Tag Your It – Cassel Franchised!

The New England Patriots have just placed the franchise tag on quarterback Matt Cassel!  So it seems the game of tag between the Patriots and Cassel ends like this.  Tag your it – Cassel franchised!  That should be the headlines in most of the sports papers on Tuesday morning around the country.  So what’s New England to do now that they have close to 30 million tied up between Cassel and Tom Brady?

Well it’s not all doom and gloom for them.  They have a few options left in their bag of tricks.  And here are just a few of those the Patriots can use:

• If the injured Brady is unable to start next season, they have Cassel ready to take the reins again
• If Brady is done for the season, we have Cassel already tied up for another season
• If Brady is done entirely for his career (which would be a shame) they have Matt’s services for 2009 at least 
• If Brady is healed and ready to go at full strength, they trade Cassel
• If they trade Cassel it’s better than losing him via free agency.  At least they get something instead of getting zip if he were to walk away in March

Also knowing that more than a few teams around the league could use either Cassel or Brady’s services for a few years down the road, makes it worthwhile if NE looks to trade one of them.  Personally, if they were to trade a healthy Brady and go with Cassel.  I say get Brady out of the AFC and as far West as possible.  I do not want Brady being pissed off and coming back to NE every season with a major chip on his shoulder playing us.

But for all that we know about Brady and his injury, and Cassel being franchised.  Do we know the entire scenario?  I think not especially since it involves the Patriots.  They could already know Brady is healthy and will be ready to go next season.  This whole thing could be another way that NE is just messing with the minds of the entire league.  See personally I think Brady is fine, but they have done all this to make a HUGE move closer to draft day.  That move could just be trading one of the two players and walking away with a nice group of future draft picks that will rebuild and maintain the consistent level of play in New England.  Time will tell, so stay tuned and see how this unfolds.