Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs / Photo: Newscom

Chiefs GM Scott Pioli issued the following canned response statement with the news:

“We are happy to announce that the Chiefs and Matt have entered into a multi-year commitment. Since Matt arrived in Kansas City, he has embraced the team and the community. His work ethic, his ability and competitive presence is what we expect from our players.”

What Mr. Pioli really wanted to say was he hopes the Chiefs gambled all that money wisely.

Source: KCChiefs.com

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Matt Cassel Gets Six Years, $60 Million

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler was upset to hear his name being thrown around in trade talks this weekend. And I can’t say I blame him. Before Matt Cassel was traded from New England to Kansas City yesterday, Jay’s name came up in a proposed three-way deal with the Tampa Bay Bucs that would have brought Matt to Denver (and reunited him with his former offensive coordinator from New England and Broncos new head coach Josh McDaniels) and sent Jay to Tampa Bay. It obviously didn’t work out but the trouble had already started as far as Jay was concerned:

“I’m upset. I mean, I’m really shocked at this point. I could see why they want Cassel. I don’t know if they think I can’t run the system or I don’t have the skills for it. Or if they don’t think they can sign me with my next contract. I just don’t know what it is. I’ve heard I’m still on the trading block.”

Coach McDaniels denies that Jay is on the trading block — or ever was for that matter. But it sounds like damage control to me because a source close to the situation confirmed the Broncos were trying to trade Jay for Matt before Matt was traded to Kansas City. Hmm. Allow me to pose this question: What led the Patriots or Bucs to believe that Jay could be traded in the first place? Somebody had to put out the word that he was an option for a trade. Why else would another team call the Broncos and pose that kind of ridiculous question? Because it is ridiculous. I’m guessing they must have leaked word that Jay was a “trade-able” possibility. Yes, of course they did.

This shows a lack of respect for what Jay has accomplished in Denver thus far and it’s tantamount to a slap in the face if you ask me. I don’t know what Jay has to do to earn any more respect in Denver. All he did last season was throw for 4,526 yards and 25 touchdowns and make the Pro Bowl. I know 31 other teams who would like to have that kind of productivity from their quarterback. I’m not going to bash coach McDaniels because I don’t know his knowledge of the situation, but he appears to be lying and sure isn’t getting off on the right foot with the most important member of his new team.

Sources: ESPN.com, NFL.com, Photo: Newscom

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Jay Cutler Upset With Trade Talk

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

New England Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel has been traded to the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs also got linebacker Mike Vrabel from New England in exchange for their second-round pick (34th overall) in the 2009 NFL Draft. The agreement is good only if both players pass their physicals, but I don’t think that will be an issue. Chiefs new GM Scott Pioli (formerly of the Patriots, of course) was thrilled to bring old faces into new places:

“I have a long history with both players. Mike and Matt are men that I respect both personally and professionally. I look forward to having them as new members of the Chiefs family.”

I am shocked that the Patriots gave up both players for only a second round Draft choice. I think this is an incredible steal for the Chiefs. Granted, Matt Cassel could be a “one season wonder” and Mike Vrabel is in the twilight of his career, but this has the potential to be a very big deal for the Chiefs.

I knew the Patriots weren’t going to keep Matt around as a $14.5 million backup to Tom Brady. So they must be very secure that Tom’s knee rehab is going well. Matt had a great season by anyone’s standards last year (3,693 yards and 21 TDs to only 11 INTs). So, why let him go for so little — especially with what appeared to be a high demand for his services this offseason?

The Kansas City Chiefs, though, are an organization headed in the right direction in a hurry. After finishing the 2008 season with a dismal 2-14 record, they fired head coach Herm Edwards (one of my favorite head coaches, by the way) and brought in aforementioned general manager Scott Pioli to help get things going in the right direction. I’d say he’s doing a great job so far. And that’s what I expected. He hired new head coach Todd Haley just days after coach Haley’s Arizona Cardinals lost Super Bowl XLIII. He’ll be an outstanding young head coach in this league. And with the additions of Cassel and Vrabel, the Chiefs are on the road to greatly improving their personnel. Just like that the Kansas City Chiefs are ready to contend in the AFC West.

