Cassel and Vrabel to the Chiefs...
By thorgrym
@thorgrym (675)
United States
March 7, 2009 4:43pm CST
Well, the deal is done. Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel both were traded to the Chiefs the other day for a second round draft pick. Wow. This is kind of a let-down. The upside is that the Patriots got something for Cassel as opposed to losing him to free agency. They also freed up some space with the salary cap. However, the salary cap space they freed up is space that they filled up by putting the franchise tag on Cassel in the first place. So that really isn't much of a gain at all.
It is a sad thing to see Vrabel go, too. He did some great stuff for the team while he was here. However, he is getting older and didn't have a great season last year.
I can only hope that Brady is at full strength (as they would not likely have traded Cassel if he wasn't, this should be covered) and that they can find some younger talent to fill in the holes that were apparent on the defense last season.
2 responses
@brady2moss (700)
• Singapore
13 Mar 09
Hi thorgrym. I'm happy to see Cassell go, and the Chiefs would give him a shot at a starting gig, good for him. Vrabes however is a huge loss, and the Pats really did not get anything in return for him, other than a little wiggle room in the salary cap. I'm actually starting to think they will go after Jason Taylor on a veteran's minimum for a year. I'm not so sure it's an upgrade though (on paper yes) as Vrabes has really been a versatile LB in the Pats system.
@thorgrym (675)
• United States
13 Mar 09
Yeah, I was more than a little upset by the loss of Vrabel - and as you say, we got nothing in return. Vrabel was like Troy Brown; you could put him in on offense and he was a threat to receive a pass or even run the ball.
It is a good choice for Cassel, though. I think he will do well in KC.
Jason Taylor - I would love to see him with the Pats though it is a bit of a sideways move from Vrabel.
There are certainly a lot of moves being made, so we'll just have to see how it all settles out.
@gtargirl (5376)
• United States
8 Mar 09
Yikes!!! I didn't follow Vrabel's career, but it must have been good since I know the name. Getting rid of Cassel . . . 
. You guys better hope Tommy is all better. Just messin' with ya. Brady, arghhh, will probably be as good as ever. Athletes like that tend to bounce back as good or better. He might lose some female fans with that wedding ring on. 
. In any case, Cassel will save the Chiefs' program, that is if he gets to start. Hey, what is it about the Pats and their pretty boy quarterbacks? Geeezzz! We're still crying for an NFL team here in LA. There's almost a rumor that we'll get one soon. I'll stick with my humbled Seahawks for now.
. You guys better hope Tommy is all better. Just messin' with ya. Brady, arghhh, will probably be as good as ever. Athletes like that tend to bounce back as good or better. He might lose some female fans with that wedding ring on. . In any case, Cassel will save the Chiefs' program, that is if he gets to start. Hey, what is it about the Pats and their pretty boy quarterbacks? Geeezzz! We're still crying for an NFL team here in LA. There's almost a rumor that we'll get one soon. I'll stick with my humbled Seahawks for now. @thorgrym (675)
• United States
8 Mar 09
Sticking with a 'humbled' team sometimes pays off. Many a year went by and my woeful Patriots sometimes came close to a winning season with the likes of Grogan, Tatupu, Fryar, and Tippett... Then they actually made it to the Super Bowl only to get crushed by the Chicago Bears and the 'Fridge.'
Well, from virtual laughing-stock to one of the more revered teams in the NFL, I have stuck with them! After that first Super Bowl victory in 2002, I was blown away to hear the respect that the Patriots all of a sudden garnered.
