I look at it like this:
1. The patriots don't want to give over 14 mil to Cassel, i think everyone agrees on that one. 2. Cassel won't sign a long term deal, because the patriots would try to sign him for as less money as possible and he will eventually become a benchwarmer again. Cassel is loyal, but not stupid: he will rather sign with another team and take less money, because he would be the starter.
So basically Cassel is already gone.
Everybody has a different opinion on what cassel will bring in. I truly belief he can get us a 1st and something because GM's are not THAT stupid to go after a rookie QB, especially this years class which looks pretty bad.
Even if Tom is not back by week 1, we're not going to occupy our salary cap with Cassel, that's just not the patriots philosophy. They would either sign a veteran QB or BB is going to surprise everyone once again and prove everybody wrong that o'connell is able to start and win games for them till TB is back. However i still don't listen to any reports about his status, because it's all BS. I'm not saying he's fine, just saying we don't know!!! It just doesn't matter, cause they're not going to keep cassel for 14 mil.
I don't think O'connell can do what cassel did for us last year, but who thought cassel could do what he did after the KC game?? Everyone is just speculating, but only the patriots know where they are at this point and they will do what's in their interest. But since we're all speculating here i will too :disagreement:
1. Trade Cassel to minnesota for their first this year and a conditional 4th rounder next year, which could become as high as a 2nd rounder or something.
2. Brady will be the starter come day one, if not O'connell/veteran will prove to be good enough to fill in until TB is back (Hope he's ready for London though
)
3. Patriots will use their two first rounders on TE Brandon Pettigrew and CB D.J. Moore, 2nd rounders on Connor Barwin and Louis Delmas/Patrick Chung, They'll probably trade some picks too for next year.
4. Patriots will go 19-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WITH TOM BRADY