Matt Cassel traded

[Dave Tomm]

That's exactly what it was.  The Pats have a bunch of contracts coming  
up for some of their impact players, and they need the cap space to  
get these guys re-signed.  They also need to get younger on the  
defense and shipping Vrabel, who only had four sacks last season,  
helps in that regard.  If the team had made this deal before putting  
the franchise tag on Cassel, which guarantees him something like 14  
million dollars for next season, they could have gotten a lot more for  
him.  Plus, with the economy being what it is, more teams are looking  
to fill holes on their rosters through the draft rather than free  
agency, which increases the value for those picks, at least a little.

WEEI and online reports basically broke down the trade this way, but  
it doesn't translate well to broadcast.  Too many sniggly details.  If  
you watched any of the local newscasts or WBZ radio, it was all "we  
didn't get enough for in return."  It makes a good talk radio topic,  
but not good analysis.

-Dave

On Mar 1, 2009, at 1:27 AM, Howard Glazer wrote:

>> One pick, early in the second round, for Cassel AND Vrabel? Smells  
>> like a
> salary dump to me; maybe there's a free agent linebacker out there  
> the Pats
> want to sign. Of course, that draft pick could turn out to be a player
> who'll make Pats fans very happy, too; plenty of good ones come out  
> of the
> second round.
>
> Howard