The majority of people who read the title of this post probably uttered one of two things to themselves:
1) “What? Stop trying to stir the pot by throwing crap against the wall in efforts to see if it sticks. Moron…”
OR…
2) “You don’t part ways with a three-time Super Bowl champion just because Matt Cassel has had one decent season. Moron…”
For those of you that fit into one of the above categories, I don’t blame you for having those thoughts – or calling me a moron. But just take a moment and think about the situation for a second, because the idea isn’t that far-fetched.
There currently is no timetable set for Brady’s return after having season-ending knee surgery earlier this year. He might not even be ready to play at the start of next season, which leaves the Patriots in a tough predicament. Do they allow Cassel to leave via free agency next offseason and risk going into 2009 with hopes Brady is ready to play? Or do they allow Cassel to walk, sign a veteran who’ll play for the minimum and hold Brady’s spot until he’s ready to start again?
Or do they sign a much younger (and now experienced) Matt Cassel, trade Brady for multiple draft picks (which could be used to get younger on defense) and head into a new era with a new quarterback? Brady is 32 and while guys like Kurt Warner and Jeff Garcia have proven that quarterbacks can still be highly efficient past their 35th birthday, there’s no guarantee that Tom will ever be as effective as he was before the knee surgery.
Whether the Patriots or their fan base want to admit it, the team faces major questions this offseason. And while it might be ludicrous to think about parting ways with a Super Bowl MVP quarterback, Cassel has proven that he can step into Bill Belichick’s offensive system and succeed.
Comment fodder: You’re in charge of the Patriots next offseason. Do you allow Cassel to walk and remain loyal to the man that got you multiple titles this decade? Or in the wake of Brady’s season-ending injury, would you start preparing for the future with Cassel?
