Peter King's MMQB column...

[DarrylS]

Not a huge King fan, but this is a pretty well done column..makes a ton of sense, particularly like the value chart that essentially shows the economic value of having the four picks in the first two rounds... as opposed to having a high first.

Bart Scott, Matt Cassel, Chris Canty revel in free agency madness - Peter King - SI.com

The answer is they didn't get taken in the trade of Cassel and Mike Vrabel. Belichick did underplay his hand, but there were extenuating circumstances, some of which were intelligently reported over the weekend by Adam Schefter, Tom Curran, Chris Mortensen and Tim Graham.

Belichick probably did pull the trigger too soon on the deal of Cassel and Vrabel to Kansas City for the 34th pick in the draft. The reason he didn't take one of the three-way deals involving Denver and either the Lions or Bucs is very simple: He'd already agreed to a trade with his former right-hand man, Kansas City GM Scott Pioli, either late Friday or very early Saturday. And he had some pressure on him to make the deal early in free agency because the team was so snug up against the NFL's $127-million salary cap, and because he knew Cassel's value wasn't as high as it should have been because of his mega-salary and the fact he'd only played at a high level for one year.

You're right to ask why Belichick didn't wait. I bet he's asking himself that same question this morning. But think back to midweek last week. I had two contenders for Cassel tell me essentially the same thing: They wouldn't deal a first-round pick or a second- and something else for Cassel, and then pay him a multi-year contract with a bonus of maybe $20 million and $35 million in guaranteed money. Too risky, they thought. (I disagree but I'm not running a franchise.) Many teams felt Cassel might be a lesser player than he was in 2008 (eighth in passing yards, 10th in quarterback rating) upon leaving the security blanket of a Belichick-coached team and Josh McDaniels-coordinated offense.

Let's examine the financial commitment those four picks (23, 34, 47, 58) required last year, and compare it to the top of the draft:


Pick Guaranteed Money Avg. per year

23 $7.12m $1.97m

34 $3.07m $1.17m

47 $2.20m $904,000

58 $1.72m $857,000

Total $14.11m $4.94m

The eighth pick in the draft last year, defensive end Derrick Harvey, got $17.47 million guaranteed in a contract averaging $4.6 million a year

 

[BradyManny]

Re: Peter King's MMQB Column..

Everyone was quick to go a little overboard w the Cassel-trade hype, and Peter King was the chief of that. If fans here had more realistic expectations, then the trade would be viewed in a different light. All of a sudden, the likes of Casserly, King, Lombardi - all guys who acknowledged Cassel's high level of potential - are coming out and saying they have spoken to GMs and the feeling around the league was that the contract and the picks would be too steep. Why weren't they saying this two weeks ago?

The Chiefs deal was fair. By putting the tag on Cassel, it immediately raised what his impending contract would be worth, and made trading for him more difficult.

Basically, the mediots dropped the ball on this one big time, and now everyone is thinking we got jobbed when we didn't.

 

[JSn]

Re: Peter King's MMQB Column..

King saying that Bill didn't even aim for the #3 is revealing.

 

[DarrylS]

Re: Peter King's MMQB Column..

King saying that Bill didn't even aim for the #3 is revealing.

Have contended all along that they did not want a top 5 pick, it would upset the salary structure of this team.. it is preposterous to pay the salaries that a top 5 would demand on an unproven player even though it is what the market demands.. it just does not seem to be the Patriot way.. someone pointed out on the draft board I believe, that the only way BB would want a top 5 pick if there was the second coming of Lawrence Taylor...

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Re: Peter King's MMQB Column..

one of those 2nd rounders is going to flip to a first rounder next year. so I'm not too critical of it.

it all depends what they do with the picks.

 

[Gon_Trevil]

Re: Peter King's MMQB Column..

Have contended all along that they did not want a top 5 pick, it would upset the salary structure of this team.. it is preposterous to pay the salaries that a top 5 would demand on an unproven player even though it is what the market demands.. it just does not seem to be the Patriot way.. someone pointed out on the draft board I believe, that the only way BB would want a top 5 pick if there was the second coming of Lawrence Taylor...

