Would Cassel sign a long term deal before free agency?

[RIP#40]

Would the Pats be able to sign Cassell to a 5 yr 40 million $ contract with 24 mill guaranteed before he becomes an official free agent? If TB takes longer to rehab then MC plays part of next season, if TB is on time, they trade MC. The Pats leverage is they could threaten to franchise and trade him. Granted he would make 13-14 million guaranteed for one year but he would expose himself to the threat of injury or not playing as well in another system and being a one year wonder. If I were him, I would have to seriously consider taking the guaranteed cash. I just can't see the Pats letting him walk and getting nothing in return.

 

[Fencer]

Re: Would Cassell sign a long term deal before Free Agency?

Would the Pats be able to sign Cassell to a 5 yr 40 million $ contract with 24 mill guaranteed before he becomes an official free agent? If TB takes longer to rehab then MC plays part of next season, if TB is on time, they trade MC. The Pats leverage is they could threaten to franchise and trade him. Granted he would make 13-14 million guaranteed for one year but he would expose himself to the threat of injury or not playing as well in another system and being a one year wonder. If I were him, I would have to seriously consider taking the guaranteed cash. I just can't see the Pats letting him walk and getting nothing in return.

And if he signs then he's SURE he'll be traded before long without control over the destination.

My current thinking is that this goes to a franchise tag, with the Pats agreeing to immediately lower their asking price below two first-rounders and Cassell agreeing to not publicly whine about being franchised.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Re: Would Cassell sign a long term deal before Free Agency?

Would the Pats be able to sign Cassell to a 5 yr 40 million $ contract with 24 mill guaranteed before he becomes an official free agent? If TB takes longer to rehab then MC plays part of next season, if TB is on time, they trade MC. The Pats leverage is they could threaten to franchise and trade him. Granted he would make 13-14 million guaranteed for one year but he would expose himself to the threat of injury or not playing as well in another system and being a one year wonder. If I were him, I would have to seriously consider taking the guaranteed cash. I just can't see the Pats letting him walk and getting nothing in return.

He wants to play. If I was his agent I would advise him only agree to this if there was a clause that gave MC a $50 million dollar bonus, if on the trade deadline of 2009 MC was a NEP and Tom Brady had taken 5% more of the snaps that season. Same deal for 2010.

This would force the Pats to trade if Brady is healthy.

 

[Return of the Nizz]

Re: Would Cassell sign a long term deal before Free Agency?

The Pats would have to take the cap hit on his bonus when trading him, so it can't happen that way.

 

[PJM]

Re: Would Cassell sign a long term deal before Free Agency?

I think it's a bad deal for Cassel. His stock is really high right onw and a deal like this would damage it; a GM should worry about a player who took big money to be a backup. It is also not how the Pats usually operate; they have a value for each position and they try never to overpay. Cassel can be a starter next year on good money and potentially be a star; he has to back himself and go for that opportunity.

 

[RIP#40]

Re: Would Cassell sign a long term deal before Free Agency?

The Pats would have to take the cap hit on his bonus when trading him, so it can't happen that way.

Does guaranteed money always have to come in the form of a bonus? Can there be language written in that guarantees his first three years at 8 mill per year? I have no clue.

 

[MassPats38]

Re: Would Cassell sign a long term deal before Free Agency?

Does guaranteed money always have to come in the form of a bonus? Can there be language written in that guarantees his first three years at 8 mill per year? I have no clue.

A contract could be drafted however the parties want to draft it. NFL contracts historically are release at the team's discretion (other than bonus money). A team could include a "no cut" clause, guaranteeing the salary (assuming the CBA did not prohibit such an agreement, which I do not think is the case), but no team would go for it because it gives no damage control recourse if the player stinks up the joint. You could not cut the player and no team would trade for a bad player, meaning the only hope is that player gets hurt and is placed on IR or retires to open up a roster spot.

Under your scenario, comparing a $24 million in bonus to a guaranteed $24 million salary over three years equates to a contract worth much less than the bonus. I believe bonuses are paid in lump sum up front (salary caps prorate the bonus over the life of the contract, but in actuality the player has the bonus money immediately), meaning you can invest the bonus money and make money on money. The present value of 3 years of salary worth $24 million would be worth some fraction of $24 million now. Cassel may be playing for 3 years, but he would not be making the money he could be making with a bonus and, if he succeeds, the remaining salary he would be paid that was not covered by the bonus.

 

[Miguel]

Re: Would Cassell sign a long term deal before Free Agency?

Does guaranteed money always have to come in the form of a bonus?

No, it does not. But why would Cassel agree to such a deal???

Can there be language written in that guarantees his first three years at 8 mill per year?

Yes.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Would Cassell sign a long term deal before Free Agency?

