Player Profile: Matt Cassel written by Ben Hoyt

Matt Cassel is the current starting quarterback for the New England Patriots. But who is he?

Cassel attended the University of Southern California from 2000 through 2005 and was the backup quarterback to Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. He never made a start at quarterback; the only start he ever made in college was at tight end. He also played baseball in college and was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 2004 draft, but decided to continue with football.

After finishing his collegiate career at USC, Cassel was drafted in the seventh-round by the Patriots in the 2005 draft.

In Cassel’s rookie season in 2005, he began the season third on the Patriots’ depth chart behind Tom Brady and Doug Flutie. He made his first regular season action in the last couple minutes of the Patriots’ 41-17 loss to the San Diego Chargers on October 2, going 2-for-4 for 15 yards and throwing an interception. He only made one other appearance that season and ended the season throwing 24 passes, completing 13 for 183 yards 2 touchdowns and an interception.

Cassel moved up to second on the Patriots’ depth chart during the 2006 and 2007 seasons, and became the primary backup to Tom Brady. He appeared in 12 games and threw only 15 passes for 70 yards in those two seasons.

In the 2008 season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, Cassel career changed for the better. Starting quarterback Tom Brady suffered a torn ACL and MCL in the first quarter which ended his season and made Cassel the starter. He made his first career start on September 14, against the New York Jets. The Patriots’ were victorious, winning 19-10. Ever since, Cassel has become a great NFL quarterback and everyone in the league is now noticing. Through the first eleven games of the season, Cassel has thrown for 2,615 yards with 13 touchdowns and 8 interceptions.

Cassel is in the last year of his 4-year, $1.4 million rookie contract (he’s making $520,000 this year), is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in 2009. Cassel will be getting a substantial raise next season. Cassel will most likely get in the range of $5-6 million per year, but from whom?

The Patriots may franchise him, but the price will not be cheap and may cause a problem for their salary cap and it’s not likely the Patriots want to pay him that type of money to be the backup. There will be many teams interested in his services next season. The Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, and the Minnesota Vikings are the most probable spots where he may land next season, but you never know.

The Detroit Lions will probably go hard after Cassel this offseason and could land the future star. There is a definite opening at quarterback for Detroit and Cassel could fit well into the team’s new offense next season when they get a new coach after current coach Rod Marinelli gets canned after this season. He will also have a great big target in wide receiver Calvin Johnson to toss the ball to and with no running game, Cassel will get plenty of chances to make plays.

Cassel may have a real great future ahead of him in the league; however, where will he be starting in 2009? Only the future will tell.

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