Matt Cassel a Carolina Panther? Musing with Revshawn

by Revshawn on Nov 20, 2008 2:52 PM EST

I would like to give the Carolina Panther fans something to think about as the season marches right past the halfway point. Jake Delhomme is entering the twilight days of his career at the age of 33, and though I cheered the draft on in hopes that we would get Chad Henne or Joe Flacco in the 2^nd round, it just didn’t seem to happen.

So here we are over halfway through the season, Jake’s arm seems fine and we’re 8-2 and everything is doing quite awesome. But what about the next year and the year after that? Who is going to be our future Quarterback after Delhomme retires?

Enter Matt Cassel, backup Quarterback for the New England Patriots. With Tom Brady out for the year, Matt Cassel has come in and established himself as a starter with accurate arm for throwing short to mid range passes, throwing for 2200 yards so far this season with 10 TD’s and 7 INT’s. With his contract to the Pats running out in 2008 and Tom Brady firmly entrenched as the starting QB, it’s one of those rare times where a proven reliable field general is hitting the free agency market.

I think the case for him to come to Carolina can be easily made, and why not make it now?

It’s not like we’re asking him to do a huge thing. He’s leaving from a team of proven winners to another team of proven winners. He has an elite receiver in Steve Smith to throw the ball to, he has a running game that’ll allow him to work in play action. He may not get the ball right off the bat with Jake Delhomme entrenched as the starter, but there are a lot of things to like about coming to Carolina. He’ll be able to hang around a year or two and get to know his new players and playbook, and when Jake Delhomme retires the team will be completely set with Matt Cassel as QB and the offense will not have to suffer the learning experiences of a rookie coming into the NFL and the possibility of his failure.

Sill not on board? Look at it this way. If we don’t get a hold on him, that Tampa Bay Bucs might. There’s a frightening thought to stick under your bed for the night.

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Comments

Cassel

First things first, he’ll want to be a starter from go. Not happening here. No way he takes a back-up role after this season, because you know teams will need a starting QB. Including, potentially, whichever team hires NE’s OC as a head coach. Cassel could very easily end up there… he’ll know the playbook and the HC.
Second, he’s gonna want a ton of money… and I wouldn’t throw that at him. I wouldn’t even consider it. (He reportedly wants a 6-year, $65 million deal… kinda like what Aaron Rodgers got. And you don’t give that to a back-up.)

If he ends up in TB, so be it. Their loss, given how Jeff Garcia has performed there.

The Utah Jazz

by UtesFan89 on Nov 20, 2008 8:13 PM EST reply actions

Speaking of the Pats though

I wonder if they’d give us Kevin O’Connell. I’d much rather the go get him and let him develop behind Delhomme for a couple of years or whatever.

The Utah Jazz

by UtesFan89 on Nov 20, 2008 8:13 PM EST reply actions

Sound good

But I agree with UtesFan89, he won’t want to be a backup. But I"m all for going for it.

by LittleKing on Nov 20, 2008 8:46 PM EST reply actions

moore

I think Matt Moore is coming along fine and will be our QB of the future. I think Jake has two years left after this one, but if he plays poorly down the stretch and we don’t go deep in the playoffs, then there will be a QB drafted in the 1st rd next year. If he plays well and we win it all, we still might get one in the later rounds.

As for TB, well they know Garcia was beating us when he was in Philly. He’s good, but Peppers got his number for the next game. They drafted Josh Johnson last year, and I think he’ll be a great QB if he spends another year or two developing behind Garcia. He had 43 TDs and only 1 INT last year at San Diego (not really a big time program, but you get the point.)

by usana_gaines on Nov 21, 2008 1:00 AM EST reply actions

Cassel

I’m against the Panthers making a move to get Cassel. He looks as good as he does right now because of the team he plays for, which is a offensive minded team that knows how to utilize its QBs and receivers. Jake would look much better than Cassel does if he played with the Patriots. Brady would resemble Jake if he played for the Panthers.

The Patriots have more than just their Steve Smith, which would be Moss, they have Welker too, who is much better than Moose. Welker stated the reason why he wanted to go to the Patriots was because they knew how to use their WRs, especially while in the slot position which he likes. The Panthers like to run and then go long, Cassel wouldn’t do half as good with a team like this. The Patriots throw all over the field to all their eligible receivers, something the Panthers seem afraid of doing.

The Panthers would be much better off financially and playing ability if they just went with Matt Moore rather than Matt Cassel.

Fox brought Davidson in to fix the OL and the running game, which he is doing, but I don’t think he’ll ever improve on the passing game much.

by meanoreno on Nov 21, 2008 1:20 AM EST reply actions

He will want to start for sure

That narrows the list and I don;t see the Panthers going in that direction unless something drastic happens which I don’t even want to suggest. Cassell has proved he can start so there are plenty of teams that will start the bidding war. KC, TB, Miami and Detroit come to mind.

I blog the Carolina Panthers at www.catscratchreader.com

by Jaxon on Nov 21, 2008 10:50 AM EST reply actions

Give Moore a chance

Matt Moore’s done nothing to lose his shot at starting QB. He’s played pretty well when he’s had to come in. Also, the original poster mentions Cassel’s main limitation – “short to mid range passes”. I want more from our quarterback; I want someone who is strong and accurate enough to legitimately go deep and keep that 8th man out of the box!

by kilgore_trout on Nov 21, 2008 4:45 PM EST reply actions

Cassel will be awesome

…But not for us.

He’ll go somewhere like SF and start from the get-go. Minnesota could also be a potential suitor.

He has paid his dues as a backup, and now he wants to start for a new team from day one.

Also, Gaines, we don’t have a 1st rounder next year. The year after might be a good time to use a 1st round pick on a QB, unless someone legit falls to the end of the 2nd round next year.

by the bomb dot com on Nov 22, 2008 4:49 PM EST reply actions

Well look at Joe Flacco

Now I know he was picked in the first round so don’t get all fussy with me, but he was projected to go in the 2nd round as well. The only reason he was picked was because the Ravens were desperate after losing Steve McNair and they knew he was a good QB. Chances are he would have fallen to the second round.

Now halfway through the year Joe Flacco is starting as a rookie and doing an excellent job. Not every good QB is a first rounder. Remember we don’t need a Manning. We need a guy with a strong, accurate arm that can perform in clutch situations like 3rd and 4 and 4th and 1

"Once again the trowsers of evil are yanked down by the mocking hands of justice!"-Revshawn

by Revshawn on Nov 23, 2008 12:03 AM EST up reply actions