Looking back at the Matt Cassel trade in 09

[NFL Mystique]

The Patriots traded Cassel to KC in 09. Which essentially told the world Brady was the starter and that would never change.

Here is my question: Was the consensus among the fan base that Cassel had zero chance of starting upon Brady returning from injury. And that nobody could replace what Brady brought. Or, were fans divided and some thought Brady should be traded instead?

In retrospect, it seems like an easy decision. Brady was an established HOF QB. Cassel was okay. Undoubtedly the Patriots are the one or two seed if Vrady never gets injured.

But sometimes in the moment, opinions can vary.

 

[Ian]

The Patriots traded Cassel to KC in 09. Which essentially told the world Brady was the starter and that would never change.

Here is my question: Was the consensus among the fan base that Cassel had zero chance of starting upon Brady returning from injury. And that nobody could replace what Brady brought. Or, were fans divided and some thought Brady should be traded instead?

In retrospect, it seems like an easy decision. Brady was an established HOF QB. Cassel was okay. Undoubtedly the Patriots are the one or two seed if Vrady never gets injured.

But sometimes in the moment, opinions can vary.

Don't forget, Vrabel ended up also being included in that deal.

But to answer your question, there were a handful of people who pondered Brady being traded as well during that:

Thread 'The Official 'Trade Brady' Debate Thread - Do Not Start Another One'

Nov 24, 2008

This is going here for one reason and one reason only. I understand there are some who want to speculate, even though most of these same people were ready to kick Cassel out in favor of O'Connell in week 3 yet now they feel he should be a good replacement for Brady. There are also some who just want to trade Brady for the sake of seeing what the Pats would do with two #1 Picks. I get it. I don't agree with it, but I get it.

However THIS IS THE ONLY THREAD TO DO IT IN. Please keep them in THIS thread. Do not post NEW threads on this, there have been plenty of them as it is...

• Ian
• Replies: 1,041
• Forum: PatsFans.com - Patriots Fan Forum

 

[signbabybrady]

Blasphemy

 

[NFL Mystique]

Don't forget, Vrabel ended up also being included in that deal.

But to answer your question, there were a handful of people who pondered Brady being traded as well during that:

Thread 'The Official 'Trade Brady' Debate Thread - Do Not Start Another One'

Nov 24, 2008

This is going here for one reason and one reason only. I understand there are some who want to speculate, even though most of these same people were ready to kick Cassel out in favor of O'Connell in week 3 yet now they feel he should be a good replacement for Brady. There are also some who just want to trade Brady for the sake of seeing what the Pats would do with two #1 Picks. I get it. I don't agree with it, but I get it.

However THIS IS THE ONLY THREAD TO DO IT IN. Please keep them in THIS thread. Do not post NEW threads on this, there have been plenty of them as it is...

• Ian
• Replies: 1,041
• Forum: PatsFans.com - Patriots Fan Forum

Good grief.

Trading him would have been the worst mistake in franchise history. Patriots still have three SB's.

Someone said in that thread that the biggest drop-off would be noticeable in the postseason. Very accurate. There are also games in 08 that Brady definitely/probably wins that the team lost. Chargers, Colts, Jets, and maybe Steelers game.

 

[tasmlab]

I don't completely remember, but I'm sure it was brought up at least as a hypothetical by some fan who may have wanted the 12 first round picks Brady might have commanded.

Brady had also completed the most stat-erific, most dominant QB season pretty much ever in 2007. He was the guy.

 

[Huckleberry1]

Good thing no grudges came out of that deal.

 

[PancakeBlockPaul]

I think I remember this time being when the media really tore into Brady calling him a “system” qb when cassel went what, 11-5? Also remember them saying how he was “done” and could never play to the level he did pre knee blow out. How wrong they were…

 

[Wozzy]

Same deal as the Jimmy Garopollo trade… the fans expected a first round pick in return, the market determined a 2nd and change was all they were worth. The fans flipped out over nothing. The free market had spoken.

 

[Froob]

I can’t recall anyone wanting to keep Cassel over Brady

 

[jmt57]

In both cases the sentiment of some was to go with the younger QB.

In 2008 Brady was 31; Cassel five years younger, age 26 - and had no injury to rehab/return from.

In 2017 Brady was 40; Jimmy G was also only 26.

Cassel had a larger body of work (full season), but with Garoppolo there was a bigger age difference.
At the time some presumed, based on the entire history of the NFL, that it was time to move on from a 40-year old.

But when Brady was only 31, coming off that tremendous 2007 season?
The idea of trading Brady at that point was stupid. The only thing dumber was the fantasy of what the Pats would get for Cassel.


Remove the benefit of hindsight, and I can understand why some fans wanted to move on from Brady in the second scenario, with Brady turning 40. But trading him at age 31? Double Face Palm.

 

[JoeSixPat]

The Patriots traded Cassel to KC in 09. Which essentially told the world Brady was the starter and that would never change.

Here is my question: Was the consensus among the fan base that Cassel had zero chance of starting upon Brady returning from injury. And that nobody could replace what Brady brought. Or, were fans divided and some thought Brady should be traded instead?

In retrospect, it seems like an easy decision. Brady was an established HOF QB. Cassel was okay. Undoubtedly the Patriots are the one or two seed if Vrady never gets injured.

But sometimes in the moment, opinions can vary.

Admit it - you were Team Matt all the way and wanted them to go all in on him and cut Brady.

Don't think we forgot!

 

[Patjew]

Many of us were excited about the 1st round pick we “knew” we were going to get for MC, but I don’t recall many actually clamoring to keep him.

I was most bummed that Vrabel went with Matt.

 

[lancerman]

There were a few people that got excited about the idea of getting a big pick, but it was never a serious consensus. Most people would have thought we were insane to get rid of Brady.

Keep in mind, the year before the injury Brady just had the greatest QB season ever. If we traded him, we were going to be viewed as a clown show.

 

[Brick27]

No. Cassel lead the league in sacks and held the ball too long, had fewer TDs than Brady ever had in a full season, won them 8 fewer games as the starter than the prior year and the rest of the roster was arguably just as good in 08 as 07. All things that were acknowledged at the time.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

I don't completely remember, but I'm sure it was brought up at least as a hypothetical by some fan who may have wanted the 12 first round picks Brady might have commanded.

Brady had also completed the most stat-erific, most dominant QB season pretty much ever in 2007. He was the guy.

An important point that I'm not sure I knew then: unlike the NBA, teams can't trade picks more than three years out.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

Among people I know, it was kind of a....I wouldn't be HUGELY surprised if it happened. Belichick had long established that he wasn't shy about making deals that would upset people.

 

[TommyD4207]

We should revisit more 16 year old trades. Literally everyone involved has retired.

 

[BennyBledsoe]

We should revisit more 16 year old trades. Literally everyone involved has retired.

"We should never explore the past."

Exploring the past is what makes being a fan cool. It's getting to pass on institutional knowledge to new fans. Listening to stories from even older fans. Getting perspective is not a bad thing.

 

[Gumby]

We should revisit more 16 year old trades. Literally everyone involved has retired.

Also half the posters. Lol

 

[Patriot Missile]

There’s been some nutshell deals over the years that fuels this desire for return. Rob Johnson to the Bills from Jags comes to mind. 9th overall and a 4th. Buffonery.

Sam Bradford was the gift of draft picks for being a glass statue.