And who says you have to draft a player at that spot if you get the pick? Having the #5 means you can trade down to whatever spot you want and get additional picks while you're at it.

 

[DarrylS]

Re: Peter King's MMQB Column..

And who says you have to draft a player at that spot if you get the pick? Having the #5 means you can trade down to whatever spot you want and get additional picks while you're at it.

Good point, but there were those on the board who automatically thought a #3 = Adam Curry.. should have qualified my comments more clearly.

 

[tuckeverlasting]

obviously bb would rather see cassel go to kc ,who is farther away from being a playoff team. the talent in denver and recent signings like gaffney, dawkins etc. in denver is far greater than kc. what's best for the pats is cassel in kc.

 

[JMarr]

Re: Peter King's MMQB Column..

Last night I was listening to Jason Smith (a highly annoying Jets homer) on the stupid sports network and he was just creaming his pants over how the Pats got snookered, BB is losing his midas touch, what's wrong in Foxboro, Pioli's a god, yada yada yada, never mentioning ANYTHING about our cap situation or how the market for Cassel turned out to be less than anyone thought.

I think I'll just listen to Chris Price from now on. Unlike the numerous tools over at ESPN etc, his only real agenda seems to be doing his job well.

Anyway, Smith did throw out one unpleasant scenario: That the Chiefs
will now get a second rounder for Tyler Thigpen.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Peter King's MMQB Column..

Anyway, Smith did throw out one unpleasant scenario: That the Chiefs
will now get a second rounder for Tyler Thigpen.

I don't think they will but it's not Cassel vs. Thigpen, it's Cassel at his salary vs. Thigpen at his. The fact that Cassel came with a $15M bill has a big impact. We knew it would. Franchising him worked out great, we kept him from going to the Jets and got a premium pick for him.

 

[mayoclinic]

The most interesting part of King's column for me was the following:

"As free agency dawned, the Pats were $1.7-million under the cap, and they saved $1 million by restructuring Randy Moss' contract. That allowed them to sign running back Fred Taylor Friday afternoon (two years, $8 million, approximately $2.3 in 2009 cap dollars)."

Isn't that Randy Moss, the "me first" "team cancer" guy? $1M isn't a huge amount, but it apparently made a difference in being able to sign Fred Taylor. Way to go, Randy.

 

[tuckeverlasting]

Re: Peter King's MMQB Column..

Last night I was listening to Jason Smith (a highly annoying Jets homer) on the stupid sports network and he was just creaming his pants over how the Pats got snookered, BB is losing his midas touch, what's wrong in Foxboro, Pioli's a god, yada yada yada, never mentioning ANYTHING about our cap situation or how the market for Cassel turned out to be less than anyone thought.

I think I'll just listen to Chris Price from now on. Unlike the numerous tools over at ESPN etc, his only real agenda seems to be doing his job well.

Anyway, Smith did throw out one unpleasant scenario: That the Chiefs
will now get a second rounder for Tyler Thigpen.

i heard the same thing. he's a renowned moron and new york/so cal propaganda specialist.

 

[BradyManny]

Honestly, let's say we got #12 pick out of it, which was speculated to be offered up. Who are we picking there? We've been through this. The elite guys who are Pats fits will be gone by then, and the next tier players who are Pats fits will be available at #23. There's no value for the Pats at #10->#20 in this draft.

 

[patsfaninpittsburgh]

Re: Peter King's MMQB Column..

I wonder where they get these chuckleheads.

The Pats take a 7th round pick. Turn him into an NFL starting QB. They trade him for the 34th pick in a deep draft class. This means they will now get normal pick 16-23 talent at a bargain price.

