Cassel and Whitlock = BFF's

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Sorry if repost:

Let the hate begin!

Posted on Tue, May. 26, 2009
I’m starting to get cold feet about Cassel
JASON WHITLOCK COMMENTARY

If this is an audition, it’s a very expensive one.

When Scott Pioli struck the deal for Tom Brady understudy Matt Cassel, the experts lauded Pioli for acquiring the one-year wonder for such a “reasonable” price, a second-round pick.

Three months later — with Cassel still unsigned to a long-term deal — the price tag is losing quite a bit of its discount value. In fact, you could argue that Cassel inked a rather generous prenuptial agreement and Bill Belichick unloaded a potential headache.

It appears the Chiefs have little interest in signing Matt Cassel to a long-term contract before the start of the season. Or, more likely, Pioli lost interest in signing Cassel to a long-term contract once Kansas City’s first-time general manager learned Cassel and agent David Dunn’s asking price.

Given Cassel’s and Pioli’s New England relationship, I just assumed when the Chiefs traded for Cassel, the parameters of a long-term deal were agreed upon before the trade. I assumed wrong. Or, more likely, Cassel and Dunn elevated their contract demands after perusing the Chiefs’ roster and salary-cap situation.

The Chiefs have enough salary-cap room to house, feed, clothe and entertain most of Canada. And Kansas City’s current offensive personnel would make any rational QB demand hazardous-work pay.

Whatever the cause, Pioli and Dunn can’t agree on Cassel’s worth. The rumor around the Loch Lloyd golf course is the Cassels are renting, not buying.

Can you really blame them in this economy and with a fickle housing market?

But whom should we blame for this expensive experiment?

As of right now, Cassel is scheduled to earn nearly $15 million for the 2009 season. That’s his franchise-tag number.

Had we known in February that Cassel would cost $15 million and a second-round pick for one season of play, would we still regard his acquisition as a wise move?

Of course, if he plays lights-out and proves that his one good, Randy Moss-Wes Welker-fueled season was no fluke, no one will complain about the acquisition price and no one will care what the Chiefs have to pay next season to keep him.

The problem is, I just can’t imagine him putting together a magnificent or even solid season in 2009.

Tony Gonzalez is gone. Larry Johnson is still here. Brian Waters is somewhere brooding. The Chiefs drafted a bunch of defensive linemen.

The way Pioli has assembled offensive talent (36-year-old Bobby Engram is the big-ticket free-agent signing) makes me believe he’s negotiating with Dunn and Cassel.

No offense to Cassel, but he’s a college and NFL bench-warmer who had the luxury of playing quarterback alongside the greatest offensive force (Moss) the league has seen since Jim Brown.

Last season Cassel stepped into a moving vehicle and did a good job of not running off the road. Kansas City’s offense has been stuck in neutral since Dick Vermeil left. And now the one reliable tire left on KC’s car moved to Atlanta.

This smells like 15 TDs and 20 interceptions, doesn’t it? Or maybe seven TDs, 12 interceptions and a season-ending injury halfway through the season.

It’s not even June, and I can already hear the Tyler Thigpen chants in the distance. By October, the talk-radio shows will be filled with Grbac-Gannon analogies.

The official Vegas over-under line on when I’ll write my first Jeff George column is Oct. 3. I’m playing the under if you must know.

For the record, my official position is I’d prefer to see the Chiefs draft and develop a quarterback. The Chiefs keep trying to convert backups — even Joe Montana was Steve Young’s backup in San Fran — into Super Bowl quarterbacks.

You ever break up with a girlfriend/boyfriend, date their best friend and then complain about the same problems? It’s stupid. It’s just as stupid to keep dating the exact same quarterback.

Most backup quarterbacks are backups for a good reason. They don’t marinate on the bench for eight years waiting to be discovered.

My problem with Cassel is he didn’t transfer out of USC when he was stuck behind Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. The great ones generally have massive egos that can’t be satisfied riding the pine.

