Lomardi says the Patriots have to franchise Cassel

What an idiot. Franchise tag for a guy that's barely in the league. Matt's done great in a very limited system. He hasn't completed one long pass.

Hey let's give him 10.7 million dollars.

What kills me, is this is undoubtedly cool with some of the same people that wanted to cut him weeks ago.

They could actually sign him to a reasonable contract, then keep him or trade him.

Thank gawd people that want to lurch from cutting to rewarding a guy who had a couple good games with a 10.7 million contract aren't running the team.

RayClay said:

Matt's done great in a very limited system. He hasn't completed one long pass.

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SF game says hi. If Gaffney catches a perfect pass against Indy then Cassel's deep ball % is about normal, most QB don't complete many. That said, his deep ball is VERY inconsistent with more throws way off than the average. But you are understating him too.

BelichickFan said:

SF game says hi. If Gaffney catches a perfect pass against Indy then Cassel's deep ball % is about normal, most QB don't complete many. That said, his deep ball is VERY inconsistent with more throws way off than the average. But you are understating him too.

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I love him. For a guy that looked like he should be cut in training camp, he's come through like a champ.

The next Tom Brady? We HAVE to pay him whatever he wants? C'mon folks, take a thorazine or something.

He's done well because he's stuck with the system he's learned.

Is there some reason his agent doesn't sit down and get a nice backup contract for around a tenth what the extremely generous junior GMs want to give him?

Even a team as stupid as Detroit should realize his familiarity with our system is a large part of his success so far. Give him a 2-3 year contract at better money than he would expect and agree to look for a deal. With a reasonable contract, we might make a nice trade.

If somebody thinks we get a first and more, plus the other team needs to land a big contract on him, they're delusional. The guy has played a hand full of games since high school in a controlled short passing offense.

As BB would say, don't fit him for that hall of fame jacket yet.

BelichickFan said:

SF game says hi. If Gaffney catches a perfect pass against Indy then Cassel's deep ball % is about normal, most QB don't complete many. That said, his deep ball is VERY inconsistent with more throws way off than the average. But you are understating him too.

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Sorry, I didn't realize that. I thought the second coming of Tom Brady, blockbuster franchise trade or 14 mil a year people were overstating it. I guess it's me.

RayClay said:

The next Tom Brady? We HAVE to pay him whatever he wants? C'mon folks, take a thorazine or something.

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I think VERY FEW people here want to pay him big money assuming Mr. Brady's rehab looks good. The question is "Franchise and Trade" and would you risk getting stuck with Cassel for $14M for one year (assuming he signs the tender and can't be traded even for a 2011 seventh round pick) for the chance to tag him and trade him for something of value.

Based on what he's done this year, I am of the opinion we could trade him if we tagged him. For two #1s ? No. But given his success and the 50-50 success of draftees who are paid huge money too, I think we could get a #2 or certainly a #3 for a tagged Cassel.

BelichickFan said:

I think VERY FEW people here want to pay him big money assuming Mr. Brady's rehab looks good. The question is "Franchise and Trade" and would you risk getting stuck with Cassel for $14M for one year (assuming he signs the tender and can't be traded even for a 2011 seventh round pick) for the chance to tag him and trade him for something of value.

Based on what he's done this year, I am of the opinion we could trade him if we tagged him. For two #1s ? No. But given his success and the 50-50 success of draftees who are paid huge money too, I think we could get a #2 or certainly a #3 for a tagged Cassel.

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Why not try to sign him to a contract appropriate to his actual value as a backup with possible trade value? He's got two brothers in Baseball and seems pretty intelligent. I bet he has a much more realistic idea of his worth than some posters do.

If we don't trade him, and it takes two to trade, we could get stuck paying him about 7-8 times what he's worth in the open market.

I understand this is how Lehman brothers and Bear Stearns were doing business before they collapsed, but i don't see Bob Kraft playing Santa Claus. It's just nonsensical from a business standpoint.

RayClay said:

Why not try to sign him to a contract appropriate to his actual value as a backup with possible trade value?

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He's playing like a quality starter, he'd be stupid be sign as a backup.

RayClay said:

I understand this is how Lehman brothers and Bear Stearns were doing business before they collapsed, but i don't see Bob Kraft playing Santa Claus. It's just nonsensical from a business standpoint.

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Again, it comes with a little risk but Belioli would likely know if someone was interested before tagging him. It's not a big risk, absolute worst case you overpay a backup for one year, it's not 5 years or anything.

Anyway, let's see how the rest of the season plays out. He may suck the rest of the way

BelichickFan said:

He's playing like a quality starter, he'd be stupid be sign as a backup.


Again, it comes with a little risk but Belioli would likely know if someone was interested before tagging him. It's not a big risk, absolute worst case you overpay a backup for one year, it's not 5 years or anything.

