Matt Cassel Contract - Still think it was a bad move by Pioli?
by jmcgoblue on Nov 13, 2009 10:06 AM CST
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There's been a lot of debate here at AP regarding Matt Cassel's contract. My understanding is that it's about $28 million guaranteed over 6 seasons, with escalators pushing it up to a possible $63 million over that period...or anywhere between $5-$10 million per season, assuming that he's around for the full 6 seasons.
I tried to find some reliable information regarding the average starting NFL QB salaries, but couldn't get very far...with the way contracts are structured, it's surprisingly difficult to find a straightforward list of average salaries. In the end I'm just using the $5 million average this guy came up with. So essentially, Pioli is paying Cassel at an above average salary, but not an elite salary (which would be closer to $15m per season. Even if he becomes the best QB in the league (yeah, I know, that's above his upside) he won't be among the top paid QBs in the league. The worst case scenario is that he falls apart or has a career ruining injury this year, and he makes about $30-$35 million for a single season. That would obviously be an awful deal, but injuries are just a part of the risks associated with guaranteed contracts...it's an unavoidable risk in the NFL.
I know this has all been discussed repeatedly before, a lot of people believe that Cassel should not have been given the contract before proving himself with a 'less talented' Chiefs team, while others have said that he's proven that he can QB in the NFL with a good supporting cast, and therefore is more deserved of the contract than any big money rookie ever could be. Personally, I've been in the latter group, and after 7 games this season, I remain firm in my belief that it was a good decision. Cassel hasn't been great, but he's been very good considering the circumstances he has to deal with. He certainly doesn't have a lot of passing yards, but does have a 2:1 TD to INT ratio, which is quite good considering that teams are teeing off on him & he has zero running game. I think with his production with THIS team, he'd be commanding another franchise tag in the off-season & an even bigger contract. I think the majority of APers would not want to let him to walk.
There isn't much point to this post, other than to open up a controversial decision to discussion.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.
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it was a GOOD contract
period
* "I doubt anyone will miss Connor Barth except UCrawford"
* the LB corps may become the biggest strength of the Chiefs in 2009
* The OL is NOT as bad as you think it is... give it time, and you'll see improvement this season
* Stats are for losers
Somebody had to get that Chiefs money....
Pioli sure wasnt spending it in FA…..
"Its going to be a challenge, its going to feel like forever, and there will be difficulties. But we will emerge on the other side of it stronger than we were when we entered." ~ Sudden
AND
Cassel was getting it anyway, with the existing contract, and the potential that they’d have to franchise him again…
they aren’t adding much more guaranteed money, and they are locking him in for less than the top rookies and 1st tier QBs in the league.
People don’t understand the structure of this deal… but it’s VERY reasonable for KC
* "I doubt anyone will miss Connor Barth except UCrawford"
* the LB corps may become the biggest strength of the Chiefs in 2009
* The OL is NOT as bad as you think it is... give it time, and you'll see improvement this season
* Stats are for losers
Well
We kinda needed a Starting QB….and it would be that kind of money with any decent starting QB…..Draft or FA……probably way more with a top draft choice.
"Its going to be a challenge, its going to feel like forever, and there will be difficulties. But we will emerge on the other side of it stronger than we were when we entered." ~ Sudden
not way more than a top draft choice...
Stafford got 48 mil guaranteed. Cassel 28 mil.
by chrisclark_dfw on Nov 14, 2009 5:13 AM CST up reply actions
well hell, that sounds like way more to me!
What do you do for a living that a $20million dollar bump would not be considered way more?
Quick math in the head tells me that’s a 41% bump in money. I’m sure if you gave me a 41% increase in pay I’d consider that way more.
The Powers Of Astute Observation Are Often Mistaken As Cynacism By Those That Do Not Posses Them -- G.B. Shaw
I agree...
20 million is way more. I read Matt Grbac’s comment incorrectly and interpreted him saying Cassel was paid more than if we had drafted a top QB.
Kinda just like you misread my comment….because my comment says Cassel is not paid way more than a top draft pick…i.e. 28 million is less than 48 million
by chrisclark_dfw on Nov 16, 2009 4:34 AM CST up reply actions
and yep
agreed… worse scenario is waste a few million this year…
and potentially use the FA money that i was hoping they’d use this offseason next offseason.
by kcstevesportsfan on Nov 13, 2009 8:51 PM CST up reply actions
He's saving it to go nuts in free agency this offseason
that’s what I keep telling myself anyway. All I know is that if Wilfork leaves NE, he better end up in KC.
Predictions:
Kansas City will not win more than four games in 2009
Kansas City will have a new OC and DC in 2010
Kansas City will win at least seven games in 2010
Good Contract
But now pay some O-line guys an protect that 60 million
Would ya like a free NANAA!
by Jazzy Megalodon on Nov 13, 2009 10:47 AM CST reply actions
Good
I think with a yr in the system and better protection he will be a good signing. I hope he makes it through the season without a serious injury because IMO, if Croyle gets another shot and produces, then everybody will be second guessing it. I think that with this horrible offense, Croyle will produce better than Cassel, mainly because he has a stronger arm, quicker release, and can put the ball in tighter windows. I also think that Croyle will take more chances down the field and has better accuracy….Hell, besides injuries, why is Croyle not our starter?…
Of course it was a good move...shocked I would say that?
Well don’t be. I don’t hate Cassel. I think he will be fine down the line. We needed a QB and he was the best of the lot. He’ll do a good job eventually. But he’s not the calibre QB that can excel behind a crap O line like Aaron Rodgers or Brett Favre. He needs his security blanket. Which is ok, we just need to know that and do somthing about it by next season.
