Someone please explain what the Pats* are doing...

[RoethlisBURGHer]

The Pats can also come to a long-term deal with him, voiding the gauranteed $14M he'd get this year under the franchise tag.

They can trade his rights to another team while under the franchise tag or with a long-term deal.

So if Brady turns out fine and they don't wanna keep him...they can trade him away.

[X-Terminator]

Complete waste of a franchise tag. But hey, if it ends up screwing them in the end, then all the better.

[NEPAsteeler]

Some way, some how... the Patriots will end up benefitting from this, just because everything good usually happens to them and that pi$$es me off!

[The Duke]

Originally Posted by NEPAsteeler

Some way, some how... the Patriots will end up benefitting from this, just because everything good usually happens to them and that pi$$es me off!

hmm.... I could see the vikes giving up their 1st and 2nd picks for Cassel

[NEPAsteeler]

Originally Posted by The Duke

hmm.... I could see the vikes giving up their 1st and 2nd picks for Cassel

I'm sure there's a team stupid enough to do that and then when the season's done, they'll realize how much of a mistake they made.

[The Patriot]

Originally Posted by NEPAsteeler

Some way, some how... the Patriots will end up benefitting from this, just because everything good usually happens to them and that pi$$es me off!

Yes indeed. EVERYTHING good ALWAYS happens to the Pats. Sometimes I worry that we might be due for a string of bad luck.

[xfl2001fan]

Originally Posted by X-Terminator

Complete waste of a franchise tag. But hey, if it ends up screwing them in the end, then all the better.

Who else should they franchise? This isn't all that dumb of a move.

They now have a lot of different options going for them.

They can keep him for the year and pay him the cash. (Moderately likely).
They can let another team sign him away, but getting 2 first round draft picks out of the deal. (Mostly unlikely.)
They can trade his rights away and let another team sign him to a deal of their choosing...which means that the Pats get some compensation for a guy that is pretty much likely to be playing elsewhere anyways. (Highly likely.)

[MasterOfPuppets]

If no market generates, the Patriots could have the most expensive backup in the NFL, paying Cassel more than Brady is scheduled to earn in 2009.

Brady, who is rehabilitating from a serious left knee injury that knocked him out of the 2008 season on the 15th offensive play, is due a base salary of $5 million and a bonus of $3 million. Brady's salary cap charge in 2009, due to the acceleration of past bonuses, is $14.6 million.

In the event a trade market does not develop, the Patriots would be tying up $29.2 million of their approximately $123 million salary cap on two players. That runs counter to the philosophy that has helped the Patriots thrive this decade, spreading the wealth to more players, and could handcuff other moves, such as signing nose tackle Vince Wilfork to an extension.

http://www.boston.com/sports/footbal...ast_on_cassel/

[steelerbackr4life]

It is a good insurance policy. There is no guarantee that Gods gift to QBs will be 100 percent upon his return. Cassell played well and is monetarily feasible thanks to the franchise tag.

[NEPAsteeler]

Originally Posted by The Patriot

Yes indeed. EVERYTHING good ALWAYS happens to the Pats. Sometimes I worry that we might be due for a string of bad luck.

Sorry