Man, I hope I’m wrong about this $15 million audition.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by orange

Uhhh Gannon "emerged" when he got sick of riding the Chiefs' bench and went somewhere else where he would PLAY.

Unlike Cassel who's been content on the bench for eight years.

Gannon rode the bench in Minnesota and Washington for a number of years, and was out of football for a season, before he rode the bench in KC.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by EyePod

Yeah, wait till the end of this year to see if he's really worth it. If he's not, we can get Colt McCoy in the draft and be set for years.

Originally Posted by EyePod

And yes, I really do think that Colt McCoy is going to be the best QB next year.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Originally Posted by EyePod

Yeah, wait till the end of this year to see if he's really worth it. If he's not, we can get Colt McCoy in the draft and be set for years.

No.

[bobbything]

Whitlock complains that we're too far under the cap. Then he complains that we paid too much for Cassel. To me, the inordinate amount of money we're paying him doesn't hurt us at all. I suppose it could if we signed him to a long-term contract at that amount, but since we're not really spending it now, what difference does it make?

Whitlock? Anyone?

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by orange

Because Competitors want to play, not warm the bench.

I don't remember Brady transferring from Michigan when all the Drew Henson crap was going on.

[orange]

Originally Posted by milkman

Gannon rode the bench in Minnesota and Washington for a number of years, and was out of football for a season, before he rode the bench in KC.

Sorry but Gannon spent two years with Minn. as the "developmental" QB everyone here seems to think is the way to go; he then was the STARTER for two years. When he was replaced in the starting lineup, he sought and got his release so he could go elsewhere. He was signed by the Redskins after surgery and got three games as a starter before they cut him.

What don't you get? Real players do not sit quietly content holding a clipboard. Dozens - maybe hundreds - of college players every year transfer to get a chance to play. Cassel didn't.

[orange]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

I don't remember Brady transferring from Michigan when all the Drew Henson crap was going on.

Amazing that you would bring Brady up in this. Brady at Michigan was the anti-Cassel.

From his Wikipedia bio:

Brady played college football for and graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan. He was a backup his first two years while his teammate and future NFL quarterback Brian Griese led the Wolverines to a share of the national championship in 1997 in the Rose Bowl. When he enrolled at Michigan, Brady was seventh on the depth chart and had an intense struggle to get some playing time. At one point, Brady hired a sports psychologist to help him cope with frustration and anxiety and even considered transferring to Cal[7], frustrated by what seemed like a lack of opportunity.[8] Brady battled for the number one quarterback position with Drew Henson and ultimately started every game in the 1998 and 1999 seasons under Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr. During his first full year as starter, he set Michigan records for most pass attempts and completions in a season (214).[9] Brady was All-Big Ten (honorable mention) both seasons and team captain his senior year. The Wolverines won 20 of 25 games when he started and shared the Big Ten Conference title in 1998. Brady capped that season off with a win over Arkansas in the Citrus Bowl.[10] In the 1999 season, Brady led Michigan to an overtime win in the Orange Bowl over Alabama, throwing for 369 yards and four touchdowns.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by orange

Sorry but Gannon spent two years with Minn. as the "developmental" QB everyone here seems to think is the way to go; he then was the STARTER for two years. When he was replaced in the starting lineup, he sought and got his release so he could go elsewhere. He was signed by the Redskins after surgery and got three games as a starter before they cut him.

What don't you get? Real players do not sit quietly content holding a clipboard. Dozens - maybe hundreds - of college players every year transfer to get a chance to play. Cassel didn't.

He spent three years on the bench in Minnesota, and was ineffective as a starter for the following three years.

He was also ineffective as a stater, for 4 games in Washington.

He emerged after years of riding the bench and ineffective play.

I'm not defending Cassel.

I asked the same question.

Why wouldn't he transfer?

But to suggest that Gannon simply "emerged" after leaving KC for a chance to start is sheer unadulterated bull.

