Jay Cutler Asked for a Trade

Did the Pats make a bad Deal?

With the details of the trade official, it looks like the Patriots may not have gotten as much as they could have for Matt Cassel.  The fact that Pats where rushing to make this trade to get Vrabel off their books before he got a $1million roster bonus (they could have released him without penalty but it appears that wanted to do Mike a favor) hurt the return on this deal.  Word has emerged that the Tampa Bay Bucs wanted to make a 3 team deal that would have sent Cassel to Denver, Jay Culter to Tampa and the Pats would have gotten a 1st & 3rd round pick in this year’s draft.   Columnist are thinking that the Pats got ripped off or even made a sweetheart deal due to the relationship between Pioli & Belicheck (that conspiracy theory came from Mega-Douche Jay Mariotti).  ESPN had asked Floyd Reese (now an adviser with the Pats) and Mike Lombardi of National Football Post to put a value on Matt Cassel and here is what they said:

Here’s what Reese said back then: “It would have to be multiple choices and very high choices to get Cassel. Two first-rounders, or a one and a two and a three … It’ll be something very, very expensive.”

Whatever the Giants gave up for Eli has to be the market,” Lombardi said. “It’s got to be a first-rounder, and not the 22nd or 24th pick in the draft. It has to be a substantial one and one that keeps on giving.”

 

The market could have changed in the two months that has past since these quotes, but the Tampa Bay rumor tends to add credence to each of these quotes. 

Patriots Looking For A New Offensive Coordinator

From Boston.com:

The Patriots are in the market for a new offensive coordinator, as Josh McDaniels has agreed to terms on a contract to become the Denver Broncos’ new head coach, the Broncos confirmed last night.

The Denver Post also reported that McDaniels plans to have Patriots special assistant/secondary coach Dom Capers join his staff, although that could not be confirmed.

McDaniels, 32, will replace Mike Shanahan, who was fired after the Broncos’ late-season collapse. Shanahan was one of the NFL’s longest-tenured coaches with the same team, having spent the last 14 years with the Broncos.

As for how the Patriots, who are scheduled to play the Broncos in 2009, will fill the void, the rest of the offensive coaching staff consists of running backs coach Ivan Fears, tight ends coach Pete Mangurian, receivers coach Bill O’Brien, and offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia.

Josh McDaniels Already Putting Together A Staff ?

From Mike Lombardi:

From what I’m hearing, the Broncos loved New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who seems to be formulating his staff, including Dom Capers as his defensive coordinator. The Broncos will not take much more time and will make a decision in the next week.

Typically, when someone leaves the Patriots to take a head coaching job, out of respect for Belichick they don’t take anyone from the organization.

Josh McDaniels Front Runner For Denver Broncos Job ?

From Michael Lombardi:

I hear the Broncos were not enamored or impressed with Steve Spagnuolo and he does not seem to be the frontrunner.  However, they were very impressed with Josh McDaniels of the Patriots, and he might be the favorite now.  The Broncos might be on a fast track to hire a coach this week.  Moving up the Raheem Morris interview means they might want to move quickly.

Broncos Fire Mike Shanahan

The Denver Broncos have announced today that they have fired head coach Mike Shanahan after 14 seasons with the team.  Shanahan finished 146-91 in his 14 seasons with Denver with 2 Super Bowl victories, but he was 24-24 in the last three seasons.  The Broncos have remained strong on the offensive side of the ball the last few years including using numerous running back’s to share the load, but the defense again was poor this season.  They ranked 3rd to last in points allowed.  This comes as a surprise to many and do not look for Shanahan to be unemployed long unless he chooses to take time off.  He could become the front runner in Dallas. 

Shanahan has 3 years and $20 million left on his contract.  Bill Cowher, Jim Fassel, Gary Kubiak among others could be considered for the new opening.