Reiss on Cassel and free agency
 

http://www.boston.com/sports/footbal..._09/?page=full

Some of the answers in this week's mailbag are nothing unusual, and others are a bit of a surprise. For example, Reiss is of the opinion that the Pats will only get a 2nd in exchange for Cassel. He's also of the opinion that the market for Cassel will be the highest at the start of free agency (Feb 27), or right after the draft (April 26) - for teams that miss out on drafting a QB they were looking for.

Re: Reiss on Cassel and Free Agency
 

Happily, Mike's track record on Cassel isn't the best.

Re: Reiss on Cassel and Free Agency
 

Just to play devil's advocate - if teams feel the asking price is too high, and Cassel's locked into a one year $15 million contract - teams might be willing to call the Patriots card that they would be stuck with a backup QB at that price for a full year, only to lose Cassel for nothing next season as a free agent.

That could be one scenario where a team might not want to give up a #1 draft pick AND agree to a very expensive long-term contract with Cassel.

Re: Reiss on Cassel and Free Agency
 

This is sort of what I've been thinking all along. I've posted as much a few times, but I seem to be in the vast minority.

I just don't understand the Patriots' leverage here. Once they open compensation/trade discussions with any team, the team is going to be aware that the Patriots don't need Cassel for the upcoming year. And they are also going to know that, at the end of the day, the Patriots aren't going to want the cap hit that keeping Cassel will entail. Accordingly, I think the Patriots are in take-what-we-can-get mode. He's not worth $14 million a year if Brady can go, so they have to trade him. If I'm another AFC team with title contentions, I'd love it if they kept him and took the cap hit.

The Patriots best chance here is that they get more than one team in a bidding war. That's where this gets good. But if there is only one legitimate suitor out there, I think the Patriots are in the much weaker spot. A second sounds right to me.

Re: Reiss on Cassel and Free Agency
 

I'm thinking the same way (2nd rounder) for 2009. The key for me is what can the Pats get for 2010 picks in addition. A conditional 2nd in 2010 that could become a 1st with reasonable milestones would be about as good as I would expect.

Re: Reiss on Cassel and Free Agency
 

I think that Cassel extends and stays after being gaurenteed that he is heir apparent to Tom Brady, whom I believe (don't crucify me here) is only in it to win one last ring.

But to play devil's advocate, what other proven starter will be available? McNabb? Only if you think Kevin Kolb is ready to step in (I don't). Jeff Garcia? His body of work won't inspire a team's fans to shell out for their super bowl tickets.

Leftwich? Losman? Boller? Culpepper? JAGs at best.

Vick? you've got to be kidding me.

If QB is the most important position in sports, and the past years have only done more to seperate the elite QBs from the scrubs (and in this day and age, almost everyone is one or the other) how can you say that the Patriots have no leverage for Cassel?

Re: Reiss on Cassel and Free Agency
 

Teams aren't competing against the Pats or going against the "Pats Leverage". They are competing against each other and it only takes one team to offer a first round.

Re: Reiss on Cassel and Free Agency
 

idk, if jared allen got a 1st and 3rd I would think a franchise qb will also.

Re: Reiss on Cassel and Free Agency
 

My favorite quote was Mike's response to the question of who the BB would have taken if he still had the 31st pick last year and would it have gotten the Pats into the playoffs:

"my opinion is that Miami safety Kenny Phillips, Clemson defensive end Philip Merling and Virginia Tech cornerback Brandon Flowers would be three top names...would those players have helped them qualify for the playoffs? I'd say no"

Uh, Mike, I'm pretty sure if the Pats had drafted Brandon Flowers they would have made the playoffs...

Re: Reiss on Cassel and Free Agency
 

Aren't these some of the same arguments that were issued when the Pats traded Bledsoe?

History has shown that QBs usually get traded for maximum value even with minimum production. Look at Rob Johnson, Scott Mitchell, Matt Schaub, Matt Hasselbeck, etc. None had much of a resume when they got traded, but they all went with a hefty draft pick compensation.

I think a 2nd is pretty low for a draft pick especially with the free agency and draft for QB this offseason. Doesn't mean the Pats will get more though.