[wild1]

the media in this town is going to have a tough time getting used to this new regime.

they will try to create drama and strife for their own purposes but it isn't going to work. they will try to get information but the front office won't be pandering to the media anymore.

they won't be able to get stories just by ingratiating themselves to the Chiefs or by trying to stir the pot. the team is focusing on football and that is what they should do.

whitlock doesn't have an enemy he can use to write a column when he's bored now that Carl is gone.

he'll pick some player to antagonize all year. the new quarterback would be a handy foil.

[orange]

Originally Posted by milkman

But to suggest that Gannon simply "emerged" after leaving KC for a chance to start is sheer unadulterated bull.

Well then, tell that to beach tribe, not me. It's his word. You'll notice I put quotes around it.

But it's also unadulterated bull to suggest Gannon was ever content as a backup. He kept on plugging, seeking new opportunities to play, even grousing on the sidelines (many will tell you he earned the starting job in KC), and finally found his spot.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by orange

Well then, tell that to beach tribe, not me. It's his word. You'll notice I put quotes around it.

But it's also unadulterated bull to suggest Gannon was ever content as a backup. He kept on plugging, seeking new opportunities to play, even grousing on the sidelines (many will tell you he earned the starting job in KC), and finally found his spot.

I shouldn't have put quotation marks around that word.

The point is, that Gannon flourished only after years and years of development.

He was journeyman QB who, after 11 years as an ieffective starter and bench warmer, landed in the right place with the right system.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by orange

Uhhh Gannon "emerged" when he got sick of riding the Chiefs' bench and went somewhere else where he would PLAY.

Unlike Cassel who's been content on the bench for eight years.

Wrong, Gannon led the Chiefs to 8 straight wins (iirc, maybe more), while Elvis was injurred. Then Marty played Elvis in the playoffs, and as a Bronco fan, you should be very happy about that.

[orange]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

Wrong, Gannon led the Chiefs to 8 straight wins (iirc, maybe more), while Elvis was injurred. Then Marty played Elvis in the playoffs, and as a Bronco fan, you should be very happy about that.

"Wrong" you say?

Originally Posted by orange

(many will tell you he earned the starting job in KC)

I believe I already addressed that.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by orange

Amazing that you would bring Brady up in this. Brady at Michigan was the anti-Cassel.

From his Wikipedia bio:

Brady played college football for and graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan. He was a backup his first two years while his teammate and future NFL quarterback Brian Griese led the Wolverines to a share of the national championship in 1997 in the Rose Bowl. When he enrolled at Michigan, Brady was seventh on the depth chart and had an intense struggle to get some playing time. At one point, Brady hired a sports psychologist to help him cope with frustration and anxiety and even considered transferring to Cal[7], frustrated by what seemed like a lack of opportunity.[8] Brady battled for the number one quarterback position with Drew Henson and ultimately started every game in the 1998 and 1999 seasons under Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr. During his first full year as starter, he set Michigan records for most pass attempts and completions in a season (214).[9] Brady was All-Big Ten (honorable mention) both seasons and team captain his senior year. The Wolverines won 20 of 25 games when he started and shared the Big Ten Conference title in 1998. Brady capped that season off with a win over Arkansas in the Citrus Bowl.[10] In the 1999 season, Brady led Michigan to an overtime win in the Orange Bowl over Alabama, throwing for 369 yards and four touchdowns.

No, Brady was not the "Anti-Cassel". Brady could have done what you say a competitor would want to do.... you know, quit competing and transfer somewhere easier. You might have noticed that in the very thing you posted:

At one point, Brady hired a sports psychologist to help him cope with frustration and anxiety and even considered transferring to Cal[7], frustrated by what seemed like a lack of opportunity.

[orange]

Two years on the bench + two years starting after competing and winning the job.

. .vs. .

One year on the bench + three more years on the bench after losing the job.


Yep, Brady was the anti-Cassel.