FOX NFL Sunday Roundtable: Week 2

This week, Czar probes FOX NFL Sunday on some of the big games of the week, plus the question of whether Matt Cassel can be as cool as Tom Brady.

OX NFL SUNDAY PANEL

CZAR: How do you think the Patriots are going to be without their MVP, Tom Brady?

Jimmy Johnson: "Personally, I think the Patriots like Matt Cassel as an athlete and may even think he has a better arm than Brady. The whole key is whether or not he's going to be accurate and also how does he react under pressure or when the game gets really tight."

Terry Bradshaw: "I can remember watching him a couple years ago when we were in New England for a preseason game telling you guys I thought he threw a great ball and had a great release. The thing is, though, he never even started a game in college at USC."

JJ: "In this game against the Jets, the Patriots know that Brett Favre will give them some chances to make some plays on defense. The key is whether or not New England will make the plays when Brett puts a ball up for grabs like he did in Miami last Sunday. That one pass could have been an interception and instead it goes for a touchdown."

Curt Menefee: "Talking to Pete Carroll, he admitted that Cassel has a big arm and is mobile. But he also said that he's the kind of guy who gets nervous and really tries to do too much. You have to stay on him and calm him down and keep him in check. He said the thing he would be most concerned about is Cassel making the right decisions."

TB: "I think he is smart and he's been in this system now for four years. But he hasn't really started a game since high school."

CM: "He threw 33 passes in college."

JJ: "Last season he screwed up the Miami game and Bill Belichick had to bring Brady back into the game. Remember, that?"

TB: "The really good quarterbacks that are successful in the NFL aren't necessarily the most talented, the guy who can throw it 90 yards and hit a target and run a 4.4 40-yard. But the guy who can handle the heat and stand in there, the ones who have the most poise."

JJ: "The Patriots didn't pick up another quarterback because we all know the guys that are unemployed all have flaws. I think the Pats felt that they had to go with the quarterbacks who really know their system. Had it been the offseason, they might have had some interest in, say, Chris Simms."

Good idea to consolidate the the discussion.

I want to add that "half" thoughts are of no use here.  If you think Cassell should go, then come up with an alternative.  Do not just say "get a veteran", give a name, a scenario, etc... 

Don't just throw mud at the wall, add some substance.

Regarding Bulger, I think he just signed a large extension.  The Pats cannot fit him under the cap and would not want to pay 2 starting QBs next year.

Thanks.

This is like the 2nd or 3rd time I've seen a "Bring in Bulger" post around here. The Rams signed the guy to a 60 million-ish contract last year. Hes not leaving that team, if he did, this team wouldnt want him. He is a starter, we have a starter (injured). He aint jumpin ship to take less money and be a backup.

As far as Cassel. I dont understand how you can say he's had one bad game? Every game hes played in hes been bad. Dont kid yourself. He was terrible in the Preseason, terrible in garbage time games over the last 4 years, and did just enough to not loose vs KC. He has not shown any indication as to why he should be a Pats backup QB, let alone on the roster taking up someone who could be a viable back up's spot.

The only thing that makes senese to me is that BB does not see something he can bring in that would be game ready in time that is worth trading/paying for. This I can understand. I honestly just think BB and SP got together and looked at who was on the market be it off the street, or via trade, and then said, by the time player X is ready to go we may be in too deep a hole, so lets just save our money and use who we got. Why waste a draft pick (or picks) trying to get someone in here, or spend money that could be used elsewhere next season. Sticking with Cassel tells me they just dont want to hurt the team next season.

Now perhaps they are getting O'Connel ready for a mid to end of the season switch. I could see this as well.

BradyIsMyHero wrote:

This is like the 2nd or 3rd time I've seen a "Bring in Bulger" post around here. The Rams signed the guy to a 60 million-ish contract last year. Hes not leaving that team, if he did, this team wouldnt want him. He is a starter, we have a starter (injured). He aint jumpin ship to take less money and be a backup.

As far as Cassel. I dont understand how you can say he's had one bad game? Every game hes played in hes been bad. Dont kid yourself. He was terrible in the Preseason, terrible in garbage time games over the last 4 years, and did just enough to not loose vs KC. He has not shown any indication as to why he should be a Pats backup QB, let alone on the roster taking up someone who could be a viable back up's spot.

