AFC East: Cassel trade
Read and react: Your takes on the Cassel trade
Reader reaction was passionate and plentiful to my Sunday afternoon post about the controversial Matt Cassel trade.
The New England Patriots sent their backup quarterback and linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs for the 34th overall selection in this year's draft.
But ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported the Patriots could have struck a much sweeter deal.
Mortensen explained the Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wanted to swing a three-way trade in which the Broncos sent their 12th overall pick to the Patriots and quarterback Jay Cutler to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Buccaneers would send their first- and third-round picks to the Broncos. The Patriots would send Cassel to the Broncos.
But the Patriots did business with the Chiefs.
Based on subsequent reports, it appears the Buccaneers and Broncos got into the mix too late.
Even so, the Patriots still missed out on a better deal. It's incumbent upon the selling team to maximize its asset. If they didn't know the Buccaneers and Broncos were that interested, then the Patriots misread the market.
Readers also declared the 34th pick is more appealing to the Patriots than the 12th pick would because of the salary-cap hit that goes along with it. If so, then why were the Patriots happy to draft a franchise player 10th overall last year? Linebacker Jerod Mayo was defensive rookie of the year and could anchor their defense for a decade.
And even if the Patriots didn't want to draft at No. 12, turning that commodity into multiple later-round picks wouldn't have been unfathomable.
But enough musing from me. Take a look at what the readers had to say:
Mike from Parts Unknown writes: Tim, I think you are an idiot. Anyone who suggests in his best Oliver Stone that this decision has anything to do wtih what BB thought was best for the Patriots has not been paying attention. Undoubtedly, Belichick saw execution risk in doing the more complicated three team deal, and decided to take the bird in the hand with the Chiefs. You don't want to hear that and just want the sensational, freaking idiotic angle. The notion that BB would take a worse deal and not appreciate that he could use the number 12 pick as a chip, at worse, and would instead prefer the 34th pick is laughable. You are lucky to have a job in this economony.
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The Bills already had plenty of needs entering free agency and gave themselves another, cutting left guard Derrick Dockery. The Bills hosted several players but inked just two: Center Geoff Hangartner and backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Among the players they entertained at One Bills Drive were receivers Laveranues Coles and Kelley Washington, so you can see what they're after. Both of those free agents still are in play, as are almost all of their other unsigned interviewees: Guard Kendall Simmons, linebacker Jamie Winborn and cornerback Drayton Florence. Running back Fred Taylor was the only one so far who dropped by but signed elsewhere.
That's quite a variety of positions, every broad category except tight end, defensive line and kicker. So who might the Bills want from the remaining free-agent pool? Drop a name, and if the Bills can work out a bargain contract, then the answer probably is yes.
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The Dolphins were busy in the days leading up to free agency. They re-signed right tackle Vernon Carey, linebacker Channing Crowder and strong safety Yeremiah Bell, and welcomed free safety Gibril Wilson. In January they grabbed Canadian Football League phenom Cameron Wake. Not bad.
Once free agency began at 12:01 a.m. Friday, the Dolphins mostly sat back and watched. They entertained one visitor and signed him, reserve interior lineman Joe Berger. It looks like they're intent on spackling with draft picks.
But the Dolphins found another hole to fill Sunday. Their starting right cornerback, Andre' Goodman, jumped to the Denver Broncos. If they wanted to find Goodman's replacement through free agency, the top candidates are Leigh Bodden, Shawn Springs, Chris McAlister, Bryant McFadden and Jabari Greer.
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The Patriots made some major moves since the free-agency period opened. They added Taylor and tight end Chris Baker, and re-signed safety James Sanders. Oh, and they cleared about $19 million in salary-cap space by trading quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs.
But the lingering need is cornerback, same as it has been since Asante Samuel departed around this time last year. Possibilities include the same as the Dolphins: They already have hosted Bodden and will host Springs.
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Didn't the Jets do enough over the weekend? They landed one of the top free agents on the market, inside linebacker Bart Scott. They traded for cornerback Lito Sheppard. They seem to have the inside track on safety Jim Leonhard and might have cornerback Corey Ivy in their back pocket.
The Jets do have needs, but maybe nothing left to address in free
agency. Quarterback is the obvious concern, but management has insisted the three already on their roster will compete. They also are down a receiver after Coles negotiated his way off the team a year early.
Why would Pats turn down 12th pick for Cassel?
Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham
Circumstances surrounding the Matt Cassel trade keep getting curiouser and curiouser.
The more we learn, the more inexplicable it gets.
The New England Patriots sent Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs for the 34th overall selection in this year's draft, compensation that seemed a little weak on the surface.
ESPN's Chris Mortensen has since reported there was a much better offer on the table, that the Patriots passed on the 12th overall pick in a three-way trade that would've sent Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Patriots did business with Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, who for the previous nine years worked closely with Bill Belichick in the Patriots' front office. It must be noted new Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels was Belichick's offensive coordinator in New England.
Mort and I have exchanged a few e-mails on the subject. Here is how he broke down the proposed three-way deal:
This one defies logic, but a source I really trust tells me it's true: The Broncos were willing to offer their own first-round pick (12th overall) to the Patriots for Cassel. Obviously, it was conditional upon Cutler being traded and Tampa Bay was the most likely destination, the Bucs willing to part with their first- and third-round picks.
