The most intriguing Quarterback for 2009: Matt Cassel

Even with Tom BradyTom Brady reporting his knee is fully healthy and even if Brett FavreBrett Favre comes back to play with Minnesota, the most intriguing quarterback is still Matt Cassel because of the uncertainty swirling around the Kansas City signal caller.

Cassel's story last year was quite phenomenal as he was thrust into the starting job one quarter into the season opener when Tom Brady tore both his ACL and MCL after being hit by Kansas City safety Bernard Pollard. This received national attention, not only because Brady would be out for the year, but because Cassel had not started a game since his senior year at Chatsworth High School. His only start in college was at halfback, not quarterback. However, even though he did not start a game at quarterback during his tenure at USC, he had the benefit of learning from the likes of Carson PalmerCarson Palmer, Matt LeinartMatt Leinart and Norm ChowNorm Chow to go along with the fact that he was going against one of the nations premier defenses every day in practice while on the scout team. Throughout last year he showed that he had benefited from the tutelage of the USC offensive system, as he put together a solid statistical year throwing for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns, while leading the Patriots to an 11-5 record.

The solid year that Cassel put together garnered the interest of other organizations. The interest of other clubs added with the uncertainty of Tom Brady's healthy return made the Patriots use the franchise tag on Cassel, which meant they would pay him $14.65 million dollars in 2009 making him the highest paid back-up quarterback if Brady made a full recovery. When news broke that Brady was ahead of schedule on his recovery the Patriots fielded offers, and when the Patriots former General Manager Scott Pioli came calling from the Chiefs, a deal was negotiated. The Patriots would send the $14.65 million quarterback and veteran linebacker Mike VrabelMike Vrabel to Kansas City in return for the Chiefs' 2009 2nd round pick. With the draft pick the Patriots selected Oregon Safety Patrick Chung and with the money they would have spent on Cassel and Vrabel, Belicheck and company have signed 11 free agents, which include the likes of Fred TaylorFred Taylor and Joey Galloway.

With his new organization, Cassel is joining the leagues 26th ranked scoring offense that got rid of its biggest threat in Tony Gonzalez, the most productive tight end in NFL history. Not only will Cassel have to learn a new system, but so will the rest of the team, as losing teams usually have a coaching overhaul. That coaching overhaul came in the form of Herm Edwards being fired and Arizona's Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley being hired.

Moreover, a stat that has gone unnoticed in Cassel's 2008 year was that he was sacked a league high 47 times. This could have been caused by a beat up Patriots offensive line that was adjusting to the tendencies of a player outside of Tom Brady or because he was holding on to the ball too long. Holding the ball too long is the result of not making quick enough reads, not wanting to force a throw aka "taking a sack" or wide receivers not creating space between themselves and the defenders. Quite frankly, if Cassel believes Randy MossRandy Moss and Wes WelkerWes Welker are not creating space in Foxboro then he shouldn't hold high expectations for his sack total to drop heading to his new home in Kansas City. What can't go unnoticed is that he did avoid a lot of sacks by hitting his hot reads to Wes Welker in the slot, arguably the best slot receiver over the past two years. With the departure of Tony Gonzalez he'll be searching for a receiver that he will look to when he's under pressure. Looking at the current roster no receiver seems to fit the mold of a sure handed receiver that Tony Gonzalez and Wes Welker bring to the table.

Furthermore, analysts always point to a strong running game being the key ingredient for a quarterback's success. A major component to Cassel leading the Patriots to an 11-5 record was that the Patriots had the 6th best rushing attack in the league. Conversely, the Chiefs ranked 16th overall in rushing. Basically all the factors (wide receivers, running backs, Josh McDaniels and the offensive line) that aided Cassel in his first year as a starter have vanished and now he's with an organization that has won 6 games over the past two years and has traded their top defender (Jared AllenJared Allen) and top offensive player (Tony Gonzalez) over that span.

As I have pointed out, all indications lead to Cassel struggling in 2009. There is nothing intriguing about a struggling quarterback in the NFL, but there is something intriguing about a struggling quarterback that is rewarded with a higher paying contract the following year.

That's right, even if Cassel struggles in 2009 he could be paid $17.58 million dollars in 2010. How is that possible for Cassel to be paid $14.65 million this year only to struggle and then be rewarded with a higher paying contract? Simply because the Chiefs have not elected to sign the quarterback to a long term contract. That means that at the end of the year we will see a situation involving the utilization of the franchise tag play out in Kanas City with Cassel similar to what happened in Foxboro with Cassel. If the Chiefs franchise Cassel they will have to pay him 110% of his 2009 base salary ($14.65 million) plus $1.4 million, which guarantees the Chiefs two first round picks in return if they choose to not to match an opposing offer sheet. The possibility for a trade is likely with Josh McDaniels having already shown that he has interest in continuing his working relationship with Cassel in Denver. The thought of paying Cassel $17.58 million is made possible, if the owners make 2010 an uncapped year.

Odds are that over the next two years Matt Cassel will be paid Top 5 quarterback money in return for top 15 quarterback production. There are plenty of intriguing quarterbacks out there, tell me yours in the comment section