Former NFL exec Mike Lombardi has confirmed through members of the Patriots front office that they indeed will place the Franchise Tag on QB Matt Cassel.  “The Patriots are way too smart, and I’ve talked to people in the organization,” said Lombardi, via the Providence Journal.  “They are going to franchise Matt Cassel.  He’s an asset, and they can control their ability to trade him if they franchise him.”  This means, next season the Patriots will have taken up nearly $26 million in cap space on the Quarterback position alone, and Matt Cassel will make more money in 2009 than the QB he backs up Tom Brady.  Of course, the Patriots can trade one of their two QB’s before the season, or work a deal to sign Cassel to a more long term contract.

Matt Cassel is about to get paid.  For a guy that never started a game in college, he sure has found a way to make it big.  The Patriots would be stupid not to sign him, especailly with all the rumors of Tom Brady being behind in his rehab and fears of more surgeries.

See Related: Brady or Cassel??

     – Miles Cyrus

Tags: Franchise Tag, Matt Cassel, New England Patriots, NFL, Patriots to Franchise Tag Cassel, Pats, Tom Brady

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