I can't believe NE would tag him. I know Brady has had some issues with his knee/rehab but that's an absurd amount to pay for a backup QB.

It's not absurd if Brady has to miss next season as well.

Personally, I think that he will be the next Derek Anderson, he does extremely well, and his hype is WAY up, and people want to get him while they can. Personally, IMO, he is not as good as he showed this year.

$29 million tied up in two quaterbacks after this move. This doesn't seem like a smart thing to do, which is why I thought New England wouldn't do it.

 

I still don't understand why they didn't just throw 5 years, $40 million with $15 million guarenteed at Cassel and try to negotiate a contract. Then you can get him for less than the $14 million you pay him next year and still have leverage to trade him.

 

They still can sign him to a long term deal, trade him, or both. This isn't exactly rocket science. If Brady is fine by July Cassel is gone, if not they have a QB for at least one year if he takes the money from the tag for 1 year. IMO he's taken his last snap as a Patriot and the Patriots were smart enough to get a 1st and a 2nd rounder for him when they deal him.

 

This isn't what the Bengals would have done. They're too stupid. He would have walked.

They still can sign him to a long term deal, trade him, or both. This isn't exactly rocket science. If Brady is fine by July Cassel is gone, if not they have a QB for at least one year if he takes the money from the tag for 1 year. IMO he's taken his last snap as a Patriot and the Patriots were smart enough to get a 1st and a 2nd rounder for him when they deal him.

 

This isn't what the Bengals would have done. They're too stupid. He would have walked.

 

Okay, but you could have gotten Matt Cassel for less than $14 million. If Brady isn't ready, your just sucked up $29 million and I don't know what that means for their cap (all $14 million counts against it for the Cassel move).

 

If all you are going to do is trade him anyway, sign him to a real deal and then trade him and that makes him easier to move. Now, a trade is predicated on the trade partner being able to sign Cassel as well as having interest.

 

It is a fine move, but I feel like the Patriots could have made a smarter move than they did.

Okay, but you could have gotten Matt Cassel for less than $14 million. If Brady isn't ready, your just sucked up $29 million and I don't know what that means for their cap (all $14 million counts against it for the Cassel move).

 

If all you are going to do is trade him anyway, sign him to a real deal and then trade him and that makes him easier to move. Now, a trade is predicated on the trade partner being able to sign Cassel as well as having interest.

 

It is a fine move, but I feel like the Patriots could have made a smarter move than they did.

 

They can still sign the long term deal. Cassell isn't inked for one year $14M yet. He gets that if they can't reach a deal and he decides not to sit the year out. This just stopped him from going out and inking a long term deal w/ someone else where the Patriots get nothing. He will be traded if Brady is ok. They aren't going to pay him a dime and he won't cost money against the cap.

They can still sign the long term deal. Cassell isn't inked for one year $14M yet. He gets that if they can't reach a deal and he decides not to sit the year out. This just stopped him from going out and inking a long term deal w/ someone else where the Patriots get nothing. He will be traded if Brady is ok. They aren't going to pay him a dime and he won't cost money against the cap.

 

Okay, but you have already put $14 million guarenteed out there. He will not sign now unless it is for more money. We have not heard about negotiations. If New England attempted to sign a new deal first, then fine. If franchising is what they went with first, they made a mistake, IMO. They lost the leverage, especially if Brady gets healthy.

 

Cassel is getting $14 million next year from New England; what incentive does he have to sign a deal that would probably not guarentee him much more money and would spread out the payments over multiple years? New England would have to top this dollar amount in their offer to him for a long-term deal to get signed.

 

The franchise tag comes off after this coming season and every team in the NFL knows it. They can wait a year and sign Cassel rather than give up a pick (or picks) to New England and have to put together the contract offer for Cassel anyway, especially considering the dollars that it will take now that you have to beat the $14 million guarenteed he gets from New England for next season alone.

 

We'll see how this plays out, but it seems crazy to throw a $14 million dollar franchise tag at your backup QB no matter how good he is (unless you plan on making him your starter). They basically bid against themselves and drove up the price to sign him.

Have a feeling if their going to shell out 14 million we may not see Brady next year as he tries to recover, just my opinion. But I think Cassel has shown alot of improvement and that he can lead this team in the future.

If they let Cassell walk and Bradys knee turns infected or reinjured who do they go to next Testaverde? I think its a wise move. I mean come on the Bengals tagged Stacy Andrews for depth.

If they let Cassell walk and Bradys knee turns infected or reinjured who do they go to next Testaverde? I think its a wise move. I mean come on the Bengals tagged Stacy Andrews for depth.