Anyway, let's see how the rest of the season plays out. He may suck the rest of the way

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Please don't demand he be cut later in the season (I'll bet a million dollars someone does, probably someone in this thread). It's not like he hasn't had some bad games between his hall of fame performances this year.

What happens if they can't sign him and Brady's recovery's slow? He hits the market and sees what he's worth. Then they end up signing him anyway, or he goes to some stinky team and is probably never heard from again. Sorry. It doesn't mean I don't like him if I want to deal in reality.

But what will the Patriots do??? Start Gutierrez or O'Connell, or pick up a vet. They'll struggle a few games, Like Cassel, then they'll be the next Tom Brady, because we have a good system and good talent.

RayClay said:

What happens if they can't sign him and Brady's recovery's slow? He hits the market and sees what he's worth. Then they end up signing him anyway, or he goes to some stinky team and is probably never heard from again. Sorry. It doesn't mean I don't like him if I want to deal in reality.

But what will the Patriots do??? Start Gutierrez or O'Connell, or pick up a vet. They'll struggle a few games, Like Cassel, then they'll be the next Tom Brady, because we have a good system and good talent.

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I expect Cassel to be starting for another team next year, whether he's Franchised and Traded or just leaves as a UFA. But he's a commodity with value and I doubt they let that value just walk for nothing.

Re: Lomardi say the Patriots have to Franchise Cassel

Mack Herron said:

I tried to say this a couple of weeks ago and everyone jumped all over me. Cassel is looking more and more like a QB who can win a championship in this sytem. That is huge value and the Pats simply cannot afford to let it walk away.

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So the Patriots are going to pay a back up QB over 10 million which will be the cost if they franchise him? The only way they do it is if they know for certain that Brady will be unable to play next year.

I think the Pats will franchise and trade him. Keep in mind if there is no trade, they can remove the franchise tag and let him become a ufa.

do they take a cap hit when they remove the tag?

I don't think they will franchise him.

It would tie up too much CAP $$$ and they have a very fine backup
QB in O'Connell. He will have a year in the system and another TC
and preseason under his belt if something should go wrong with
TB's recovery.

I only hope Matt has enough loyalty to select a team out of the AFCE.
He will have lots of options if he continues to perform.

I think I have to once again re-iterate the fact that this is all about TAG AND TRADE. Very few people here are really suggesting we pay 14 milli for a backup. It seems some posters are misunderstanding the nature of the discussion.

BradyManny2344 said:

I think I have to once again re-iterate the fact that this is all about TAG AND TRADE. Very few people here are really suggesting we pay 14 milli for a backup. It seems some posters are misunderstanding the nature of the discussion.

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While trade sounds good they are too many uncertainties in that
desired scenario.
PATs could have significant $$$ tied up until a trade is finalized.
In the mean time they may be limited during a critical free agency
period.
I don't think it is as simplistic as you make it sound.

JR4 said:

While trade sounds good they are too many uncertainties in that
desired scenario.
PATs could have significant $$$ tied up until a trade is finalized.
In the mean time they may be limited during a critical free agency
period.
I don't think it is as simplistic as you make it sound.

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We've discussed it at length in other threads - prior to Cassel's domination in the Jets game - sure, its not simple, but if you can take a calculated risk that nets you a 1st rounder, you take it. Again, they would not do anything without the knowledge that they would have trade suitors lined up. They'd take the risk out of the situation.

the likely scenario is they will take offers for Cassel way before Free Agency starts. they will tag him at the deadline. itll be a game of chicken. if a team really desires cassel, they will either say, no the patriots will not keep the tag on him or two, they believe the pats and they will trade for him

BelichickFan said:

I am of the opinion we could trade him if we tagged him. For two #1s ? No. But given his success and the 50-50 success of draftees who are paid huge money too, I think we could get a #2 or certainly a #3 for a tagged Cassel.

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Sopt on.. thats my view too. Its not even really a risk because worse case you get a least a 4th or 5th for him and more likely someone will offer a second.

What with SD's 2nd, a comp pick for Samuel and maybe a 2nd/3rd for MC we should be loaded in next years draft, and have ammo to move up and get someone if we want. Hope Pioli is busy scouting


No way were left with MC.. for 14m theyd give him away for a 7th rounder ...

IF Cassel continues to progress, Pioli and BB WILL franchise him with the understanding that he does not sign it and they agree to trade him to a team where he can start. My guess is Minny.

JoeShmoe said:

Sopt on.. thats my view too. Its not even really a risk because worse case you get a least a 4th or 5th for him and more likely someone will offer a second.

What with SD's 2nd, a comp pick for Samuel and maybe a 2nd/3rd for MC we should be loaded in next years draft, and have ammo to move up and get someone if we want. Hope Pioli is busy scouting


No way were left with MC.. for 14m theyd give him away for a 7th rounder ...

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Don't forget we'll probably get comp picks for Stallworth and Gay, too.