[LUconn]

Doesn't that mean they have to pay him the average of the Top 5 QB salaries? I've got to assume this is a ploy to trade him to another team costing the other team an absurd amount of money. Why would you tie up that mutch cap room in 1 position? And a position that you only play 1 at a time.

[Fumblerooskies]

That is called hedging their bets in case Brady cannot come back from his knee injury and subsequent infections and scarring.

[flamesfan30]

because if they don't he'll be a free agent and probobly go to the jets who will really need a QB theres no way farve is coming back AGAIN. the pats dont have any cap or money problems so why not? if money is no object (you get the new york yankees) you want to hang on to cassel for now and trade sometime next year.

[LUconn]

Except if another team signs him for big bucks in free agency and he produces for them next year, they would get killer compensatory picks the following year. And they're known for building their team with a large amount of draft picks.

[scuzdriver]

Not bad for a back up qb. Good work if you can get it!

[TDDance234]

For a guy who hasn't started a game since HS, he's going to get a whopping $14 million next season...more than likely, to hold a clipboard.
I haven't started a game at QB since 12th grade...sign me!

[SumItUp]

For a guy who hasn't started a game since HS

Am I missing something?

[thepostman]

For a guy who hasn't started a game since HS

Am I missing something?

he was a back up his entire college career at USC

[SumItUp]

For a guy who hasn't started a game since HS

Am I missing something?

he was a back up his entire college career at USC

I understand that he did not start a game in college, but he did start the majority of this season. Thus, my question about the previous statement.

[thepostman]

oo...well, i think that is just saying not bad for a guy who hadn't started a game since high school until this year...at least thats what i assumed

[Sly Fox]

I guess this tells us how Brady's recovery (or lack thereof) has gone.

[RagingTireFire]

I guess this tells us how Brady's recovery (or lack thereof) has gone.

ACL tears usually take 12 months or so to fully recover. Professional athletes generally come back to play faster than that but just because they're playing doesn't mean they've fully recovered.

[Sly Fox]

There have been rumors coming out of Foxboro that he has had significant scar tissue that could push back his return to 2010. This decision gives some validity to the speculation.

[thepostman]

i can imagine the organization is not very happy with tom these days if those reports are true since they wanted him to go with the team medical staff for surgery, instead he opted for a doctor in California...

[TDDance234]

oo...well, i think that is just saying not bad for a guy who hadn't started a game since high school until this year...at least thats what i assumed

You're correct.
I wasn't downplaying what Cassel did this year...it's crazy to watch a guy who hadn't started a game in something like 7 years go out and have the type of season that he did.

If Brady doesn't play in '09, you have to think his days in NE are over.

[thepostman]

oo...well, i think that is just saying not bad for a guy who hadn't started a game since high school until this year...at least thats what i assumed

You're correct.
I wasn't downplaying what Cassel did this year...it's crazy to watch a guy who hadn't started a game in something like 7 years go out and have the type of season that he did.

If Brady doesn't play in '09, you have to think his days in NE are over.

if brady doesn't play in 09 AND the pats have soem success in the playoffs then I think that is a pretty likely scenario, but they have to have some sucess in the playoffs..

[soccer7]

That is called hedging their bets in case Brady cannot come back from his knee injury and subsequent infections and scarring.

I hate to say this but I hope that the same thing happens to Brady that happened to Bledso(sp?). I agree with your statement and think that Brady will be the one that gets traded in the long run.

[TDDance234]

That is called hedging their bets in case Brady cannot come back from his knee injury and subsequent infections and scarring.

I hate to say this but I hope that the same thing happens to Brady that happened to Bledso(sp?). I agree with your statement and think that Brady will be the one that gets traded in the long run.

Trading Brady is going to be virtually impossible...with a serious injury and his massive contract, the only option they're going to have is releasing him.

[ALUmnus]

Does Brady have a massive contract? I thought he took a pay cut to help the team get some free agents. If Cassel gets franchised, he'll be making about twice what Brady makes, if I'm correct.

[HenryGale]

What I heard is Brady is getting $15 Mil and Cassel will be getting around $14 mil. A lot of money tied up in 2 players...especially considering only one can play at a time.

[olldflame]

Brady had a post-surgical staph infection which has slowed his rehab considerably.