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Judging someone else's QB is rarely easy
This is the difficult talent assessment that must be made by general managers whose franchises are seeking new starters in 2009.
Free-agent QBs in '09
At a position where elite talent is rarely available in free agency, Cassel is the most intriguing quarterback set to hit the market. Since Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 1, Cassel has shown marked improvement while directing New England to a 7-4 record. Cassel became only the fifth quarterback in NFL history to post consecutive 400-yard passing games during last Sunday's 48-28 victory at Miami. He has size (6-foot-4, 230 pounds), athleticism (84 rushing yards in the past two games) and a strong arm.
"He's really proving himself being his own guy," Miami nose tackle Jason Ferguson told Dolphins media before the game. "He's not the replacement of Brady. He's got his own name."
NFL Week 17
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Week 17 action
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Vikings 20, Giants 19 -- Recap | Box
Panthers 33, Saints 31 -- Recap | Box
Packers 31, Lions 21 -- Recap | Box
Falcons 31, Rams 27 -- Recap | Box
Texans 31, Bears 24 -- Recap | Box
Patriots 13, Bills 0 -- Recap | Box
Colts 23, Titans 0 -- Recap | Box
Steelers 31, Browns 0 -- Recap | Box
Raiders 31, Bucs 24 -- Recap | Box
Bengals 16, Chiefs 6 -- Recap | Box
Eagles 44, Cowboys 6 -- Recap | Box
Dolphins 24, Jets 17 -- Recap | Box
49ers 27, Redskins 24 -- Recap | Box
Ravens 27, Jaguars 7 -- Recap | Box
Cardinals 34, 'Hawks 24 -- Recap | Box
Chargers 52, Broncos 21 -- Recap | Box
Analysis
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If he continues to shine the rest of this season, Cassel could very well command a Brady-like contract with at least $20 million in guaranteed money. But before paying him like the NFL's top-tier quarterbacks, interested teams must be convinced that Cassel can thrive outside of New England.
Mitchell is proof that such an assessment isn't easy.
Fifteen years before Cassel picked apart the Dolphins defense, Mitchell was enjoying similar success playing inside the same stadium. When Dolphins legend Dan Marino ruptured his Achilles' tendon in Week 5 of the 1993 season, Miami turned to a replacement who had attempted just eight passes in his first three NFL campaigns.
Mitchell played surprisingly well -- well enough to prompt some fans and media to speculate that he may be a better long-term option than Marino. The Dolphins weren't fooled. Detroit was, signing Mitchell during the 1994 off-season to what was then considered a major free-agent contract (three years, $11 million).
Mitchell had his moments during five Lions seasons -- including a 4,338-yard, 32-touchdown effort in 1995 -- but he never led the team to a playoff victory even with Hall of Fame rusher Barry Sanders in the same backfield. Just as damning, Mitchell didn't possess many of the other qualities expected from the position outside Xs and Os.
"He was never the quintessential leader," a former member of Detroit's front office said. "He didn't have a presence about him. He couldn't bond with the guys. The guys didn't believe in him."
Cassel's leadership skills will come under heavy scrutiny by potential suitors. He has the luxury of being a foot soldier on a veteran Patriots roster that has reached four Super Bowls with Brady. Cassel must be a general elsewhere, especially if he joins a lesser squad that hasn't come close to hitting those heights.
The expectations will be much higher than when Brady was initially replaced by Cassel, whose last start had come in high school. How will the 26-year-old Cassel respond to even more intense scrutiny? Can he thrive in a different kind of offense than what the Patriots run, especially if he doesn't have the services of exceptional wide receivers like Randy Moss and Wes Welker?
When he was Miami's general manager in 2004, Rick Spielman tried making those same projections about A.J. Feeley, who had shown promise in his five career starts for Philadelphia in 2002. Spielman did extensive film study comparing Feeley to six other quarterbacks who were potentially available via trade or free agency as well as the three incumbents on Miami's roster (Jay Fiedler, Brian Griese and Sage Rosenfels).
Trying to identify traits in emerging quarterbacks, Spielman dissected Marc Bulger, Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Delhomme both before and after all three ascended to starting roles. Spielman even did specific statistical analysis, like how the quarterbacks he was scouting fared when leading or trailing by a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
And he was still wrong.