But Belichick never embraced a trade with the Broncos, even though it was a head-scratcher on the value part (second-rounder versus a first-rounder). It suggests two or three speculative thoughts:
- Belichick has always valued second-round picks (he now has three) and didn't want to be stuck at No. 12 financially for whatever reason;
- Belichick had an agreement with Pioli all along and wouldn't break his word;
- Belichick isn't about to help another former assistant.
The Broncos sensed resistance all along, which is why they held the Bucs, Lions, Vikings, etc., at arm's length and allows McDaniels his plausible deniability on trading Cutler (and logic supports his denial).
However, despite intense efforts to keep this run at Cassel under wraps, enough damage has been done that Cutler may now be on the block.
The Broncos/Cutler aspect of the trade was reported by the Boston Globe. A Patriots' leak? Why? To mess with McDaniels?
Mort is correct. The information is astounding.
Video: Breaking down the Cassel trade
ESPN's Mark Schlereth discusses what the Matt Cassel trade means to the Patriots and the Chiefs.
Pats won't have trouble spending their $19M
New England Patriots fans must have had two immediate, positive reactions when they learned their club on Saturday dealt Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs:
- A strong assurance that Tom Brady's surgically repaired left knee must be fine, or the Patriots wouldn't have made the trade.
- Exhilaration over suddenly having about $19 million to spend in the early stages of the free-agency period.
Two of the ways they can spend it immediately are by signing more free agents or extending contracts of players already on their roster.
A lot of talent still is available on the open market. I hesitate to cobble together a list of the more prominent players still out there because it probably will be outdated within minutes.
Feel free to share your ideas of who you think the Patriots should sign. Enter those names in the comments section below.
Here are some of the Patriots who are entering the final year of their contracts:
- Running back Kevin Faulk
- Left guard Logan Mankins
- Right guard Stephen Neal
- Tight end David Thomas
- Tight end Benjamin Watson
- Defensive tackle Vince Wilfork
- Defensive end Richard Seymour
- Defensive end Jarvis Green
- Linebacker Tedy Bruschi
- Cornerback Ellis Hobbs
- Kicker Stephen Gostkowski
Did Chiefs rob Patriots with 34th pick?
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The 34th overall selection in this year's draft sure sounds like a bargain for the Kansas City Chiefs. That's all they gave the New England Patriots to obtain quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel.
Sound a little cheap to you?
About seven weeks ago, I explored Cassel's trade value with a pair of analysts who've been around the NFL block a time or two.
Floyd Reese was one of them. The former Tennessee Titans general manager was working for ESPN at the time.
Now he's senior football adviser with the Patriots, coming aboard when Scott Pioli left to accept the Chiefs' GM job.
Here's what Reese said back then: "It would have to be multiple choices and very high choices to get Cassel. Two first-rounders, or a one and a two and a three ... It'll be something very, very expensive."
Cassel hadn't been franchised yet, but it was common knowledge the tag was coming. So the element of unloading $14.65 million in guaranteed money was considered in the responses.
I also spoke with Michael Lombardi of the National Football Post.
Lombardi has a strong relationship with many in Patriots management, including coach Bill Belichick, from their days together with the Cleveland Browns. Lombardi was the first to report the Patriots were going to place the franchise tag on Cassel.
Lombardi claimed Cassel's starting price -- not including Vrabel -- should be the draft choices the San Diego Chargers received for Eli Manning.
At the 2004 draft, the New York Giants acquired Manning's rights for Philip Rivers' rights along with a third-round pick that year and their first- and fifth-round picks in 2005.
"Whatever the Giants gave up for Eli has to be the market," Lombardi said. "It's got to be a first-rounder, and not the 22nd or 24th pick in the draft. It has to be a substantial one and one that keeps on giving."
The New England Patriots have released a statement to confirm they have traded quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for the 34th overall selection in this year's draft.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick issued the following comment about Vrabel, a fan favorite who won three Super Bowls and made his only Pro Bowl while wearing a Patriots helmet:
"When Mike arrived in 2001, we knew we were adding a solid outside linebacker. But where Mike took it from there exceeded our highest hopes. Mike Vrabel epitomizes everything a coach could seek in a professional football player: toughness, intelligence, playmaking, leadership, versatility and consistency at the highest level.
"Behind the scenes, Mike's wit and personality is one of the things we have all enjoyed about coming to work every day. The toughest aspect of my job is the day I stop coaching people like Mike, who did everything in his power to contribute to team success. Of all the players I have coached in my career, there is nobody I enjoyed working with more than Mike. In the same way people recognize guys like Troy Brown, we appreciate and thank Mike Vrabel. He is one of the very special Patriots champions."
Belichick gave a shorter comment about Cassel, who spent four seasons with the Patriots but started only last year:
"It is very easy to root for guys like Matt Cassel, who do everything the right way and flourish as a result. As much as we would have loved to continue working with Matt, we wish him nothing but the best as he takes this next step forward in his career."
ABOUT THIS BLOG
James Walker
Walker joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the NFL and NBA for the Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch. He's a Temple graduate and Hyattsville, Md. native who lives in Miami.
