Where will Cassel be next year at this time?

The way things are going with Brady's surgery mishaps I wouldn't be surprised if Cassel was the QB of the future (God forbid).

Considering the draft pick and money Houston paid for Matt Schaub, I think it is likely that Cassel get a big money offer from a desperate team. He might be a place holder until a team can get a "franchise" qb.

I think it is unlikely that the Pats match a big offer from another team and put themselves in a disadvataged salary cap position.

All of this is mitigated by Brady's recovery and O'Connell's development.

Garbanza said:

It amazes me that some of you can watch Cassel's play and say he's good. Freaks me out actually. What I find even freakier is that he was AFC O Player of the week? Who decides this and how much were they paid? Seriously. Anyone watching that game knows Sammy Morris is WAY more deserving.

Cassel is "serviceable" - kind of . He's not that good, people. He really has not progressed. Donlt let a horrid Denver defense fool you.

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Did you listen to two former QB's assess him and his development potential on Monday night...oh wait, what would they know compared to irrationally judgemental message board posters with delusions of football intelligence...

The odds are Cassel will be gone next season - he'd either be too good (and therefore expensive) to retain as a backup or not good enough to remain this teams backup. Matt understands better than most that shots at starting are hard to come by absent hype, and he and his agent will make the most of any he garners because they'd be idiots not to. The only way he's here next season is if both he and Belioli are willing to roll the dice on an interim and ultimately tradeable borderline 2-3 year starters extension signed before the deadline for extending players THIS season.

I know some of you irrationally blanche at playing the what if game, but it's a relative no brainer given the dearth of remotely functional starting QB's in this league and a weak impending draft at that position that if we make the playoffs with Cassel starting he will be signed to start somewhere else. The only question will remain how high is his personal off season stock as a result, and that will depend on his personal performance. And if it's relatively high he will be tagged and traded. Because trading for him will beat the hell out of settling on some other failed retread or rolling the dice on your season (and possibly FO career) investing a 1st or 2nd round pick on some project college QB with marginal NFL starting potential.

for security sake (depending on Brady's health), the Pats will try to him sign to a 'fair' deal (for both sides). I can totally see this going the way of a Matt Schaub and the Pats dealing him away when they are confident in both Brady's health and O'Connell's development. He is a bargaining chip only after Brady's health has been confirmed. This guy is 4-2 right now, that is way better than whatever Schaub did and if Atlanta got a couple of high draft picks, the pats will get the same - if and only if the pats resign him before season end. Hopefully he doesn't have a moron for an agent.

MoLewisrocks said:

Did you listen to two former QB's assess him and his development potential on Monday night...oh wait, what would they know compared to irrationally judgemental message board posters with delusions of football intelligence...

The odds are Cassel will be gone next season - he'd either be too good (and therefore expensive) to retain as a backup or not good enough to remain this teams backup. Matt understands better than most that shots at starting are hard to come by absent hype, and he and his agent will make the most of any he garners because they'd be idiots not to. The only way he's here next season is if both he and Belioli are willing to roll the dice on an interim and ultimately tradeable borderline 2-3 year starters extension signed before the deadline for extending players THIS season.

I know some of you irrationally blanche at playing the what if game, but it's a relative no brainer given the dearth of remotely functional starting QB's in this league and a weak impending draft at that position that if we make the playoffs with Cassel starting he will be signed to start somewhere else. The only question will remain how high is his personal off season stock as a result, and that will depend on his personal performance. And if it's relatively high he will be tagged and traded. Because trading for him will beat the hell out of settling on some other failed retread or rolling the dice on your season (and possibly FO career) investing a 1st or 2nd round pick on some project college QB with marginal NFL starting potential.

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I heard Jaws all night long - between his waxing poetic about the Denver QB - I didn't hear anything glowing about Matt Cassel. Remind me please.

Listen - I know what I see. He's not very good.

I do find the last line of your post quite funny though. "A project college QB with marginal NFL starting potential." Who does THAT sound like?

I do not get many posters here , if tully banta cane can get a starting job and contract in FA why cannot casell?.

tully is a backup not but was a starter before his lack of performace made him a backip this year.

Garbanza said:

I heard Jaws all night long - between his waxing poetic about the Denver QB - I didn't hear anything glowing about Matt Cassel. Remind me please.

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The announcers including Jaws said that Cassel was becomming a good NFL QB, and on more than one occasion.

You really DO have problems accepting reality, don't you?

bostonia3333 said:

I think Matt Cassel is the QB for the Pats in 09. Sadly I think Brady misses half the 09 season simply due to Brady's choice of medical care. Brady has had 3-4 operations already to clean out an MRSA(methicillin resistant staph aureus) infection, this is alarming news. You have to worry about Brady's health as a human being here not just the football player. Will his leg be okay for him to carry out just his routine daily activities? Too many question marks here guys and possible malpractice issues to consider if you're the Pats.