We did ok with his contract all things considered!
Nice points Chrisfish
I think we should pick up a good veteran QB in the offseason to help with Cassel. Pioli did that in NE with Flutie….
"Its going to be a challenge, its going to feel like forever, and there will be difficulties. But we will emerge on the other side of it stronger than we were when we entered." ~ Sudden
I agree...
I think he will definitely prove his worth in the coming season(s) with an improved caliber of supporting players. He can’t carry the team alone.
by HeatherChiefsLvr on Nov 13, 2009 1:55 PM CST up reply actions
Glad at first...
but now I’m worried that this group will ruin him…o-line and staff. If he can survive this season we may have a long time qb. On the other hand, he needs to work on some things in a bad way, like reads, and his slow release.
Not sure about slow release.
I think his throwing motion is his throwing motion. If the supporting cast improves, Croyle’s better mechanics could push Cassel for playing time. But as long as it’s “throw the QB to the wolves” time, Cassel’s more likely to survive, while bringing intangibles we didn’t see in the QBs KC had.
No question. Otis Taylor should be in the Hall of Fame.
There is something about this guy...
I want to call him Little Ben. The only problem is,Big Ben turned Pit around over-night. I’m kind of suprised people aren’t screaming for Croyle yet. In reality, this would be a good time to see what he could do. We just need to run the score up on Oakland Sunday to do it….
tks matty...
also 12t…i worry as do all Chiefs fans about the same thing. I hope he survives 09’ cause we need him. And again I’ll say this…
GO GET STEVE DEBERG!! Bring him in as a QB coach consultant.
Cassel
I think Matt has done a hell of a job. I know he takes some sacks but his ball security is usually stellar. Kray I’ll bet they do bring someone in next year to work with Matt but, it will be someone that Pioli and Haley trust to do a good job. Not saying Deberg might not be that guy but why would he leave the sweet gig he has now?
David Logue
see you were doing great except for the "hell of a job" line...comeon now
that’s why I go all Kool-Aid on people in here when they say things like that..hell of a job is Brees, Schaub and Manning.
nah...
you can say hellovajob to guys who do the best they can with what they have…
they dont’ have to be one of the top 3 QBs in the League.
I do believe Cassel will eventually be mentioned on the same level as Schaub, Rogers, Rivers, Ryan…. but he won’t be a Peyton Manning, Brees or Brady
* "I doubt anyone will miss Connor Barth except UCrawford"
* the LB corps may become the biggest strength of the Chiefs in 2009
* The OL is NOT as bad as you think it is... give it time, and you'll see improvement this season
* Stats are for losers
but will he ever be a ...George Plimpton?
Winning begins with Attitude - Haley and Pioli will be winners in KC!
I'll forever be a Chiefs fan! Only God himself could take that away from me, but when I get to my great reward, I'll rejoin two bigger fans, my Mom and Dad.
I love the guy too.
For a city that seems to take a liking to tough as nails players I am kind of wondering where the Cassel love is. He may be the toughest guy on the team. He’s taking an enormous beating this year which could very literally be shaving years off his life expectancy. I think with a better supporting cast around him he will be just fine for us.
Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he's really not a part of our family. Also, he's divorced, so he's really not a part of his family.
For being a "middle 10 QB" in terms of contract money
I dont think we could have done a lot better. Maybe being armchair QB, perhaps we could’ve waited a year and gone after this years strong QB draft class, but then again we’d probably have to let go of our first Rd draft pick which would go over like a lead balloon around these parts…
Never Thought The Cassel Contract Was A Bad Move
It’s really only a two year deal so if Cassel busts we’re not really on the hook for that much after the first two years.
What I thought was a bad move was trading for a potential franchise QB, handing him a big contract, then ignoring the crappy o-line.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Predictions for 2009
Fire Haley now.
Save UCrawford's soul as a Chiefs fan...or lose your own. Take the bet.
http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2009/11/9/1123799/the-driver-of-the-fire-haley
That I agree with!
Winning begins with Attitude - Haley and Pioli will be winners in KC!
I'll forever be a Chiefs fan! Only God himself could take that away from me, but when I get to my great reward, I'll rejoin two bigger fans, my Mom and Dad.
not a HORRIBLE thing contract wise, would like to see how Cassel does over a few seasons rather than just one before I call it awesome or terrible
agree with UC regarding the (lack of an) O-Line
Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisiton!
I had more of a problem with the trade than with the contract
I thought it was stupid to trade for Cassel without a contract already in place, but a large part of that was negated by what appears to have been a pre-determined contract arrangement. I didn’t think Cassel was a very good investment when it came to the value of the pick, because all he did in NE was benefit from a very friendly system. But if the admin, which deserves some deference right now, disagrees on the quality of Cassel as a player, then the contract itself was actually not bad at all. I probably would have liked to have seen more team protection in there, in case Cassel is indeed exposed as having just been the beneficiary of the NE system, but that was unlikely at best.
by burntorangehorn on Nov 14, 2009 9:59 AM CST reply actions
cassel
I dont agree w/ the contract, only because he hasnt proven himself. sure give him a lil bit better o-line and lets see what he can do. if our o-line gets better and he continues to get sacked due to him holding the ball to damn long and costing the team games then it will be a failure.
Proud Supporter of Tyler Thigpen.
and Tyler Thigpen HAS proved himself?
He’s riding the pine in Miami as a 3rd or 4th QB on a team that better fits his style of play than ours does.
Air Cassel - approved for takeoff
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