New England Patriots to Use Franchise Tag on Cassel, ESPN Says
By Mason Levinson
Jan. 4 (Bloomberg) -- The New England Patriots will place a franchise tag on Matt Cassel, preventing the National Football League quarterback from becoming an unrestricted free agent as the team awaits Tom Brady’s return from a knee injury, ESPN said.
The designation guarantees that Cassel, 26, would be paid at least an average of the top five quarterbacks in the NFL and would allow the team to trade him if Brady is healthy next season, ESPN said, citing unidentified people.
Cassel started 15 games for the Patriots this season after Brady, a two-time Super Bowl Most Valuable Player, was injured during the first game.
Cassel threw for 3,693 yards, with 21 touchdowns and 11 Interceptions, as the Patriots finished 11-5 to narrowly miss the postseason.
To contact the reporter on this story: Mason Levinson in New York at mlevinson@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: January 4, 2009 13:57 EST |