 

:thumb:

 

Good move, IMO. The QB position is the most important in football and with the uncertainty surrounding Brady's rehab, how is it stupid to safeguard against that? They have the cap space.

 

I don't necessarily think the Patriots are as concerned with trading Cassel as they are with making sure they have the QB position taken care of. A couple of thoughts...

 

1. I doubt very seriously any team will trade for Cassel now that he's been tagged...the price is too high.

 

2. Signing him to a long-term deal would make even less sense, IMO. Just using the numbers somebody else threw out in this thread...5 years, 40 million with 15 guaranteed. First, it costs them more because they're paying a million more. Second, it affects the cap for more than one season. Third, I don't think you can sign a guy to a deal like that with the plan that its going to create leverage for a trade down the road. If that backfires, you're either stuck with two high-priced QB's or you get less value in a trade and have dead money working against your salary cap.

 

Franchising him makes sense to me...if Brady comes back to form, let him walk and use that 14 million to strengthen your roster.

Okay, but you have already put $14 million guarenteed out there. He will not sign now unless it is for more money. We have not heard about negotiations. If New England attempted to sign a new deal first, then fine. If franchising is what they went with first, they made a mistake, IMO. They lost the leverage, especially if Brady gets healthy.

 

Cassel is getting $14 million next year from New England; what incentive does he have to sign a deal that would probably not guarentee him much more money and would spread out the payments over multiple years? New England would have to top this dollar amount in their offer to him for a long-term deal to get signed.

 

The franchise tag comes off after this coming season and every team in the NFL knows it. They can wait a year and sign Cassel rather than give up a pick (or picks) to New England and have to put together the contract offer for Cassel anyway, especially considering the dollars that it will take now that you have to beat the $14 million guarenteed he gets from New England for next season alone.

 

We'll see how this plays out, but it seems crazy to throw a $14 million dollar franchise tag at your backup QB no matter how good he is (unless you plan on making him your starter). They basically bid against themselves and drove up the price to sign him.

 

I think you might be confused. The franchise tag guaranteed that he's not an unrestricted free agent and that is all. If Brady is healthy someone will sign him to a long term deal this year and give up picks for him. If Brady isn't healthy they are guaranteed at least 1 year from a QB who didn't start a game since high school and went 11-5 in the NFL. He will get much higher than a $14M signing bonus. If he rolls the dice and takes the 1 year deal and plays bad where does his leverage go? His leverage is today and he would have got someone to give him a huge contract. If the Patriots didn't do this they had no backup plan for Brady who by the way isn't a young QB.

I think you might be confused. The franchise tag guaranteed that he's not an unrestricted free agent and that is all. If Brady is healthy someone will sign him to a long term deal this year and give up picks for him. If Brady isn't healthy they are guaranteed at least 1 year from a QB who didn't start a game since high school and went 11-5 in the NFL. He will get much higher than a $14M signing bonus. If he rolls the dice and takes the 1 year deal and plays bad where does his leverage go? His leverage is today and he would have got someone to give him a huge contract. If the Patriots didn't do this they had no backup plan for Brady who by the way isn't a young QB.

 

:thumb:

 

Just to note a few more points...

 

First, NFL contracts are all about the guaranteed money. Tagging Cassel is the cheapest way for the Patriots to keep him for a year until they know Brady's status. No way they could sign him to a real contract for less than 14 million guaranteed. A contract would affect their salary cap past the 2009 season. Tagging him won't. In addition, if they sign him to a multi-year deal worth significant money and Brady returns with no problems, then they're in a position where they have to get rid of him and everyone knows it. Where is the leverage in that? They'd basically be banking on the fact that multiple teams would want Cassel and would be bidding against each other, but that's a huge risk because there aren't that many teams that are desperate for a QB right now...the most likely teams who would be interested are Minnesota, Detroit, Tampa Bay, San Francisco and possibly the Jets depending on Favre's situation. And, that's right now...you have to figure some of those teams will address their QB concerns in the '09 draft. Is it worth a 20 million dollar gamble to see if you can create a bidding war between two or three teams for Matt Cassel? No way.

 

Second, there are two types of franchise tags...

 

1. Exclusive - The tagged player will be paid the average of the top five salaries at his position as of a date in April of the current year that the tag will apply, or 120 percent of his current salary, whichever is higher. The player cannot negotiate with any other team.

 

2. Non-exclusive - Two differences...the salary is the average of the top five at his position from the previous year (which will be lower)...and he can negotiate with other teams. If he signs an offer sheet with another team, his current team can match the offer or let him walk and receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.

 

 

I seriously doubt any of the teams that would potentially be interested in Cassel would be willing to give up their next two first round picks for him. The price is too steep.

