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.

[orange]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Yes. Do you actually know anything about Cassel?



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

Cassel played one season of baseball for USC in 2004, he had an 0–1 record with 10 strikeouts and 4 walks, he played in 8 games and started 1. Cassel struck out in his only at bat in college. He also had 2 saves with a 9.35 ERA, and was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 36th round of the 2004 MLB Draft

2004 - his last season at USC. He was a walkon - it's not like he was too busy playing football. Drafted in the 36th round for his athletic ability.

As for Carson Palmer - what do you expect him to say about a teammate?

The idea that transferring to a school where you will play is quitting - THAT'S idiotic.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by orange

[I]The idea that transferring to a school where you will play is quitting - THAT'S idiotic.

You're kidding, right? I mean, you don't see that quitting your team to go somewhere else is quitting?

[orange]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

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.

The idea that he stayed at USC to compete is a joke. He got what, 30 passes in four years?

To the vast majority of the world, someone who loses out getting a job should go get a different job, not hang around the company sweeping the floors and waiting for the first guy to die so he can re-apply.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by orange

The idea that he stayed at USC to compete is a joke. He got what, 30 passes in four years?

To the vast majority of the world, someone who loses out getting a job should go get a different job, not hang around the company sweeping the floors and waiting for the first guy to die so he can re-apply.

Ok, so you've never played sports in your life, right? I mean, you clearly have missed all the players on the benches of these sports, so you can't possibly have played.

P.S. When Brady lost out on the starting job in Michigan and New England, should he have just quit and started looking for another job?

[notorious]

Ah Hell. We have a one year deal to see what Cassel has. Reading debate between Brady and Cassel has lowered my already low IQ into the negative. Brady is a HOFer, Cassel is a flash in the pants SO FAR. Based on the history of similar situations with backups signing with other teams, I am not expecting much from Cassel.


PLEASE stop comparing the two. Brady went 16-0 with the team that Cassel filled in on. There is NO comparison between the two.

[orange]

Originally Posted by notorious

Ah Hell. We have a one year deal to see what Cassel has. Reading debate between Brady and Cassel has lowered my already low IQ into the negative. Brady is a HOFer, Cassel is a flash in the pants SO FAR. Based on the history of similar situations with backups signing with other teams, I am not expecting much from Cassel.


PLEASE stop comparing the two. Brady went 16-0 with the team that Cassel filled in on. There is NO comparison between the two.

This.

By the way, I think you're short-changing yourself. You show signs of positive IQ. Maybe a resurgence.

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by notorious

Ah Hell. We have a one year deal to see what Cassel has. Reading debate between Brady and Cassel has lowered my already low IQ into the negative. Brady is a HOFer, Cassel is a flash in the pants SO FAR. Based on the history of similar situations with backups signing with other teams, I am not expecting much from Cassel.


PLEASE stop comparing the two. Brady went 16-0 with the team that Cassel filled in on. There is NO comparison between the two.

Nobody's comparing their on-the-field games. Well, I'm not at the moment, anyway.

[Sweet Daddy Hate]

Yeah, here's a little food for thought:

Guy sits on bench and does prep work for his chosen vocation for almost a decade.
Guy finally get's his shot, plays like a finely honed razor blade by the end of the season, and gains league-wide respect in the process.

That's some pretty wicked ****ing A-Game for someone not taking hundreds of snaps since High School through College.
Let that shit sink-in and marinate, bitches.

Orton blows. Donks need to quit talking up something that doesn't exist. It's just pathetic.
Seriously; just...stop.

[notorious]

Originally Posted by orange

This.

By the way, I think you're short-changing yourself. You show signs of positive IQ. Maybe a resurgence.

Before I started posting on football message boards I probably had enough intelligence to design a perpetual motion machine, cure cancer, and finally fix the E.D. problem for aging males.

After the recent draft I can barely feed myself, I am infinately entertained by Sponge Bob, and I find myself staring at walls for hours.

What is next?!?!?! Am I going to start watching SOCCER?!?!

[notorious]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Nobody's comparing their on-the-field games. Well, I'm not at the moment, anyway.

Agreed.

[warpaint*]

Originally Posted by Mr. Arrowhead

your right, but the way he writes it is Joe Montana was just another Back up that we tried to convert to be a starter, which every one know is bullshit.

The point is no matter how high profile they are all qb's that weren't good enough to start for teams they were on at the time, no matter the reason. Which, he's right about. Ofcourse he completely ignores the fact that this is a completely different regime from the one that made all of those previous decisions.

Regardless, Pioli was in the organization and thought enough of Cassel to trade for him so I'm fine w/ it until the on field results state otherwise.

Having said that, Cassel has much to prove. My confidence in him is based solely on my confidence in Pioli's ability to evaluate talent, not Cassel's ability to perform for one season when he has Randy Moss and Wes Welker, et al to work with.

[Pasta Little Brioni]

Originally Posted by Raised On Riots

Yeah, here's a little food for thought:

Guy sits on bench and does prep work for his chosen vocation for almost a decade.
Guy finally get's his shot, plays like a finely honed razor blade by the end of the season, and gains league-wide respect in the process.

That's some pretty wicked ****ing A-Game for someone not taking hundreds of snaps since High School through College.
Let that shit sink-in and marinate, bitches.

Orton blows. Donks need to quit talking up something that doesn't exist. It's just pathetic.
Seriously; just...stop.

Exactly, people hold against him that they "only" went 11-5 without Brady. When you take into account that Cassel hadn't started a damn game in 8 years, the level he played at by the end of the season was pretty incredible.

[notorious]

I think New England's coaching combined with Brady's drive made Brady who he is today. It takes more then talent at QB to be good.

You have to have patient coaches who know how to teach a QB and allow him to grow through mistakes.


That is the key IMO.

[ModSocks]

Originally Posted by Just Passin' By

Ok, so you've never played sports in your life, right? I mean, you clearly have missed all the players on the benches of these sports, so you can't possibly have played.

P.S. When Brady lost out on the starting job in Michigan and New England, should he have just quit and started looking for another job?

Didn't Brady have to split time with Chad Henne, even when he "Started"?

[Just Passin' By]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Didn't Brady have to split time with Chad Henne, even when he "Started"?

Drew Henson, not Chad Henne, but you are correct in the general notion of Brady having to platoon.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/art...an.html?cat=14