Joe Theismann Talks Matt Cassel, Trades and Game Tape

by Joel Thorman on Jun 23, 2009 12:14 PM CDT in 2009 Offseason Comment 18 comments

Like Matt Cassel, Joe Theismann was pedestrian in his first four years in the NFL. He started 11 games in his third and fouth seasons, winning seven, and never completing over 50% of his passes. Despite the fact that Cassel is following a similar mold, Theismann apparently thinks his value was higher than the second round pick the Kansas City Chiefs sent the New England Patriots on the first day of the 2009 League year.

Speaking to WEEI (H/T Ryan at KCChiefsblog for the link), Theismann didn't go as far as Jay Mariotti in suggesting there should be a league investigation into the trade, but hinted at a sweetheart deal of sorts between the two former colleagues Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli.

Check out what Theismann had to say on Cassel after the jump.

"I want to know if Bill’s got any more deals -- on houses, cars, boats, planes," said Theismann with a smile. "Is there anything else out there he might want to get rid of? For 500 bucks, maybe I can get a home out on Nantucket."

Theismann went over the obvious that the Patriots were unlikely to carry $30 million in salary at one position and took what they could get at the time. He said that while Belichick is known as a defensive guru, his offensive mind is underrated and among the best in the league. "He knows what his football team needs -- and it didn't need Matt," the former Redskins quarterback said.

The biggest question mark facing Cassel as he enters his first full season as a starter on a team not named the New England Patriots is whether he can step out of that system and still excel. That shouldn't be a problem, according to Theismann.

"He’s seen everything. It’s not like he took over for four weeks or six weeks. He played an entire season," Theismann said of Cassel. "People had a book on Matt Cassel after Week 10. It’s not going to be any different after Week 16.

"So in my mind, the book is sort of out the window because he’s not a rookie. He spent some time in the league. Yes, it’s the first time he’s played a lot, but the mistakes he made, he’s going to grow from as well."

True, the league does have a full slate of games to watch Cassel, but there's still the question of whether he can put up the same numbers without arguably the best wide receiver tandem in the NFL.

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That picture right there...

To me is the biggest reason why he was successful last year and why I think he’s got the potential to be a very good player for us going forward. Tom Brady may not have the best public image away from the field but on the field, whether you love him or hate him, he is one of the best QB’s to ever play. Playing behind him, practicing with him and picking his brain can only help Cassel moving forward.

by GenericBrand on Jun 23, 2009 12:28 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

I think Cassel's most important asset...

…is that – given the right people – he CAN be successful. I understand people’s apprehensiveness about the fact the NE had all kinds of star receivers and a solid offensive line that KC doesn’t have, therefore we can’t be certain of how he will play out in KC. And certainly in that aspect he is unproven. But, most importantly, what he HAS proven is that if you build a team around him, he CAN be successful. And that’s coming straight off the bench after 6-8 years as a backup. That’s speaks volumes more than any rookie QB drafted this year, and I think it gets overlooked by some.

by jbj8609 on Jun 23, 2009 12:30 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Right

It seems that the biggest knock on him is that he played with a lot of talent last season.

Arrowhead Pride

by Joel Thorman on Jun 23, 2009 12:35 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Joe Montana Had the Same Knock

So did Dick Vermiel’s offense. Everybody said his offense would never work in KC without Faulk and Bruce. Whoops.

A person in good health in a Western liberal democracy is, in terms of his objective circumstances, one of the most fortunate human beings ever to have walked the surface of the earth.

by schraggyj on Jun 23, 2009 12:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by 63gump on Jun 23, 2009 3:57 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Which reminds me of something I should have posted in the other thread

Underrated – Chiefs’ receiving corp (including backs)

Overrated – NE Patriots offensive line

Marley will be walking soon...she could probably play Linebacker better than some of the guys we had.

by PVChiefsfan on Jun 23, 2009 12:38 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by tomahawk44 on Jun 23, 2009 12:43 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Wasn't

Cassell sacked much more than Thigpen though?

by Primmtime on Jun 23, 2009 2:15 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes

but he tends to hold on to the ball too long. So the number of sacks Cassel suffered last year was a combination of his line not being as good as people claim, and him having little experience.

by Chiefs4Life on Jun 23, 2009 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thigpen could have collected more sacks than Cassel

if the coaches hadn’t addressed the offensive line issues with the rollouts and the wildcat stuff they put in after week 2. If I remember correctly, Thigpen was sacked 5 or 6 times in week 2… by the damn Raiders, no less.

If Cassel held the ball too long with guys like Moss and Welker running routes for him, it doesn’t bode well for him when the top guys he has now are named Bowe and Bradley.

I read in the opening paragraphs that Theismann got his big break in his 5th year, but if I remember correctly his really big break didn’t happen until years later, as chronicled here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQ1iVRRu6w0

by LennytheCool on Jun 23, 2009 4:22 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Patsies played a lot of spread, shotgun, and sprint-outs.

by hmills110 on Jun 23, 2009 6:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

+2

by 58 was my friend on Jun 23, 2009 4:36 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Star receivers? Yes. Solid O-Line? H_LL NO!

He was sacked more than Thigpen last season. NE had a makeshift line last season like the Chiefs did for two years.

My crystal ball says that the Chiefs will not be drafting Aaron Curry. Their record at the end of 2009 will be 10-6. After witnessing the 2009 draft, their record will be 8-8.

by IISaiNtII on Jun 23, 2009 6:56 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

He did play with alot of talent....

But there are indications there that he has the tools to be really successful. He’s a very accurate passer and takes care of the ball. Even though he does have an issue of holding it too long at least he doesnt force it under pressure like alot of rookies or inexperienced guys would and he’s decently mobile.

If half of what Haley says about him are true then he has the other intangibles as well. Hes a great leader, wants to constantly learn and football is the #1 thing to him. It might take him a bit to settle in but we have a really good player, over time though we do need to upgrade some of the playrs around him

by GenericBrand on Jun 23, 2009 12:42 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

We Have Pioli/Haley

They were bought here to develop the talent and put together a Steeler/Patrtiot type of team. No we don’t have Moss or the other “great” talent that those teams have, but we have Pioli/Haley to build that talent in dear ole KC. Bowe may well be as great as Moss with the coaching of Haley. Emgram will help. We have better talent at running back than Pitt or NE, and I think the OL will develop into a surprisely good unit this year. Albert is more dedicated, Moss is here, Richardson has improved enough to be working with the 2nd unit, and what about Brown. Cassel has a team around him with the ability to be solid. Haley has already started by getting our Chiefs in shape and redirecting their priorities.

Jerome

by easyjb on Jun 23, 2009 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs