"Fantasy" Football Potential Draftee #3: Matt Cassel

MATT CASSEL
NFL TEAM: New England Patriots (Future remains uncertain)
POSITION: Quaterback
AGE: 26
HEIGHT: 6'4"
WEIGHT: 230 lbs

Matt Cassel is a man of many talents. At the University of Southern California, he played QB-2 and saw his only college start, as a tight end, but he did start one season at USC...as a baseball player. Matt was drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 2004 MLB Draft and in 2005 was drafted in the 7th Round of the NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. After serving as back-up QB to Carson Palmer and Matt Leinhart in college and Tom Brady as a Patriot, Matt is the only known quarterback in NFL history to start an NFL game at quarterback without ever starting at quarterback in college. This 2008 season he was called up to QB-1 to fill the shoes of Tom Brady.


I don't know about you, but I didn't miss Tom very much! Cassel didn't take his team to the playoffs, but had 2 back to back games throwing for more than 400 yards and kicked a 76 yard punt. (Brady kicked a punt once, it only went 36 yards)


(His dimples and ability to rock the 5 o'clock shadow, still fall number 2 to Matt Leinhert, though!)

He is a wanted man: This season the Pats have to place the franchise tag on Mr. Cassel and there has been talk of as high as first round drafts picks for the dimpled, cutie pie. Kansas City, Minnesota and even Miami have been rumored to be making offers. (Sure would be nice if he came to Miami...hmmm....)


Things you need to know before drafting Matt Cassel:

Cassel may have a bit of a "#2 syndrome" after playing back-up to Palmer, Leinhert and Brady most of his life. I am not sure if that contributed to his out-going, attention grabbing nature or if he is just crazy, but just like being #2 didn't stop Matt from kicking ass this season, his inability to sing and dance, doesn't stop him either...



Yes, he called himself flamboyant. His bravery is so adorable, yet....well...gay!

Brett Farve Favre, Through out the Tears

Brett Favre has cried on several momentous occasions through out his life. It never mattered to him whether he was on national tv, or when Laura Ingraham said "I didn't know there was a woman quarterback in the NFL." Favre has been true to his emotions, since birth. But before we judge him, many of us cried or would have cried on these occasions as well.

He cried at birth, like most of us. (this is an obvious re-enactment of the birth of Brett Favre, as there was no digital photography back then)



He cried on his first day of school...…you can see how that might be a problem (spelling had to give the poor kid some trouble, Farve, Favre...whatever!).




He cried when they shot Bambi's mom (but didn't we all?)



When he met his true love John Madden for the first time. They do have an unnatural connection.



He cried when he...he bit his tongue? (Oh come on! You know that hurts!)


He cried when the NFL told him he had to go to rehab for his pain killer addiction or pay $900,000. (Thats a pretty tough decision for anyone, isn't it?)


He cried when he broke the most career interceptions record (300)...I wonder if he will cry when Tony Romo takes this over?



I don't know why he is crying here, but my guess would be he either realized that an NFL Quarterback, worth millions, who only works once a week for about 6 months out of the year, has nothing to cry about.


He cried when he saw this image on the Jumbo Tron. (not a good look for old man Fav-ruh)


He cried when he lost to the Giants in the final game of his career (which would only turn out to be his final game as a Green Bay Packer and not as big of a deal as he originally thought).


He cried when he retired from the NFL


And he cried when he unretired from the NFL




All of these events can be devastating or at the very least troublesome. Maybe if we stretch our imaginations and try to conceptualize what it might be like to get paid millions to play a game, hear our name chanted by our fans, have people recognize us wherever we go, win a Superbowl, and have our face on the cover of a video game, we could sympathize with Brett. Its a tough life, but some one's gotta live it. Just because he gets hit by 300 pound linemen doesn't mean it doesn't hurt him when he stubs his toe or someone calls him a blubbering girl. So up until this Thursday, I felt that Brett Favre's tears were genuine and everyone was too harsh on the man for showing his true feelings...

HOWEVER! This Thursday, Brett Favre cried, after beating the New England Patriots.


He cried because he beat a team playing with a Rookie quarterback in his first starting season, who is under the pressure of playing after Tom Brady's almost undefeated season. I don't get it Favre. Was it because you just squeaked by and one with a field goal in OT? Was it because Matt Cassel out played you, throwing for 400 yards and 2 TDs and you finally realize you are too old for the NFL?? I can' figure this on out!

Did Matt Cassel hurt your feelings?


Through tears and sobs, Brett Favre was the second best quarterback to play on Thursday night, throwing for 258 and 2 TDS, but the Bretts beats the Pats in OT, 34-31.