Source: KCChiefs.com, Photo: Newscom

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Patriots Trade Matt Cassel to Chiefs

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

N.Y. Jets fans are not going to be happy with this news. The New England Patriots signed free agent tight end Chris Baker today. The Jets released Chris earlier this month with good reason — they didn’t want to pay him a $9 million option bonus payment that was coming due early next month. Chris is a fine player and has tremendous potential as a tight end in this league, but I wouldn’t want to pay him $9 million, either. He had good numbers in 2007 (41 catches) but tapered off last season with the emergence of rookie tight end Dustin Keller. Chris had considered returning to the Jets, but ultimately decided that catching passes from Tom Brady and/or Matt Cassel made more sense. The Patriots will be thrilled to get 40-50 receptions from Chris this season. And with the QBs in New England, I believe they will.

Source: NFL.com, Photo: Newscom

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Patriots Sign Chris Baker

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Franchise player designations were announced today for the 2009 National Football League free agency signing period that begins on February 27. A club can designate one “franchise” player or one “transition” player among its veteran free agents. The salary offer by a player’s club determines whether the franchise player designation is exclusive or non-exclusive. An “exclusive” franchise player — not free to sign with another club — is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position for the current year as of April 17; or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary; or the average of the top five salaries at his position as of the end of last season — whichever of the three is greater. There are no exclusive franchise player designations this year.

If the player is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, he becomes a “non-exclusive” franchise player and can negotiate with other clubs. His old club can match a new club’s offer, or receive two first-round draft choices if it decides not to match. The signing period for franchise players to sign with new clubs is February 27 until the Tuesday after the 10th week of the season (November 17).

A transition player receives a minimum offer of the average of the top 10 salaries of last season at the player’s position or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, whichever is greater. A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives no compensation. There are no transition player designations this year.

The franchise players for 2009 are:

• Karlos Dansby, LB, Arizona Cardinals
• Michael Koenen, P, Atlanta Falcons
• Terrell Suggs, LB, Baltimore Ravens
• Julius Peppers, DE, Carolina Panthers
• Shayne Graham, K, Cincinnati Bengals
• Dunta Robinson, DB, Houston Texans
• Matt Cassel, QB, New England Patriots
• Brandon Jacobs, RB, N.Y. Giants
• Max Starks, T, Pittsburgh Steelers
• Darren Sproles, RB, San Diego Chargers
• Oshiomogho Atogwe, DB, St. Louis Rams
• Leroy Hill, LB, Seattle Seahawks
• Antonio Bryant, WR, Tampa Bay Bucs
• Bo Scaife, TE, Tennessee Titans

Source: NFL Media, Photo: Newscom

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Franchise Players Named

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

The New England Patriots placed a non-exclusive franchise tag on backup quarterback Matt Cassel today. The Pats will keep Matt if they have any doubts that QB Tom Brady won’t be ready for the start of the 2009 season. But if Tom is ready (as he’s expected to be), it’s likely New England will trade Matt rather than pay him the $14.65 million brought by the tag (of course, the Pats aren’t stupid — they could also offer him a long-term deal). In a statement released by the Patriots today, head coach Bill Belichick said:

“Matt has been a pleasure to coach his entire career and last season in particular, when his years of hard work and commitment resulted in a most impressive performance. We look forward to working with Matt again in 2009.”

After a phenomenal 2008 season, Matt is nearly as hot a commodity as his mentor. He was certainly an adequate replacement, completing 63% of his passes for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns. Those are good enough numbers to start for any team in 2009. And he just might get that chance.