The only thing that makes senese to me is that BB does not see something he can bring in that would be game ready in time that is worth trading/paying for. This I can understand. I honestly just think BB and SP got together and looked at who was on the market be it off the street, or via trade, and then said, by the time player X is ready to go we may be in too deep a hole, so lets just save our money and use who we got. Why waste a draft pick (or picks) trying to get someone in here, or spend money that could be used elsewhere next season. Sticking with Cassel tells me they just dont want to hurt the team next season.

Now perhaps they are getting O'Connel ready for a mid to end of the season switch. I could see this as well.

I am firmly in the "Rome and QBs are not built in a couple of weeks playing/practicing as the #1 in the NFL" camp.  I think you stick with Cassell.

To me the most intriguing FA out there is Tim Rattay.  Boo hiss, yea what has Ratty ever shown?

"To date, in 37 games, including 18 starts, Rattay has completed 429-of-711 passes in his career for 4,848 yards with 31 touchdowns and 23 interceptions for a passer rating of 80.4."  thank you wikipedia.

Is Tim Rattay a perfect solution? No.  Has he shown flashes of production in the NFL? Yes.  Could Randy Moss and Wes Welker make him a better player?  Probably.

Again I think you stick with what you have, but if people insist on suggesting going to get a FA, then at least give Rattay a look.

BradyIsMyHero wrote:

 I dont understand how you can say he's had one bad game? Every game hes played in hes been bad. Dont kid yourself. He was terrible in the Preseason, terrible in garbage time games over the last 4 years, and did just enough to not loose vs KC. He has not shown any indication as to why he should be a Pats backup QB, let alone on the roster taking up someone who could be a viable back up's spot.

Bradyismyhero,

I think you are under estimating how important rythem is to an offense and espeically a QB.  Matt Cassell has never had the opportunity to develop a rythem while leading the offense.

He still has not.  But now he has the chance.  The jury is still out.

I agree that Cassell has shown signs of good and bad over the past four years, but to expect a guy to get plugged in at random times and in the preseason and not expect problems is not reasonable.

I think MC will be fine after a couple of weeks practicing.
Who wouldnt be nervous having Moss and Welker ?
He just started, and apparently Belichick likes what he sees
at practice from MC. He must be hitting his recievers in practice.

Pats got caught unaware, but the next Miami game they will have practiced
against those plays.

.

Pats QB Cassel working on mechanics during bye week

My first choice remains Jeff Garcia if he is still available.  However, I am starting to  lean towards the opinion in that time is running out.  There are others........... See September 11 postings under "Garcia" where my opinion is clearly stated.  The man's got decent stats and PO experience. 

Below Source: Weikipedia(sp)

Jeffrey Jason Garcia (born February 24, 1970 in Gilroy, California) is an American football quarterback for the Tampa Bay

I'm thinking how well Cory Dillon and Randy Moss did after they joined the Patriots. Both came with raps which they overcame.

The reality is that if they were going to do something by now, they would have.  I do however, think Garcia would do well in  NE................

I just dont get all the kids gloves with this guy. I never will.

Do we forget the game he almost blew that they had to put Brady back in for? Do we forget that while he might have had some completions in the pre-season, he wasnt consistently driving a well stocked offense down the field to score?

This offense should not be going down the field and sputtering out, taking field goals. Many of you seem to be fine with this in your support of Cassel and overlooking that this is all he is doing.

And get that trash "Culpepper is a good choice" off these boards. Seriously, what are you thinkin?. DC is one of the worst QB's to play the game. He would have not played nearly as long if it werent for Randy Moss' ability to make anyone (except Matt Cassel) look like a great QB. Scrubs like Kerry Collins and those other bums the Raiders have had at QB when he was there even looked good when lobbing it up to Moss for circus catches. Add to that what little he could do after his injury was not good enough for a poor Fins, and Poor raiders team the last few years. He's roadkill.

Rattay.. Meh.

Garcia. He would be a decent choice. But as Stated earlier.. Getting a QB in to replace Cassel, that person most likely wouldnt start for 2-4 weeks. Add on to that, Garcia would not be gotten for a cost worth it to the Patriots for what few games they would use him for at this point. It is too late to bring in anybody the Pats would have to pony up a pick for, or trade a player for.

We are stuck with Cassel. The only thing that I could see them doing is starting one of the other QB's on the roster after the half way point in the season.