Pats to franchise Cassel

[Gazi]

The Patriots have decided to ensure that quarterback Matt Cassel won't be an unrestricted free agent, as scheduled in March.

Sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that the Patriots will use a franchise tag on Cassel that will give the team two options: Trade him if all goes well with Tom Brady's rehabilitation from a knee injury or keep him because all is not well with Brady.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3809444

[Zaximus]

Yup, I called this 7 weeks ago, it's a smart move.

[VA Panther Fan]

The two QBs will cost the team around $29 million against the cap next year. That's quite the cap hit.

[thefuzz]

Good call, I would have done the exact same thing.

[Skew]

The two QBs will cost the team around $29 million against the cap next year. That's quite the cap hit.

That would hurt any other team

[charlottenian]

with Brady in doubt, it was a must move

[Gazi]

They will trade him for a 1st rounder before Training Camp opens (if Brady is ready to go)

[scpanther22]

i wonder who gets him......

[9Lives]

i wonder who gets him......

Won't be us...we don't have one!

[scpanther22]

Won't be us...we don't have one!

he still my wind up in the nfc south...tampa bay

[9Lives]

he still my wind up in the nfc south...tampa bay

:eek: That would flat out suck ass!

[Jangler]

I bet Grossman goes to TB.

[Mr. Scot]

:eek: That would flat out suck ass!

I'm not so certain of that.

Tampa is a West Coast system. Would he fit in that system? Maybe, but it's not a lock.

Lord knows Gruden loves to collect QBs. I think Tampa has bigger needs. Whether Gruden agrees, who can say?

My gut says this is highly unlikely, buuuut ya never know.

[VA Panther Fan]

What team has significant cap room, draft picks available and needs a young QB with a decent resume?

Tampa would certainly be a fit, but I think the better fit might be in Detroit. Detroit certainly has a pick or two to toss at the Patriots in order to land Cassel and they desperately need a young QB to build the team around.