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Let's be clear about something: while it is quite likely, and maybe even probable, that Brady's infection is MRSA, no credible source has reported that (cf. Kellen Winslow). Do a Google News search and you'll see what I mean.

PatsWickedPissah said:

The announcers including Jaws said that Cassel was becomming a good NFL QB, and on more than one occasion.

You really DO have problems accepting reality, don't you?

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Okay, you win. Cassel is good QB. I can't to wear "real" glasses and see it for myself.

Garbanza said:

Okay, you win. Cassel is good QB. I can't to wear "real" glasses and see it for myself.

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Sadly, even that will not help you as you'd said you did not "hear" Jaws et. al. praise Cassel. The problem unfortunately is inside your head, as your prior comments prove that you are demonstrably selective in the limited information you retain.

Unless he has a good chance at starting somewhere next year, he will continue to be the Pats backup and probably making a bit more then 7th round money.

If he plays well in this season, here are 2 possiblities:

1-Pats can keep him as #2 backup QB if he wants to stay here.
2-Being a #1 QB at another team.

Wretch said:

If the Pats make the playoffs I expect Cassel to get looks from teams that need a starting QB in the offseason. I find it unlikely that the Pats will be willing to shell out starter money for their back up QB and the Pats will end up with a compensatory pick for Cassel.

What team do you think will make a run at Cassel?

San Fran, JT O'Sullivan is not a long term solution.

Arizona, Warner is long in the tooth and what a great story if Leinart becomes a back up to Cassel.

KC, I would hope Cassel avoids Herm, and that woeful team, but they need a QB.

Detroit, I have never been a big fan of Kitna.

Minnesota, Tavares Jackson isn't looking like the answer. Good D, great RB a decent QB would go a long way to making them a contender.

Chicago, Is Orton the answer there?

TB, can Gruden win with Greise, and how long can Garcia play?

Jets, Does Favre retire, again?

What do you think?

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I really hope that this is a situation the Pats are faced with, but let's see him win 10 games first.

fair catch fryar said:

I really hope that this is a situation the Pats are faced with, but let's see him win 10 games first.

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He may not need to do that. Remember this joke after Roethlisberger v. sedan?

We know what happened to Ben in the situation with the bike, but what if it had happened to a different player?

<snip>

Matt Schaub - Everyone would still want him because he torched the Patriots.

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Seriously, one game where he had 300 yards and 3 TDs--even if the Pats went 6-10--would be enough for some teams.

If he doesn't play well in this season, his NFL career will be over.

NEPatriot said:

If he doesn't play well in this season, his NFL career will be over.

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That goes for every NFL player.

I think he will play well enough to get the Pats to the playoffs, with a lot of help from his supporting cast on offense and the defense has to play more consistently.

Someone other than the Pats will make a 2-3 year offer for bigger money than the Pats want to pay for a back up QB.

I think MN, NYJ, or SF are the most likely destinations for Cassel after the season.

I've kept my counsel on this issue so far but having watched every Pats game and a lot of other football this year, I believe he has a legitimate shot at starting at half a dozen clubs next year. There is some terrible, terrible quarterbacking in other places.

Aside from maybe, maybe, one or two guys like Kerry Collins there is no back up I'd rather have - have you seen Ryan Fitzpatrick, Seneca Wallace, Dan Orlovsky even Brad Johnson? - and in some cases - Vikings, Lions, Chiefs, 9ers, Raiders - I'd rather have him under centre as starter.

He's not great. And on occasion he's not even been that good, but most of this year the line has been poor, the running game erratic, the premier RG, RB, TE all missing and he's hung in there and managed and won games.

MY best guess is that in another seven weeks he'll be looking good consistently and occasionally better than that.

Me, I'd give him a two year extension, give him some decent money keep in there while they find out a bit more about what they have in O'Connell and then trade him to some desperate dan team five games into the 2010 season for a decent pick.

But if he decided he wanted to go start somewhere next year I wouldn't blame him, and I'd probably cheer the guy on if he's not playing us.

Given where he is and where he's come from he's got just about the most difficult job in football that doesn't involve something to do with the Detroit Lions.

And to my mind - 4-2 - he's doing just fine.

The Pats will dictate where he ends up. I think they'll try to keep him and convince him that he will have a hard time going to another team and learn another system to become their starter. He will see the value of how much he learns in this system and sticks it out. On the flip side, if the Pats don't see a drop off between he and OC, they will not make a pitch to keep him. Apart from the Pats, I can see him being courted by Detroit, KC, Minny.

TheGodInAGreyHoodie said:

You missed one real possibility that lots of Pats fans seem unwilling to admit is even possible.

Taking snaps from Dan Koppen. Brady injury could mean he is not ready at the start of the season or ever.

If Farve retires the Rat will definitely go after him. Seeing him in Jets uniform would make me ill.

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That would make me regret ever supporting him!

emoney_33 said:

That would make me regret ever supporting him!

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If he becomes a Jet we can deny, deny, deny!

Maybe get Ian to 'accidently lose' our posts