Patriots say they will franchise Matt Cassel
 

Source Says Patriots Will Franchise QB Matt Cassel

Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel will have the franchise tag placed upon hims according to Michael Lombardi, a host of Inside the NFL on Showtime, according to The Providence Journal. "The Patriots are way too smart, and I've talked to people in the organization," said Lombardi. "They are going to franchise Matt Cassel. He's an asset and they can control their ability to trade him if they franchise him." The Pats would have to give Cassel a 1-year deal at the average salary of the league's five highest paid quarterbacks, so in an odd twist he would actually receive a larger salary in 2009 than Tom Brady. If true, this news likely means that the club is far from certain that Brady will be back at full health in 2009.

Source: RotoTimes.com

Probably smart considering Brady's injury as well, at worst they get 1 year longer with him or get a team to sign him and get picks.

Of course they will. They are not going to let him walk without compensation. Only the Chargers are stupid/arrogant enough to do something like that.

I thought the Pats where smart and let players go
Cassel will be able to retire on that 1 year's pay

Hell, yes. What choice do they have at this point?

They let that stiff Bledsoe go because they had Brady. This is a completely different situation.

They traded Bledsoe for a first round pick, just like they will trade Cassel.

That and who else would they use that tag on anyway?

Junior Seau?

Hopefully this rules out his coming to KC. The Lions might be dumb enough.

It's going to cost over 12 mil to franchise Cassel, so it's not exactly costless. I think that's just further proof that they will trade Cassel.

Cassel doesn't go for a first round. No way.

(Yeah. Bookmark it. Some team may be that freaking stupid.)

Cassel owes Pollard an Escalade

I didn't mean to imply it would be for a first rounder, just that they intend to trade him.

Gotcha. Makes more sense that way.

But who's going to play behind Brady then? New draft that might have to start week 1? I'm not seeing it.

Cassel is a good insurance policy even at that price. He could be gone to another team by the deadline if Brady comes back and they can identify his next backup by then.