Good point. Leftwich is a proven guy who would likely come on the cheap, but I think they'd still like to keep Cassel since he has been there so long.
Personally, here is what I think will happen. The Pats will carry Cassel and Brady this year. If Brady shows that he is completely healed they will trade Cassel this year, or resign/tag him and then move him in 2010.
With as much cap room as the Pats have, they can afford to keep both of them for this year. It would be a smart move for them as well.
What I think is going on here is some of you guys want to use this as some sort of news on the condition of brady.. I am trying to explain this has nothing to do with brady and we are not going to know about his future until this summer. I have heard bits and pieces of news coming out of foxboro but the patriots don't tell anybody who does not need to know anything so it's going to be awhile
Your not thinking like GM.. your thinking like a fan.. it's much more complicated than just ok well brady is hurt and cassel is a qb then they must keep cassel.
the patriots do not want to spend that cap room on two QB's plus you guys are forgetting the team that gets cassel does not have to pay the 14 million.. the contract is torn up at the trade and a multiyear deal would be worked out..
plus you have to remember the patriots have some key players they want to resign and use some left over cap from this year to take up some money for future years..
Plus the patriots need to get help on the defensive side of the ball..
Also cassel right now is worth more in trade than he is as a QB to the patriots even if brady retired. Simply put I think they could get better results with a leftwich than cassel.. for a lot less than 14 million
If the patriots actually wanted to keep him they would have signed him to a 4-5 year deal at a reasonable cap number for 09 then traded him after this season...
Look this has nothing to do with me being a pats fan, I am just trying to explain the economics of football to you and some other here..
Cassel can not be kept regardless of what happens to brady.. His cost to the patriots because of the unique situation they are in is more than his worth..
Now if brady retired right now then maybe there is a slight possibility of cassel being a patriot next year.. In that case I think a smart GM like belichick would still trade him but in that case you could sign him to a 5 year deal for about 45 mil. and brady would be off the books..
The only other option for cassel to be on the 09 roster is to trade brady away.. and that is just
Why would you want 30 million wrapped up in two QB's for one of which isn't gonna play. If Brady can play are you assuming that someone is gonna want Cassel for that kinda money. I don't think he proved himself to be worth 14 million.
I think its a panic move by the Pats or they think that highly of Cassel to bring them a first round pick by tradign away a one year, back up QB, that you gotta pay 14 million too. . .Yeah that makes no sense. Something is up here.
the 14 million is smoke and mirrors.. it will never leave foxboro and cassel will never see it.. it's paper money to retain the legal rights to cassel.. So they can trade him..
then they work out a trade and the franchise deal is voided then the new team works out a long term deal for a more reasonable salary.. I might be wrong on this part but I think the 14 million gets worked into the long term deal.. All I know is neither the new team or the patriots are on the hook for the 14 million on the cap and thats what these teams care about..
I seriously don't understand why some on here think this is a panic move by the patriots or that this has anything to do with brady..
it's not a panic move it's the only smart move... anything else would be retarded..
If they let him walk they get nothing for a valuable asset and even worse the jets would sign him.. The patriots rather not see cassel go to the jets just on principal.. let them suffer another year of a declining farve..
slapping the tag on cassel is brilliant. this is a weak year for QB's in the draft and quite a few teams need a QB and we happen to have a near pro bowler who is 25 that is ready to take over your team..
The more I think about this the patriots could get a LOT for cassel... minimum a mid to late first rounder and a 3-5 round pick..
this costs the pats nothing to do not a single dime.. sure technically putting the franchise tag on to trade is against the spirit of the intent of the franchise tag system, but the way it's written it has been done before in the past and it will be done this off season..
I love it!!! I hope we get another good LB with that extra pick..
