Re: Matt Cassel : One Year Wonder? or The Next Great Quarterback?
Of course there's a reason for something in between: the huge probability that something in between is correct! The current poll asks us to commit to one of two extreme and unlikely positions, and personally I'll pass.
Brettlax's Hasselbeck comparison seems like a realistic compromise. Now consider that the Seahawks gave up the equivalent of a high 2nd-round pick for the guy when he had never started a single game, based solely on Holmgren's inside info, with no competitors for his services....
I'd agree with the pass. I don't think he's a one-year wonder, so if the question is will he be able to sustain and probably improve on his performance of this year then I would answer yes. He showed maturity, judgment, work habits, accuracy and an improvement curve which argue against that. On the other hand, if the question is whether he will end up in the "elite" franchise QB category, then I'm not so sure. I think he will be better than average and could see him having a high end somewhere around where I project Jay Cutler to be. I think it's more likely that he end up being in the Hasselbeck category, but I think he has a shot at being at least as good as Eli Manning, Philip Rivers - which is still better than about 75% of the starting QBs in the league. I don't believe he will ever be in the truly elite class, but very few are. But teams have certainly won SBs with less at QB.
QBs that I'd bet are or will be better than Cassel will every be: Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Ben Rothlisberger, Jay Cutler, Carson Palmer, and probably Matt Ryan.
QBs that I would bet will probably be in the long-term Cassel ballpark: Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, maybe Joe Flacco. In the long run I think he will be better than Tony Romo - more disciplined, better accuracy - but Romo is probably in the ballpark category for now.
QBs that I would take Cassel over in the long run: Matt Leinhart (better work habits and physical tools), Chad Pennington (better arm), David Garrard, Vince Young (better pro game), Trent Edwards, Jake Delhomme, Aaron Rogers, Matt Schaub, Jake Delhomme, Derek Anderson (more disciplined, better accuracy), Chris Simms. I wouldn't even compare him to the current QBs in Detroit, Minnesota, San Francisco Chicago or Kansas City.
I wouldn't compare him to the older QBs that are at or towards the end of their careers (Favre, Warner, McNabb, Bulger Kery Collins, etc.). I'd take him over any of them for the long run right now.
I'd settle for that. That would leave around 20 teams who would probably be better off for the long term with Cassel at QB.