Source: Patriots.com, Photo: Newscom

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Matt Cassel Gets Franchise Tag

New England Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel has been a huge surprise this season. After a pretty stinko preseason (56.6 QB rating), Matt has performed not just admirably, but at a near-Pro Bowl level in subbing for injured, all-world, mega-star QB Tom Brady. Fresh off a 47-7 drubbing of NFC West champs Arizona, Matt now has 3,615 passing yards and 21 touchdowns in 15 games. Seriously. Tom will be back from his knee injury next season which means the Patriots will most likely have to deal Matt to one of the many quarterback needy teams in the NFL. You can be sure the interest will be there. That means a nice payday for Matt and additional Draft picks for the Pats. It’s a win-win situation for both parties.

Source: NFL.com

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Matt Cassel Continues to Impress

Making an unpublicized appearance at a Goodwill Thanksgiving Dinner in Boston this evening, New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady says he is “doing well” in his recovery from reconstructive knee surgery. Of course, he couldn’t be doing much worse than he was. Following surgery, Tom had multiple procedures to clear an infection out of his knee and was placed on a six-week regimen of IV antibiotics. With the way Matt Cassel has been playing, Tom better get back sooner than later. OK, I’m just kidding. Sort of.

Source: SportingNews.com

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Tom Brady ‘Doing Well’ in Recovery

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

A lot has been made of Tom Brady’s season-ending knee injury. And rightfully so. He’s arguably the best player in the National Football League and one of the best quarterbacks of all-time, even at just 31-years-old. But what about his backup, Matt Cassel, who has been thrust into the national spotlight to follow in the footsteps of last season’s league MVP? With rumors running rampant that the Pats would scour the free agent market for Tom’s replacement (heck, I suggested Daunte Culpepper), the team did nothing. They were happy with the QBs they had (Matt Cassel and rookie Kevin O’Connell). And they were happy with Matt as their starter for the remainder of the 2008 season. Matt met with the media this week for the first time since Tom’s injury and appeared calm, cool and collected, much like his mentor:

“Once you get to the field, it’s business as usual. It’s more the outside distractions, if you let them become distractions, they will become distractions. For me, it’s just go and play ball and … realize it’s a game, and it’s a fun game, and just go out there and enjoy it.”

Why should Matt Cassel succeed as the quarterback of the New England Patriots? He knows the offense. He knows the playbook. He’s been in the Pats system watching Tom Brady for four years. Some of that had to rub off. And he is surrounded by a great offensive line and talented playmakers. I’m not saying he’s the second coming of Tom Brady, but if he “stays within himself” and doesn’t try to be the second coming of Tom Brady, the Patriots will continue to have much success — probably double-digit wins. I can’t think of a better first test than a road game against Brett Favre and the upstart AFC East division rival N.Y. Jets tomorrow.

All this being said, I think the Patriots are taking quite a risk by not having a veteran backup for Matt. They are but one play away from putting a rookie out of San Diego State in the driver’s seat. Are they so confident in Matt and Kevin that they’re willing to go without any veteran leadership at the most important position on the field? I don’t think it’s a risk worth taking.

Source: Patriots.com, Photo: Newscom

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Why Matt Cassel Might Succeed as Quarterback of the New England Patriots

With Tom Brady on the shelf for the rest of the 2008 season, are the New England Patriots considering giving recently retired quarterback Daunte Culpepper a call? Shortly after Tom’s devastating injury yesterday, the Pats contacted free agent QBs Chris Simms and Tim Rattay. According to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen (reporting on Monday Night Countdown), when they showed up for their interviews/workouts today, both players were sent back to the airport because plans had changed. I just got off the phone with Patriots Executive Director of Media Relations Stacey James and all he knew of the matter was that Coach Belichick told him no quarterbacks worked out today.

Now, I don’t have any concrete information to share in regards to the Patriots’ potential interest in Daunte, but doesn’t it make sense? Who else are they going to consider? Rookie Kevin O’Connell is in line to take over if anything happens to Matt Cassel. Nobody else is left at that position on the active roster. The team cut Matt Gutierrez during the preseason. So who will the Patriots turn to? Who? Daunte Culpepper is the obvious choice. If Brett Favre can come out of retirement, why not Daunte Culpepper?

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Daunte Culpepper to Patriots?