Would the Pats be able to sign Cassell to a 5 yr 40 million $ contract with 24 mill guaranteed before he becomes an official free agent? If TB takes longer to rehab then MC plays part of next season, if TB is on time, they trade MC. The Pats leverage is they could threaten to franchise and trade him. Granted he would make 13-14 million guaranteed for one year but he would expose himself to the threat of injury or not playing as well in another system and being a one year wonder. If I were him, I would have to seriously consider taking the guaranteed cash. I just can't see the Pats letting him walk and getting nothing in return.

I think a more realistic question is will I will MegaMillions this week?

Seriously, what incentive does Cassel have to sign a long term deal. All this Tom Brady rehab talk is just silly. He is by all LEGITIMATE reports (some $@&*bum website doesn't count) he is out of the woods and back on track which means he has more than enough time to come back and be ready.

Cassel can get more on the open market anyway. The Pats won't keep the guy past April because they want the picks for this year's draft. Even in a doomsday scenario, Cassel would get $14 million to be a starter for another year and cash in the following year where there may not be a salary cap.

Cassel has no incentive to take a below market deal. Especially one that is long term.

 

[j00fek]

Re: Would Cassell sign a long term deal before Free Agency?

no, deal with the fact that the pats wont franchise him and they wont get compensation, other than a 3rd rnd pick in the next yrs draft...

 

[Miguel]

Re: Would Cassell sign a long term deal before Free Agency?

no, deal with the fact that the pats wont franchise him and they wont get compensation, other than a 3rd rnd pick in the next yrs draft...

It is not a fact. It is your opinion.

 

[tanked_as_usual]

Re: Would Cassell sign a long term deal before Free Agency?

in short, the only way the pats can sign cassel to a deal that makes him tradeable without cap ramifications is to minimize the up-front bonus in lieu of a big roster bonus the following year..........and there is no logical reason for cassel to go for something like that

 

[xmarkd400x]

Re: Would Cassell sign a long term deal before Free Agency?

I can see the Patriots franchising Cassel, letting him have some say over the destination, and getting some compensation (draft picks or otherwise).

It might be one of those deals where the Pats are like "well, we know you won't like this, but its your only option, so play nice".

 

[alexhb]

Re: Would Cassell sign a long term deal before Free Agency?

I think the Pats hands are tied....it's too expensive to lock him up or use the tag on him as it restricts what else can be done in free agency.
My guess is they'll say 'we won't franchise you if you agree not to sign in the division'

 

[alamo]

Re: Would Cassell sign a long term deal before Free Agency?

It might be one of those deals where the Pats are like "well, we know you won't like this, but its your only option, so play nice".

That works both ways. Players are pretty powerless if franchising is done to keep the player, but once trading enters into it the player can make deals difficult if he desires.

I am one of those who doesn't believe Cassel will be franchised, and if they do anything notable in free agency this offseason (which it seems they have the money and need for) they won't even get a comp pick. I hope I am wrong.

 

[BradyManny]

Re: Would Cassell sign a long term deal before Free Agency?

I think the Pats hands are tied....it's too expensive to lock him up or use the tag on him as it restricts what else can be done in free agency.
My guess is they'll say 'we won't franchise you if you agree not to sign in the division'

But what else were we going to do in free agency? Once the Raiders tag Asomugha, there aren't any guys out there who will be drastic upgrades over what is on our roster. We'll have better luck integrating youngsters via the draft. Look at the impact of Meriweather and Mayo this year - dollar for dollar, grabbing a few studs in Day 1 of the draft is the fastest & cheapest way for this team to improve short and long term, while continually building depth & players to develop through Day 2 and UDFAs.

The team should look to extend some of its players, Wilfork, Mankins - all that can be done after Cassel has been tag'd and traded.

 

[Jimke]

Re: Would Cassell sign a long term deal before Free Agency?

no, deal with the fact that the pats wont franchise him and they wont get compensation, other than a 3rd rnd pick in the next yrs draft...

I hope I'm wrong but I tend to agree with you.

 

[spacecrime]

Re: Would Cassell sign a long term deal before Free Agency?

I can see the Patriots franchising Cassel, letting him have some say over the destination, and getting some compensation (draft picks or otherwise).

It might be one of those deals where the Pats are like "well, we know you won't like this, but its your only option, so play nice".

Let him have some say? He has almost total say. How do they force him to sign a long term deal with the other team?

Pats are the ones who need to play nice, not Cassel. All they can offer another team is Cassl's rights for one year at $15, then Cassel is a FA again.

They cannot do anything else unless Cassel agrees.

Pats have the choice of removing the tag or paying Cassel $15 mil, more than Brady, in 2009 AND not being able to sign top FAs this year because their cap is tied up with Cassel.

 

[Miguel]

Re: Would Cassell sign a long term deal before Free Agency?

in short, the only way the pats can sign cassel to a deal that makes him tradeable without cap ramifications is to minimize the up-front bonus in lieu of a big roster bonus the following year..........

That type of deal will run into the 30% rule for the last capped year.