:thumb:

 

Just to note a few more points...

 

First, NFL contracts are all about the guaranteed money. Tagging Cassel is the cheapest way for the Patriots to keep him for a year until they know Brady's status. No way they could sign him to a real contract for less than 14 million guaranteed. A contract would affect their salary cap past the 2009 season. Tagging him won't. In addition, if they sign him to a multi-year deal worth significant money and Brady returns with no problems, then they're in a position where they have to get rid of him and everyone knows it. Where is the leverage in that? They'd basically be banking on the fact that multiple teams would want Cassel and would be bidding against each other, but that's a huge risk because there aren't that many teams that are desperate for a QB right now...the most likely teams who would be interested are Minnesota, Detroit, Tampa Bay, San Francisco and possibly the Jets depending on Favre's situation. And, that's right now...you have to figure some of those teams will address their QB concerns in the '09 draft. Is it worth a 20 million dollar gamble to see if you can create a bidding war between two or three teams for Matt Cassel? No way.

 

Second, there are two types of franchise tags...

 

1. Exclusive - The tagged player will be paid the average of the top five salaries at his position as of a date in April of the current year that the tag will apply, or 120 percent of his current salary, whichever is higher. The player cannot negotiate with any other team.

 

2. Non-exclusive - Two differences...the salary is the average of the top five at his position from the previous year (which will be lower)...and he can negotiate with other teams. If he signs an offer sheet with another team, his current team can match the offer or let him walk and receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.

 

 

I seriously doubt any of the teams that would potentially be interested in Cassel would be willing to give up their next two first round picks for him. The price is too steep.

 

We have a winner and no doubt they'll go w/ option number 2. This was a no brainer that proves again that NE knows what they're doing.

I think you might be confused. The franchise tag guaranteed that he's not an unrestricted free agent and that is all. If Brady is healthy someone will sign him to a long term deal this year and give up picks for him. If Brady isn't healthy they are guaranteed at least 1 year from a QB who didn't start a game since high school and went 11-5 in the NFL. He will get much higher than a $14M signing bonus. If he rolls the dice and takes the 1 year deal and plays bad where does his leverage go? His leverage is today and he would have got someone to give him a huge contract. If the Patriots didn't do this they had no backup plan for Brady who by the way isn't a young QB.

 

I 100% understand the salary cap in the NFL and the franchise tag. I just disagree with you for the numerous reasons mentioned above.

:thumb:

 

Just to note a few more points...

 

First, NFL contracts are all about the guaranteed money. Tagging Cassel is the cheapest way for the Patriots to keep him for a year until they know Brady's status. No way they could sign him to a real contract for less than 14 million guaranteed. A contract would affect their salary cap past the 2009 season. Tagging him won't. In addition, if they sign him to a multi-year deal worth significant money and Brady returns with no problems, then they're in a position where they have to get rid of him and everyone knows it. Where is the leverage in that? They'd basically be banking on the fact that multiple teams would want Cassel and would be bidding against each other, but that's a huge risk because there aren't that many teams that are desperate for a QB right now...the most likely teams who would be interested are Minnesota, Detroit, Tampa Bay, San Francisco and possibly the Jets depending on Favre's situation. And, that's right now...you have to figure some of those teams will address their QB concerns in the '09 draft. Is it worth a 20 million dollar gamble to see if you can create a bidding war between two or three teams for Matt Cassel? No way.

 

Second, there are two types of franchise tags...

 

1. Exclusive - The tagged player will be paid the average of the top five salaries at his position as of a date in April of the current year that the tag will apply, or 120 percent of his current salary, whichever is higher. The player cannot negotiate with any other team.

 

2. Non-exclusive - Two differences...the salary is the average of the top five at his position from the previous year (which will be lower)...and he can negotiate with other teams. If he signs an offer sheet with another team, his current team can match the offer or let him walk and receive two first-round draft picks as compensation.

 

 

I seriously doubt any of the teams that would potentially be interested in Cassel would be willing to give up their next two first round picks for him. The price is too steep.

 

They guarenteed him more money than they needed to to get him signed, IMO. It is as simple as that.

They guarenteed him more money than they needed to to get him signed, IMO. It is as simple as that.

 

IMO you're totally wrong. Someone else would have given him a huge bonus and a long term deal. More than likely that still comes when he's either traded or allowed to walk for two first rounders. There are two likely scenarios. Brady is unable to go and they have Cassell who went 11-5. Or Brady is fine and they let him sign somewhere else or they trade him. Therefore they either don't pay two QB's or its a darn good thing they did b/c Brady can't go.