Again, what's exactly wrong? If we can keep doing this with 7th round picks, I'd want to get "taken" over and over again.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Honestly, let's say we got #12 pick out of it, which was speculated to be offered up. Who are we picking there? We've been through this. The elite guys who are Pats fits will be gone by then, and the next tier players who are Pats fits will be available at #23. There's no value for the Pats at #10->#20 in this draft.

i think you're just trying to justify it to yourself. there is always value at #12. look at last yr. the pats traded down a few spots with mayo

 

[Rob0729]

The most interesting part of King's column for me was the following:

"As free agency dawned, the Pats were $1.7-million under the cap, and they saved $1 million by restructuring Randy Moss' contract. That allowed them to sign running back Fred Taylor Friday afternoon (two years, $8 million, approximately $2.3 in 2009 cap dollars)."

Isn't that Randy Moss, the "me first" "team cancer" guy? $1M isn't a huge amount, but it apparently made a difference in being able to sign Fred Taylor. Way to go, Randy.

Moss has been a good soldier since he got here, but let's not go overboard. What the Pats probably did was convert part or most of Moss' base salary in 2009 to a signing bonus without taking away a dime. In fact it would benefit Moss in that he would be paid immediately rather than weekly game checks.

Rarely does a player give back money to a team unless he fears job security. That is why these whole hype of players patting themselves on the back for restructuring is BS.

"Hey, I took one for the team and I selflessly took my salary for this year in one large lump sum right now than 14 game checks over the course of the season. What a guy I am."

 

[upstater1]

Honestly, let's say we got #12 pick out of it, which was speculated to be offered up. Who are we picking there? We've been through this. The elite guys who are Pats fits will be gone by then, and the next tier players who are Pats fits will be available at #23. There's no value for the Pats at #10->#20 in this draft.

I tend to disagree. There will be excellent players available at #12 who will be better than the players available at #34.

It all depends on how much teams value Andre Smith, Everette Brown or Malcolm Jenkins. But assuming those 3 are still considered premium players in this draft, I'd say the draft is 13 deep. (I'm not including Sanchez in that 13).

After 13, I agree with you that you have a big mix of players who can frankly be taken anywhere. But I do see 13 blue chippers.

 

[Sicilian]

Re: Peter King's MMQB Column..

And who says you have to draft a player at that spot if you get the pick? Having the #5 means you can trade down to whatever spot you want and get additional picks while you're at it.

I think it's getting harder and harder to do that these days, as other teams are catching on that top five picks are grossly overpaid. A few years ago, you could get two firsts and a third for the 3rd overall, not guaranteed anymore. It was even hard for the Pats to trade down THREE spots from 7 to 10, and some people thought we didn't get enough for THAT compared to deals in previous years.

All that said, I don't think BB and the Pats didn't WANT to take better offers from Tampa, Detroit, etc. If they could have gotten 19 or 20, they would have. The problem is (IMO), earlier in the week those teams tried to bargain, saying they wouldn't give up a first. The Pats, hamstrung for cap space, decided they were going to get the closest thing they could to a first rounder in the 34th pick. With no other apparent offers in the works, they pulled the trigger. By the time the better deals came along, it was too late.

It's disappointing, for them too I imagine, but this gives us a TON of flexibility going into the draft, and I'm really excited to see who we get in the first round. I just have a good feeling about it for some reason.

 

[upstater1]

It's impossible for any one human being to go through the posts this weekend to see if anyone made wild speculations about Belichick's interest in screwing over the Broncos but...

Did the Broncos signing some Patriots kind of peeve Belichick so that he started messing with their heads a little bit?

Also, that whiner Jay Cutler apparently demanded a trade after his QB COACH LEFT FOR USC A MONTH OR SO AGO.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

It's impossible for any one human being to go through the posts this weekend to see if anyone made wild speculations about Belichick's interest in screwing over the Broncos but...

Did the Broncos signing some Patriots kind of peeve Belichick so that he started messing with their heads a little bit?

Also, that whiner Jay Cutler apparently demanded a trade after his QB COACH LEFT FOR USC A MONTH OR SO AGO.

the broncs took lonnie paxton