| Randolph Charlotin. 1st March, 2009 - 2:37 pm
 By a show of hands, which quarterback would you rather have: Matt Schaub or Matt Cassel?
Back in 2007 when Atlanta traded Michael Vick’s back-up to Houston, Schaub had started two games, completed 52 percent of 161 passes, with six touchdowns against six interceptions in three seasons. In 15 starts, Cassel completed 63 percent of 498 passes, threw 20 touchdowns and eleven interceptions.
For Schaub, Atlanta switched draft positions in the first round with Houston, and the Falcons received second round draft picks in 2007 and 2008. New England traded Cassel, and LB Mike Vrabel, to Kansas City for their 2009 second round draft pick, the 34th pick overall.
Huh?
After franchising Cassel, it was no secret the Patriots would never get two first round draft picks for the USC product that off the bench to become arguably the most attractive free agent QB available. But to exchange the near-Pro Bowler, and throwing in Vrabel to sweeten the pot, for a second round pick is unbelievable.
The Patriots played themselves.
There were rumors swirling around that Detroit and Tampa Bay tried to pry Cassel from the Pats in hopes of trading him for Denver QB Jay Cutler. Why a team would rather have a high risk-high reward passer like Cutler over the consistent and less turnover-prone Cassel is puzzling.
This move is a salary dump by the Patriots. How else can a team explain forking over two starting-quality players for one second round pick? Did Chiefs GM Scott Pioli, the former New England vice president of player personnel, purposely spend the Patriots to the salary cap ceiling before leaving, therefore painting the Pats into a salary corner?
Everyone knew New England wouldn’t invest almost $30 million at one position. Under these circumstances, Cassel could be had for below his worth. But Cassel and Vrabel sent packing for just a second rounder? That’s a give away.
Maybe Pioli has that infamous St. Louis Rams pre-Super Bowl XXXVI walk-through video tape and he’s holding it as leverage. That could explain this fleecing.
Or maybe Scott was the brains behind the previous lop-sided trades that benefited the Patriots. Remember they got RB Corey Dillon for a second round pick from Cincinnati in 2004. Three years later New England stole WR Randy Moss from Oakland for just a fourth round pick. Now Pioli used those negotiation skills to turn the tables on the Patriots.
The truth is, this move clears valuable cap space for the Pats. this will allow them to re-sign key players like nose tackle Vince Wilfork, safety James Sanders, defensive lineman Mike Wright, and linebacker Eric Alexander. New England also has the cash to make a bigger splash into the free agency pool. And with four picks within the first 58 selections in the NFL draft, they can either package the picks to move up or use the picks to improve a roster that lacks depth in certain areas. It was a trade in where the purpose far outweighed getting fair value.
Because as far as getting fair value for Cassel and Vrabel, New England got hosed.
Maybe it’s a mob-style favor for a favor trade. Don Belichick gives Pee Wee Pioli a hand getting started with the understanding that somewhere down the road, when Belichick asks for a favor in return, Pioli must bow down, kiss the Super Bowl rings, and grant Bill whatever he asks.
So give thanks for now Pioli. But when Don Belichick calls again, your favor better be good.
To read more by Randolph Charlotin, visit his blog at http://www.newenglandpatriotsnews.com/randolphc/weblog/. He can be reached at lordrc@verizon.net. |
