According to reports, the Patriots plan to franchise QB Matt Cassel. Doing so wouldn't surprise me because it gives New England leverage.
Naturally the pessimists jumped to the conclusion that something is wrong with QB Tom Brady's recovery from his knee surgeries. A report said because of the infection, it sets Brady back to the point he might miss the 2009 season. If that's the case, then slapping a franchise tag on Cassel is insurance if Brady can't return for '09.
Then again, there's the other report that states Brady's recovery is ahead of schedule. If that is true, then the Pats control the destiny of the top free agent passer of the off-season. Ultimately New England could do whatever they want with him, whether they sign him or trade him.
Cassel is a very attractive trade chip to dangle. He will be 27 next season and entering his fifth year. And over the course of 15 starts, the league watched Cassel develop from a take care of the ball role into a passer that can come from behind and win under pressure.
Matt is a sure thing, as opposed to drafting a rookie solely on potential. Cassel doesn't flinch when under a heavy pass rush. He will step up and deliver. He has the arm to make every throw and he put up big numbers in cold weather, through snow storms, under heavy rain, and very windy conditions. Not every passer handles bad weather, and a rookie would be flustered as he adjusts to the speed of the game. On top of that, he's athletic, making Cassel dangerous out of the pocket as well.
Cassel would be ideal addition for a fringe playoff team, a team that needs a solid quarterback to lift the team beyond just getting to the dance. A few teams that come to mind are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, and the San Francisco 49ers.
Not that there aren't any AFC teams that Cassel would be a good fit for, but I wouldn't trade him to direct competition. One rumor had Cassel being pursued by the New York Jets if Brett Favre retires. The Jets are a playoff ready team that doesn't have the patience for the unproven Kellen Clemens and his growing pains.
Would Cassel work out with the Kansas City Chiefs if K.C. doesn't believe in neither Brodie Croyle nor Tyler Thigpen? Sure. Maybe the Chiefs are two years away from being a playoff team, but don't take the chance of having Cassel knock the Patriots out of the playoffs somewhere down the road.
Now if Cassel is valued by other teams as much as the Pats feel he's worth, what's the asking price? A productive starting quarterback should be worth multiple picks, including a first round pick. Teams in the top 10 wouldn't exchange their 2009 first round pick for Cassel. But a team selecting in the teens and lower should have no problem giving up uncertainty for a finished product.
This isn't the same as the last time the Patriots had two starting quarterbacks. Unlike Drew Bledsoe, Cassel was developed to be the kind of quarterback head coach Bill Belichick wants. Cassel lacks the tendencies that Bledsoe had. Cassel won't make as many mistakes. Belichick and the defensive staff won't fool Cassel like they did Bledsoe. So it would be Belichick's desire to cross paths with Cassel as infrequently as possible.
But what if the Patriots trade Brady? Well that's a whole new conversation.