Spielman traded a second-round pick to Philadelphia for Feeley and signed him to a five-year, $18 million contract. Both proved huge mistakes.
Feeley had starting-caliber physical skills but sorely lacked other intangibles. He didn't inspire confidence in his teammates. The comfort Feeley had in Philadelphia's West Coast-style scheme wasn't there, nor was the same quality of coaching or offensive talent surrounding him.
On and off the first-team offense, Feeley was 3-5 as a starter for a Dolphins squad that finished 4-12. The following year, Feeley was traded to San Diego. He has since returned to Philadelphia and is currently a third-stringer.
"The unknown part of the quarterback is the 'It' factor," said Spielman, who is now Minnesota's vice president of player personnel. "You take a chance because you see the numbers and the ability on film. That's objective, not subjective ... But do they have that magnetism, that quality where they can lead a group of 10 other men when the offense is on the field? Unless you've been with those guys before, you don't really know that until they get there."
A general manager who has closely studied Cassel believes he won't be a one-year wonder. Warner and Brady proved otherwise as well.
"It's a gamble and a lot of money will be invested in Cassel," the general manager said. "But I truly believe that he has the full package."
The gift wrapping will be off soon enough.
Member Comments
Oh, and by the way, the article isn't really about trading Brady. It's more about assessing Cassel.<br /><br />Brady isn't going anywhere. They aren't trading him. If they traded the guy who made them into a real franchise instead of a Forrest Gump like franchise that lucked their way into stuff, they'd once again be the laughing stock of the NFL.<br /><br />Not going to happen. <br /><br />Brady stays, and we'll send Christmas cards to Cassel and wish him all the best. Good for him. Never had a start in college, now he gets $20 mil guaranteed from Chicago. Great job Matt!
JJS3311/30/2008 9:33:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I like how the one thing that people can try to pick on about Brady is the fact that he had a kid with Bridget Moynihan. And somehow that's "karma." <br /><br />As if....1) That's not a common occurence where at LEAST 10 guys on every NFL team isn't in the same boat; 2) If that's "karma," then explain to me Wilt Chamberlin, Steve Garvey, and Clint Eastwood. <br /><br />Wilt slept with everyone. He may have slept with you. He's only been an MVP, the league's all-time scoring leader, one of the 50 greatest players, and a two-time NBA champion.<br /><br />Steve Garvey was banging everybody's wife while he was married. Didn't he have two different families at the same time or something? He only went to the HOF.<br /><br />Clint Eastwood has been married twice and has five daughters and two sons by five different women. And he wins the Academy Award like every other year. Some "karma" there. <br /><br />Stupid, anonymous, internet heros who would say that s h i t in a public conversation.
JJS3311/30/2008 9:29:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Trade Brady?!?! What a stupid, stupid post even for a LawShark. And speaking of Karma, Brady has 3 SB wins, SB & League MVP Honors and oh yeah, Giselle. Yeah, real bad karma there.<br /><br />No, the Pats will see how Brady is doing and then either keep Cassel or trade him for a 1st rounder. Either way the Pats will come out winners.
PaulRevere11/30/2008 8:57:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Are you idiots for real Matt Cassel is just that a good back-up that's striving in the system that the great scouts of the Pats deemed him perfect to run that's it & that's all so all you idiots jumping off the Brady Bunch bandwagon remember this Brady is a recording setting big time QB that should be the proud owner of 5 super-bowl rings had Reche Caldwell not dropped a for sure touchdown against the Colts in the 4th quarter & if the history dropper Asantse Samuael or Brandon "the bum" Meriweather holds on to either one of those badly thrown Eli balls and ya'll talking trade Brady for a guy that blatnatly misses Moss deep
ATruePatriotFan11/30/2008 8:41:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Don't trade Cassel, trade Brady. Brady is done, he won't be the same. Brady stole Bledsole job when he got injured, Karma is a bitch like that. BYE BYE BRADY, go father some more children.
