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.

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by orange

"Wrong" you say?



I believe I already addressed that.

You stated he emerged when he left, that is wrong. No way can you defend that statement or spin it. He emerged, when Grbac got hurt, end of story.
You stand corrected, and don't for one second pretend you wouldn't trade Kyle Orton for a pair of Cassel's soiled underwear.

[raybec 4]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

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

That doesn't count.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by 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.

Not in the context you were arguing. Again, Brady could have transferred elsewhere, but didn't. That was the point you made that I posted about. Let's not go moving the goalposts here.

[orange]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Not in the context you were arguing. Again, Brady could have transferred elsewhere, but didn't. That was the point you made that I posted about. Let's not go moving the goalposts here.

Yes, EXACTLY in the context I was arguing. Brady and Cassel both went to schools with established QBs and sat on the bench while those established QBs finished their careers. They both then got the opportunity to win the job. Brady won and stayed, Cassel lost and... stayed.

There was NO chance Cassel was going to be the starter over Leinart - he even tried out at other positions. He was content to be the caddy.

[orange]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

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

Originally Posted by raybec 4

That doesn't count.

Of course it doesn't count! Brady BEAT OUT Henson! He started every game! He didn't have to go anywhere for PT!

What the hell don't you get?

Brady = backup -> starter
Cassel = backup -> permanent benchwarmer

[orange]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

You stated he emerged when he left, that is wrong. No way can you defend that statement or spin it. He emerged, when Grbac got hurt, end of story.
You stand corrected, and don't for one second pretend you wouldn't trade Kyle Orton for a pair of Cassel's soiled underwear.

I never stated that Gannon emerged at all.

I quoted beach tribe's inaccurate construction.

The point I was making was that Gannon LEFT THE CHIEFS because he didn't accept being a backup.

Now if you want to argue that his eight games off the bench for KC will be remembered over his MVP year with the Raiders by anyone who doesn't have an arrowhead tattooed on his belly, I can only pity you.


at wanting Cassel.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by orange

Of course it doesn't count! Brady BEAT OUT Henson! He started every game! He didn't have to go anywhere for PT!

What the hell don't you get?

Where "he stayed" is different from "he stayed". Maybe you could explain how staying and competing for the job is different from staying and competing for the job. See, other than you, nobody in the entire universe understands, so you'll be doing us all a favor. Each and every sentient being in the universe will owe you a debt of gratitude.

[KcFanInGA]

Or could it be that Cassel felt loyalty to the teams that selected him, and figured if he worked hard and stayed humble his time would come. I hope now is his time. He's earned it by staying prepared and ready to go when the time comes. The fact he didn't run from a situation is not always a bad thing. Just my opinion. Take it or leave it.

[orange]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Where "he stayed" is different from "he stayed". Maybe you could explain how staying and competing for the job is different from staying and competing for the job. See, other than you, nobody in the entire universe understands, so you'll be doing us all a favor. Each and every sentient being in the universe will owe you a debt of gratitude.

Everyone understands the difference - except you because you're being deliberately obtuse.

Brady WON THE JOB.
Cassel LOST THE JOB.

Brady got playing time.
Cassel got bench time.

Brady got the ball.
Cassel got the clipboard.

Any more questions?

[HemiEd]

Originally Posted by orange

I never stated that Gannon emerged at all.

I quoted beach tribe's inaccurate construction.

The point I was making was that Gannon LEFT THE CHIEFS because he didn't accept being a backup.

Now if you want to argue that his eight games off the bench for KC will be remembered over his MVP year with the Raiders by anyone who doesn't have an arrowhead tattooed on his belly, I can only pity you.


at wanting Cassel.

WTF?! Here is your exact quote: "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."

Emerged = beginning = the beginning was when he came off the bench at KC, is that really that hard, or do you just not comprehend the words you use?

You will be pining for Cassel, I have watched Kyle Orten try to beat out Rex Grossman up here for several years. You will day dream about Jake Plummer.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by orange

I never stated that Gannon emerged at all.

