One has to think BB offered his own Mea Culpa - wasn't it confirmed by agents that he had invited Chris Simms and another QB before Brady went down, seemingly having an interest in a veteran QB after week one when he'd not be required to gurantee their salary?
In any event, for whatever the reason, Cassell has looked like a different QB compared to some of the pre-season games, but people still forget that there were some games where he really wasn't bad.
He went 6-10 in one game with 3 dropped passes. That could have easilly been 9-10. And sure it was all vanilla offense and defense, but give credit (or blame) where its due - one still can make or miss plays even in the pre-season.
I'm not sure that Rattay and Simms were invited by Belichick. More likely they were routine Pioli invites, to establish a Shadow Roster possibilities, before Brady got hurt.
It was overuled by Belichick after Brady went down, as they would be looked at as direct criticism, and would appear as fear that Cassel couldn't perform.
Belichick never wavered in his view of Cassel as the #2 QB, ever since he sent Vinny T to the shadow roster last season. Many fans could not understand what he saw in Cassel.
I used to think that Belichick handed Cassel a $hitty stick, to test the likes of CJax as a receiver, and the likes of Clement, Ross, Wellbourne, Connolly, etc. on the Offensive line. Better Cassel than getting Brady beat up.
But I think that Belichick had an ulterior motive too. He was satisfied that Cassel had advanced enough to know and operate the Offense. He knew the Cassel had passed every physical test, arm, agility, running ability. The only test, and the major one for QBs, is how they lead in tough times. Do they lose their cool? Do they blame the other guys? Do they wilt under pressure ? Do they lose their Poise?
The only way to do that was to give him a situation, in the preseason, in which he was sure to fail. And then see how he handled the losses.
Cassel kept his mouth shut. He remained calm,and stoically accepted the criticism. He didn't blame his amateur, never-were WRs. He didn't blame the ever-changing Offensive line candidates. He didn't blame the (purposely?) poor choice of sent-in offensive plays he was supposed to try to execute. He maintained his Poise.
That was the test that Belichick was conducting, and Cassel passed it with flying colors, in retrospect
.