LawShark11/30/2008 8:00:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
For slowride the best thing to do is consider the stupidity of the comment and ignore him.
linus111/30/2008 7:52:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
The Pats are in the driver's seat. We can franchise Cassel, then get 2 #1's for him.. couple of 2's. We can trade .. yes.. Brady... and get the entire Gmen offensive line for him... lol. So, yes. the Vikes might make Cassel their starting QB, but he ain't gonna come cheap! Or, we can have 2 great QBs.. nice problem huh? (and some bloggers were saying the usual stuff.. BB isn't that smart.. he doesn't have a backup QB.. sign Culpeper... LOL"
stowaway11/30/2008 7:41:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
lakeshowinaz - yeah, the steelers have a pretty easy schedule this year. wait a minute, no they don't. in fact i think it was considered one of the hardest. by the way, you might've heard of a guy named peyton manning, last time i checked, he ran a pretty good passing offense.
wallner6711/30/2008 7:32:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Slowride, the worst 2 teams in the Patriots' division are tied at 6-5. The only sorry thing about the AFC East is "Sorry, but my division is better than yours."<br /><br />As for Cassel, he's got some great potential, but he still needs some time to hone his skills and shake the "rookie" off. Give him another year to play with the Pats and keep some of the load off of Brady. If he does just as well, or better, send him off and hope for another good backup for Brady.
Seifer21411/30/2008 7:31:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
It's really amazing how everyone feels the only player worth rating is the quarterback. If Tom Brady didn't have his front line and receiving corp he would not be that good. And some players feed off other players (case in point Deon 'where am i now' Branch). Anyone who rates a quarterback without looking at the support system really has a limited view of the game. The main reason most of the famous quarterbacks became that was because of the system that surrounded them. Look at Steve Young after Joe Montana left, the system was there so it was automatic.
markmemorial11/30/2008 7:26:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
NE HOME, the only way the pats can have any insurance for brady ..is to stick the franchise tag on cassels..it buys us a year...and in fairness to cassels...it should be the time the pats need to make sure, brady ..is brady..samuels was pissed when they hung the tag on him...hopefully cassel understands!
mainah11/30/2008 6:40:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Matt is playing great football right now but he is only a small part of a patriots team that has been riddled with injuries.Will they beat Pitt. today? Not if they let Ben roam around outside of the pocket and allow him to convert on third down.Pats "D" needs to step up big time.
splendidsprinter4111/30/2008 5:18:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Matt Cassel has came a long way since Brady went down. This weeks game will be a good test of his abilitys. If he can pick apart a good Steeler defense maybe then we can talk about him being another teams savior. GO PATS!
Patbacker63311/30/2008 5:05:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I knew I wouldn't be able to read any more than three or four of these posts before reading something from an absolute idiot that featured the word "Belicheat". Slowride, don't give up on your life - after all, even a blind chicken can find some corn.
PatsDynastyContinues11/30/2008 5:05:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Pats should, and most likely will, use the franchise tag on Cassel with the agreement that they will let him walk as a free agent after next season, the same deal they had with Samuels. That will protect them if Brady isn't 100% next season or not the Brady of pre injury.. Will give the Pats the option of joining the free agent bidding if Brady retires due to the injury and they need to keep Cassel as the everyday QB. <br />Go PATS
NE_HomeOfChamps11/30/2008 4:45:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Matt Cassel is getting better each game but what happens when a player leaves New England? You never hear much about them.Just proves how great Bellichic is and Matt. Pittsburgh will be crying in their towels after they play New England.
11/30/2008 2:24:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Cassel numbers are impressive?..<br /><br />2001 Tom Brady <br />18 TDS <br />12 INT <br />2843 YDS <br />87 RTG <br /><br />2008 Matt Cassel (11 Games)<br />13 TDS<br />8 INT<br />2625 YDS<br />90.5 RTG<br /><br />SHOW MATT THE MONEY!
gotaluvit11/30/2008 2:13:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
gotaluvit<br />you win the the most obscure reference to an irrelvent fact. Cheers!
byrdman4211/30/2008 2:03:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Slowride26...<br /> You have the mentality of a Fulgora laternaria. What does anything you wrote have to do with Matt Cassel getting a contract next year? Grow up and get with the program.
gotaluvit11/30/2008 1:53:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
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