ESPN Reports Matt Cassel Accepts Franchise Tender

The New England Patriots didn't waste any time placing the non-exclusive franchise tag on free agent quarterback Matt Cassel, doing so they first day they were allowed. Cassel, it would seem, has also wasted no time in accepting the offer, according Chris (scoop!) Mortensen of ESPN.

Cassel is now guaranteed a salary of $14.65 million in 2009, which is the average salary of the top five quarterbacks in the NFL.

After being a backup the first three years of his NFL career -- and his entire college career -- Cassel took over for reigning league MVP Tom Brady after Kansas City's Bernard Pollard rolled into Brady's knee in the season opener.

Cassel started the remaining 15 games of the regular season, helping guide the Patriots to an 11-5 record.

He finished the season with an impressive 89.4 passer rating, and completed over 63% of his passes for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns (to only 11 interceptions).

It's possible the Patriots could still trade the 26-year-old Cassel to one of the many teams around the league in desperate need of a quarterback (Detroit, Minnesota, Kansas City, Chicago, etc. etc. etc.) for a package of draft picks.

Michael Lombardi of National Football Post, for example, speculated this week that the Patriots could expect as much as a first round pick -- and more -- in return.

If the Patriots decide to keep Cassel, they will have nearly $30 million of their salary cap in 2009 tied up in the quarterback position.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-08-2009 @ 10:46AM

yamahawatercraft said...

Well this ought to be an interesting year in New England I can see him signing the retructering his contract and going from the 14.65 mil to like 5 mil to 6 mil to stay in NE. were he is comfortable.

Tommy said...

i say trade him to kc'for larry johnson and there first round pick which is the 3rd pick overall, this is a great move we get a good run game and grab the best defencive player coming out in the draft, and with our pick which is 17th grab another defencive player, and just hand us the superbowl ring

2-08-2009 @ 1:20PM

lazyindiankid4 said...

i really don't get why people are getting so hyped up over this kid. I mean lets talk common sense, don't you guys think that anyone would do good when you have some of the NFL's best receivers, a solid D, excellent coaching and etc on your team. You could put in someone like Charlie Frye and he could look amazing. I mean Tom Brady is brilliant, but Matt Cassel is an unproven raw talent(average QB). I am a SKINS fan and i think that even if you put our terrible QB( Jason Campbell) in there he would look like an above average QB. In a whole, I don't think Matt Cassel is worth 15 mil.

2-08-2009 @ 2:22PM

Stephen said...

lazyindiankid4:

So the Patriots make all good personnel decisions except for this one?

2-08-2009 @ 5:10PM

Bob said...

I think that Matt Cassel can not resign a contract . He is bound by the Franchise tag of 14.6 million and the only way he can change it maybe , if he is traded to another team and they restructure the contract. I maybe wrong in that assumption

2-09-2009 @ 4:38PM

Brad said...

First, Matt is not going to restructure anything. He is going to take the money and get paid what a starting QB should get paid, because if they had not tagged him, he would have left and been a starter somewhere else and for good money.

Second, NE had to place the tag on him or gamble that Brady will be ready next season. Chances are slim that Brady will be ready in time, so NE either tags Cassel and keeps on rolling or rolls the dice and tries to get someone else as a FA to come in and be starter. IMO, no one is going to come in and sign on as a starter when they know they will only be kicked to the curb in 2010 when Brady is again 100% back to normal.

By tagging Cassel, NE now has their best shot at making the playoffs in 2009. After 2009, they can let Cassel go as a UFA and draft or sign another backup to Brady.