Gretz: Cassel Trade Still Causing Talk
 

Cassel Trade Still Causing Talk
March 1, 2009 - Bob Gretz |

Could the Patriots have had a first and third-round picks for Matt Cassel? Could they have had at least the No. 12 choice for the New England quarterback? Did the Broncos really offer to trade Jay Cutler if they could get Cassel?

The NFL was still bubbling with chatter about the deal between the Chiefs and Patriots that sent Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel to Kansas City with a second-round draft choice heading to New England.

And if there are any truths to the stories being told around the league, then Saturday morning had to be a very interesting time for Bill Belichick and the Patriots.

Let’s see if we can weave all this together.

Everyone knew Friday that Vrabel was headed to the Chiefs. The fact he was in Kansas City for a physical was important because the linebacker apparently was bothered by a shoulder injury last season and some Boston media outlets have reported he needs surgery on that shoulder.

But while Vrabel was obviously important as far as the Chiefs and Scott Pioli were concerned, the rest of the league was not much interested in the veteran linebacker.

There was, however, interest in Cassel. But apparently, before Saturday there were not a lot of teams expressing that interest to the Patriots. Two factors may have held teams back: the $14.65 million franchise tag that Cassel carries and the fact that making a deal for the quarterback would require high draft choice compensation.

As the new NFL fiscal season started late Thursday evening, the Chiefs were the team standing at the counter, ready to place an order for Cassel. When nobody else showed up, Belilchick and Pioli put together the parameters of a deal.

That was in place Saturday morning. That’s when the rest of the league got wind of what the price tag was and suddenly, teams shifted into gear. Tampa Bay and Detroit reportedly were the two teams that expressed interest and they drew Denver into the situation.

Here’s what was going down, according to the NFL Network’s Adam Schefter: a three-team trade was proposed. Tampa Bay’s first round pick (No. 19) would go to New England. The Broncos would send Jay Cutler to the Bucs and the Patriots would send Cassel to Denver. Remember, former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels is now the head coach of the Broncos.

Apparently when that wouldn’t come together, the Broncos offered their first-round pick (No. 12) straight up for Cassel and the Buccaneers offered a first and third round picks.

If any of this is true, then why is Cassel in Kansas City and not Denver or Tampa Bay? There can only be one answer: the Patriots deal with the Chiefs was done, and Belichick wasn’t going to back out at the last minute. That might be true with anyone in his dealings with anyone, but it would especially be true of someone who is a friend and former colleague.

If the bubbling grapevine is even close to accurate, and we’ll never know because Belichick and Pioli won’t talk about what happened, then Cassel is with the Chiefs because Pioli was a step ahead of the rest of the league.

lol if any of these deals are true the chiefs should flip cassel to the next highest bidder.

i'm bettin' it was more like this.

I understand this inclination, and seems to me to be how I would deal with the situation just knowing what I know.

But if the Chiefs were already decided that Cassel was "the guy" they had to have as their QB, and they weren't interested in just drafting whoever is left between Stafford/Sanchez...then why would they be willing to part with the QB they love so much for a 1st round pick? If they really think this guy can be the franchise, then nobody they draft in the the first and third rounds would be his equal. (In their minds.)

And one more point - when did Gretz become KC's most compelling columnist?

That's what I think...

Pioli got his QB (who was clearly in demand), and kept his 3rd pick in the draft...

What's not to like about that?

I can think of someone who would love nothing more than to see this deal go south, forcing us into drafting Sanchez in the first round. Who looks like the Crypt Keeper. Whose first initial is Mecca.

I don't believe mecca likes Sanchez's upside any more than me.

I'd have been dancing if this deal had somehow fell through.

I've been on the fence about Cassel. I hope he works out but I'm not sold on him being as good as some are suggesting. The thing that makes me feel better is the fact that
1. Bill B. thought enough of him to franchise him.
2. Pioli thought enough of Cassel to trade for him.
3. If the stories are correct, McDaniels was also high on him.

These are the guys that would have seen his strengths and his weaknesses on a daily basis and would know if he was actually good. If these guys believe in Cassel than I guess I'll lean towards positive rather than negatives.

This....

Other than Brady being drafted by the Pats, who has ever traded a 1st day pick for a 7th round QB and won a championship?

Anyone?

Once again Kurt Warner wasn't even drafted but I think he has had a pretty good career. I'm not saying that Cassel is going to be that good, or even any good at all, but it can be done regardless if there is already a history of it happening.

No 7th round QB has won a Super Bowl.

That didnt answer the question.... I said nothing about UDFA's...

If Matt Leinart doesn't go to USC, does Matt Cassel end up being a 1st round pick?

:hmmm: