

Re: Who really thinks we're going to hear major news on Cassel first day of free agen

The fact that the Pats didn't work out some type of long-term deal with Cassel in order to free up cap-space for the start of free agency makes me want to believe that they probably have something in the works to trade him. Hopefully sooner than later. I'm betting we know the fate of Cassel by the end of the weekend.

 

[dhamz]

Re: Who really thinks we're going to hear major news on Cassel first day of free agen

The fact that the Pats didn't work out some type of long-term deal with Cassel in order to free up cap-space for the start of free agency makes me want to believe that they probably have something in the works to trade him. Hopefully sooner than later. I'm betting we know the fate of Cassel by the end of the weekend.

The fact the Pats didn't work out a log term deal with Cassel is likely because there is no common ground to do one.

Cassel doesn't want a long term deal to be Tom Brady's back-up and with 14.6m signed sealed and delivered for 2008, he has no motivation to sign long term unless it is a blockbuster deal with a huge bonus. The Pats have no motivation to give Cassel that blockbuster long term deal.

 

[fair catch fryar]

Re: Who really thinks we're going to hear major news on Cassel first day of free agen

The fact the Pats didn't work out a log term deal with Cassel is likely because there is no common ground to do one.

Cassel doesn't want a long term deal to be Tom Brady's back-up and with 14.6m signed sealed and delivered for 2008, he has no motivation to sign long term unless it is a blockbuster deal with a huge bonus. The Pats have no motivation to give Cassel that blockbuster long term deal.

I understand that, but if you weigh the relationship and factors between the Pats and Cassel I think that an amicable deal would have been set up if (1) the Pats knew Brady wouldn't be ready, (2) they wanted to have as much cap space available for the start of free-agency and had a "deal" in place that could be re-worked if Cassel got another long term in a trade. Obviously. I'm not an expert on the rules that decide what can be done, but based on the Pats business savvy towards the cap, they would have done something with this to free up more money unless they already have another deal worked out.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: Who really thinks we're going to hear major news on Cassel first day of free agen

The fact the Pats didn't work out a log term deal with Cassel is likely because there is no common ground to do one.

Cassel doesn't want a long term deal to be Tom Brady's back-up and with 14.6m signed sealed and delivered for 2008, he has no motivation to sign long term unless it is a blockbuster deal with a huge bonus. The Pats have no motivation to give Cassel that blockbuster long term deal.

As I've pointed out before, the Patriots have one major motivation for giving Cassel a long-term deal--salary cap relief in 2009 (at the cost of cap hits in 2010 and 2011 if the salary cap stays). It would only preclude Cassel from being traded in 2009 (because of the salary cap ramifications), but would not keep the Patriots from trading him elsewhere next offseason. In addition, it could probably be crafted in such a way as to void out if Cassel doesn't see the field (in other words, if he doesn't play x% of the snaps in 2009, the last year or two is automatically voided).

 

[bakes781]

Re: Who really thinks we're going to hear major news on Cassel first day of free agen

The fact that the Pats didn't work out some type of long-term deal with Cassel in order to free up cap-space for the start of free agency makes me want to believe that they probably have something in the works to trade him. Hopefully sooner than later. I'm betting we know the fate of Cassel by the end of the weekend.

I just think it makes me believe that they know Tom Brady will be fine.

 

[dhamz]

Re: Who really thinks we're going to hear major news on Cassel first day of free agen

As I've pointed out before, the Patriots have one major motivation for giving Cassel a long-term deal--salary cap relief in 2009 (at the cost of cap hits in 2010 and 2011 if the salary cap stays). It would only preclude Cassel from being traded in 2009 (because of the salary cap ramifications), but would not keep the Patriots from trading him elsewhere next offseason. In addition, it could probably be crafted in such a way as to void out if Cassel doesn't see the field (in other words, if he doesn't play x% of the snaps in 2009, the last year or two is automatically voided).

And if the salary cap were the only consideration I might agree with you.

But it isn't. There is the issue of real cash. Bob Kraft is not Daniel Snyder and the Pats aren't the Redskins. He isn't a guy who throws 25-30 million signing bonuses around like it is play $. He's not going to pay that type of huge upfront $ to a guy who isn't going to be his #1 QB simply so he can push cap hits into future years. Without that huge upfront $, Cassel isn't going to sign long term anywhere because he already has 14.6 coming to him.

 

[fair catch fryar]

Re: Who really thinks we're going to hear major news on Cassel first day of free agen

And if the salary cap were the only consideration I might agree with you.

But it isn't. There is the issue of real cash. Bob Kraft is not Daniel Snyder and the Pats aren't the Redskins. He isn't a guy who throws 25-30 million signing bonuses around like it is play $. He's not going to pay that type of huge upfront $ to a guy who isn't going to be his #1 QB simply so he can push cap hits into future years. Without that huge upfront $, Cassel isn't going to sign long term anywhere because he already has 14.6 coming to him.

So if he's already guaranteed the 14.6 million and assuming Cassel is appreciative of the Pats for everything, then why wouldn't he agree to a contract that guarantees him more than 14.6 broken down over several years with less of a cap hit in 2009, as long as he is with the Pats and knew he would start . If not, then the contract would be ripped up as soon as he was moved and had a more lucrative contract in place.

 

[tombonneau]

Re: Who really thinks we're going to hear major news on Cassel first day of free agen

I don't think we will hear any movement on the Cassel front until the Warner issue is resolved. I heard him on the radio and he claims to be talking to another team.

Once he is off the market, Cassel will really be the only legit QB available.