Meet Matt Cassel

September, 8, 2008
Sep 8
5:06
PM ET
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By Tim Graham
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

Don't know much about Matt Cassel?

Here's a thumbnail sketch about the man who has been thrust into the New England Patriots' starting QB role now that Tom Brady is out for the year with a knee injury:

AP Photo/Winslow Townson
Matt Cassel takes over at QB for the injured Tom Brady.
  • The Patriots announced Cassel will start Sunday against the New York Jets at the Meadowlands, his first start since 1999 at Chatsworth High.
  • He can strike it rich if he has some success as a starter. He'll be a free agent after this season.
  • Recruiting guru Tom Lemming named him the nation's No. 53 prep prospect for 1999.
  • Cassel threw only 33 passes at Southern California, where he backed up Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. Here is Cassel's senior-year bio.
  • Cassel played seven games as a receiver and on special teams as a freshman. He started one game at H-back.
  • The Patriots drafted Cassel in the seventh round in 2005.
  • He had two more Heisman teammates with the Patriots: Doug Flutie and Vinny Testaverde.
  • As a rookie, Cassel played two games, threw two touchdown passes and posted an 89.4 passer rating. He didn't throw another TD pass until Sunday.
  • Patriots coach Bill Belichick inserted Cassel and quickly yanked him for throwing an interception in Week 7 last year against the Miami Dolphins.
  • Two of his brothers are pro baseball players. Jack Cassel made his major-league debut last year for the San Diego Padres and has pitched for the Houston Astros this season. Justin Cassel pitches in the Chicago White Sox system.
  • Matt Cassel, who was drafted by the Oakland A's, played in the 1994 Little League World Series and pitched at USC for a year.

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