I quoted beach tribe's inaccurate construction.

The point I was making was that Gannon LEFT THE CHIEFS because he didn't accept being a backup.

Now if you want to argue that his eight games off the bench for KC will be remembered over his MVP year with the Raiders by anyone who doesn't have an arrowhead tattooed on his belly, I can only pity you.


at wanting Cassel.

So you're laughing at your kid Head Coach, right?

[orange]

Originally Posted by KcFanInGA

Or could it be that Cassel felt loyalty to the teams that selected him, and figured if he worked hard and stayed humble his time would come. I hope now is his time. He's earned it by staying prepared and ready to go when the time comes. The fact he didn't run from a situation is not always a bad thing. Just my opinion. Take it or leave it.

I accept that. The question was originally put "what does Whitlock have against Cassel for not transferring?" I supplied the answer - Whitlock and many, many more see that as a red flag indicating Cassel isn't competitive.

As for Cassel's time...

He was the beneficiary of a perfect storm, the alignment of Bernard Pollard, Randy Moss, and Josh McDaniels. How many other players in any sport have ever exploded to the tune of $15 million dollars with no resume whatsoever? If that was his plan, he's not a QB, he's a psychic.

[orange]

Originally Posted by milkman

So you're laughing at your kid Head Coach, right?

To the degree that he wanted Cassel, yes.

Of course, he didn't want him enough to actually trade for him - even at the low, low market price of half-a-second-rounder.

[orange]

Originally Posted by HemiEd

WTF?! Here is your exact quote: "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."

Emerged = beginning = the beginning was when he came off the bench at KC, is that really that hard, or do you just not comprehend the words you use?

You will be pining for Cassel, I have watched Kyle Orten try to beat out Rex Grossman up here for several years. You will day dream about Jake Plummer.

"emerged" - in quotations = I'm using quoting the other guy's word but I wouldn't use that word myself. This is a standard construction in English writing. Maybe you missed that day at school.

As for the idea that Gannon "emerged" (there it is again) at KC - apparently not enough to keep the starting job over Grbac.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by orange

Everyone understands the difference - except you because you're being deliberately obtuse.

Brady WON THE JOB.
Cassel LOST THE JOB.

Brady got playing time.
Cassel got bench time.

Brady got the ball.
Cassel got the clipboard.

Any more questions?

Yes. Do you actually know anything about Cassel?

Originally Posted by orange

Because Competitors want to play, not warm the bench.

The guy was a pitcher on the USC baseball team and was actually drafted by the A's.

The guy played wherever he needed to in order to play and help the team. In 2001 alone:

He appeared in 7 games (Washington, Notre Dame, Arizona, Oregon State, California, UCLA and Utah) as a wide receiver and on special teams; he also played quarterback briefly at California. Overall in 2001, he was 1-of-2 (50.0%) for 5 yards passing, ran for 22 yards on 3 carries (7.3 avg.), caught a 12-yard pass and made a tackle. He did a little bit of everything at California, catching a 12-yard pass as a wide receiver, making a tackle on special teams and, in his first career action at quarterback, hitting 1-of-2 passes for 5 yards and gaining 20 yards on a run. He also gained 4 yards on a reverse at Notre Dame. He won USC's Co-Lifter Award.

http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-...el_matt00.html

This "transfer" issue is just idiotic. Brady thought about transferring while he was at Michigan. Also, even when Brady was a starter, Carr was platooning him with Henson.

I'm not being obtuse. You're simply making a piss poor argument. Carson Palmer seems to get what you do not:

WHAT OTHERS SAY: Former USC Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Carson Palmer: "Matt is a perfect representative of the attitude that's needed to play on this team. He could have thrown it in at the beginning of 2001 camp, he could have quit. But he hung in there and started the Cal game at H-back."

To you, a sign of a competitor is to quit competing and to go elsewhere so you don't have to compete. To the vast majority of the world, quitters aren't considered competitors.