MahiMike
02-06-2009, 07:10 AM
Cassel's (probably) out of the picture.
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20090206_Patriots_put_franchise_tag_on_Cassel__who_will_earn__14_65M.html
Patriots put franchise tag on Cassel, who will earn $14.65M
Daily News Wire Services
The New England Patriots placed the franchise tag on Matt Cassel yesterday, making it tougher for other teams to sign the free-agent quarterback.
The Patriots might keep him if they have doubts that Tom Brady will be ready for the start of next season after suffering a serious knee injury in the 2008 opener. If they are confident Brady will be ready, they could trade Cassel rather than pay him the $14.65 million offer for 2009 in the franchise designation.
Cassel had a breakout season in 2008, starting 15 games after starting none the seven previous seasons - four with Southern California as backup to Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart, and three after New England drafted him in the seventh round in 2005.
For now, he remains a free agent, but the Patriots can match any offer made by another team or allow him to sign with that team in exchange for two first-round draft picks. The franchise tag value is the average of the top-five-paid NFL players at a particular position.
If and when Cassel signs the 1-year designation, he will be under contract to the Patriots and could be dealt.
"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," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said in a statement. "We look forward to working with Matt again in 2009."
David Dunn, Cassel's agent, did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Cassel's stock soared after he took over for Brady and helped the Patriots to an 11-5 record, but New England missed the playoffs.
Brady, who led the Patriots to an unbeaten regular season in 2007 and to their fourth Super Bowl appearance in 8 years, went to the turf midway through the first quarter on Sept. 7 after being hit in the backfield by Kansas City safety Bernard Pollard. The two-time Super Bowl MVP had started 128 games and was replaced by Cassel, who helped the Patriots to a 17-10 win.
Brady underwent surgery for torn ligaments on Oct. 6, then had follow-up surgery to treat a postoperative infection.
On Jan. 21, he said in an interview that his rehabilitation was "going really well," but he did not offer a timetable for a return to the field. He made his comments on Toronto sports radio station The Fan 590. Brady was not asked during the interview whether he expected to be ready for training camp or the start of the regular season.
Teams are allowed to place the franchise tag on one player per season. Without it, Cassel would have become an unrestricted free agent Feb. 27 and been able to sign with any team without compensation to the Patriots. The period in which a team can designate a franchise player is Feb. 5-19.
Last season, Cassel finished with 327 completions in 516 attempts (63.4 percent) for 3,693 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Noteworthy
* The NFL Players Association is appealing a federal court decision ordering the union to pay $28.1 million to retired players for allegedly cutting them out of lucrative marketing deals.
A jury found in November that the union failed to include the retired players in deals with Electronic Arts Inc., the maker of the popular "Madden NFL" video game, and other companies.
Attorneys for the retired players claim the union cut them out of licensing deals, so active players could receive bigger royalty payments.
* Atlanta offensive tackle Todd Weiner, 33, announced his retirement after an 11-year NFL career.
* Tennessee Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving for an incident that occurred June 22.
Kearse, who had been charged with drunken driving, was given 6 months' probation in General Sessions Court, fined $350 and will have restricted driving privileges for a year.
* Former Dallas Cowboys receiver Terry Glenn was arrested on public intoxication and marijuana-possession charges after appearing disoriented at a hotel, said police in Irving, Texas. *
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20090206_Patriots_put_franchise_tag_on_Cassel__who_will_earn__14_65M.html
Patriots put franchise tag on Cassel, who will earn $14.65M
Daily News Wire Services
The New England Patriots placed the franchise tag on Matt Cassel yesterday, making it tougher for other teams to sign the free-agent quarterback.
The Patriots might keep him if they have doubts that Tom Brady will be ready for the start of next season after suffering a serious knee injury in the 2008 opener. If they are confident Brady will be ready, they could trade Cassel rather than pay him the $14.65 million offer for 2009 in the franchise designation.
Cassel had a breakout season in 2008, starting 15 games after starting none the seven previous seasons - four with Southern California as backup to Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart, and three after New England drafted him in the seventh round in 2005.
For now, he remains a free agent, but the Patriots can match any offer made by another team or allow him to sign with that team in exchange for two first-round draft picks. The franchise tag value is the average of the top-five-paid NFL players at a particular position.
If and when Cassel signs the 1-year designation, he will be under contract to the Patriots and could be dealt.
"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," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said in a statement. "We look forward to working with Matt again in 2009."
David Dunn, Cassel's agent, did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Cassel's stock soared after he took over for Brady and helped the Patriots to an 11-5 record, but New England missed the playoffs.
Brady, who led the Patriots to an unbeaten regular season in 2007 and to their fourth Super Bowl appearance in 8 years, went to the turf midway through the first quarter on Sept. 7 after being hit in the backfield by Kansas City safety Bernard Pollard. The two-time Super Bowl MVP had started 128 games and was replaced by Cassel, who helped the Patriots to a 17-10 win.
Brady underwent surgery for torn ligaments on Oct. 6, then had follow-up surgery to treat a postoperative infection.
On Jan. 21, he said in an interview that his rehabilitation was "going really well," but he did not offer a timetable for a return to the field. He made his comments on Toronto sports radio station The Fan 590. Brady was not asked during the interview whether he expected to be ready for training camp or the start of the regular season.
Teams are allowed to place the franchise tag on one player per season. Without it, Cassel would have become an unrestricted free agent Feb. 27 and been able to sign with any team without compensation to the Patriots. The period in which a team can designate a franchise player is Feb. 5-19.
Last season, Cassel finished with 327 completions in 516 attempts (63.4 percent) for 3,693 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Noteworthy
* The NFL Players Association is appealing a federal court decision ordering the union to pay $28.1 million to retired players for allegedly cutting them out of lucrative marketing deals.
A jury found in November that the union failed to include the retired players in deals with Electronic Arts Inc., the maker of the popular "Madden NFL" video game, and other companies.
Attorneys for the retired players claim the union cut them out of licensing deals, so active players could receive bigger royalty payments.
* Atlanta offensive tackle Todd Weiner, 33, announced his retirement after an 11-year NFL career.
* Tennessee Titans defensive end Jevon Kearse has pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of reckless driving for an incident that occurred June 22.
Kearse, who had been charged with drunken driving, was given 6 months' probation in General Sessions Court, fined $350 and will have restricted driving privileges for a year.
* Former Dallas Cowboys receiver Terry Glenn was arrested on public intoxication and marijuana-possession charges after appearing disoriented at a hotel, said police in Irving, Texas. *