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Matt Cassel

NFC Notes: Cassel, 49ers, Davis, Bears

October 13th, 2015 at 10:03pm CST by Zachary Links

Quarterback Brandon Weeden has been informed by Cowboys coaches that the team will start Matt Cassel in Week 7, following the bye, reports Ed Werder of ESPN.com (via Twitter). Of course, with Tony Romo still on track to return this season, it’s not as if either Weeden or Cassel will become a long-term starter in Dallas, but if he plays well, Cassel could become the favorite to return as Romo’s backup next year.

Here’s more from the NFC..

  • Having lost more than a dozen veterans who started games last season, the 49ers needed to make their free agent signings count this offseason. However, as Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com details, GM Trent Baalke‘s free agent class has mostly been a bust so far.
  • The 49ers would be open to trading tight end Vernon Davis, but he’ll be a tough sell given his contact, play, and age, Maiocco tweets.
  • The Bears brought in linebackers Lawrence Sidbury and Trevardo Williams for a tryout today along with defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi, according to an NFL source who spoke with Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (via Twitter).
  • The Packers worked out safety Tim Scott today, Rob Demovsky of ESPN.com tweets. Green Bay might need a safety when Sean Richardson is placed on IR.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Cole’s Latest: Payton, Fells, Lions, Cowboys

October 12th, 2015 at 12:10pm CST by Luke Adams

Saints head coach Sean Payton is “intrigued” by the idea that teams like the Dolphins and Colts could pursue him after the 2015 season, a source tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (video link).

That doesn’t mean Payton would leave New Orleans, or that he’d be able to get out of his contract even if he wanted to. However, Cole notes that there are some questions surrounding the ownership situation in New Orleans – presumably a reference to the Benson family’s legal drama – and Payton also may not be able to rebuild the Saints around Drew Brees quickly enough to compete again before Brees reaches the end of his career.

Payton’s situation will be one worth keeping an eye on over the next few weeks and months, as we wait to see how the season plays out in New Orleans, Miami, Indianapolis, and elsewhere. In the meantime, Cole has published several more video reports on noteworthy topics, so let’s dive in and round up the highlights…

  • A weekend report indicated that Giants tight end Daniel Fells was at risk of losing his foot due to an MRSA infection, and Cole suggests that the issue has been even more serious than that, calling it “life-threatening.” While Fells is in good shape for the time being, he has undergone several procedures and had parts of his foot removed already, according to Cole, who says the tight end’s playing career is over.
  • After a blowout home loss to the Cardinals, several Lions players expressed concern about the relationship between the team and head coach Jim Caldwell, says Cole. Per Cole, some Lions players were dissatisfied with the way Caldwell handled the aftermath of last Monday night’s loss to the Seahawks, when he didn’t appear to fight hard over the fumble call that cost the team the game. For what it’s worth, Caldwell said today that the club isn’t making changes to its coaching staff this week (Twitter link via Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com).
  • Citing two sources, Cole reports that Matt Cassel is “highly likely” to be the Cowboys‘ starting quarterback in Week 7, following the team’s bye.
  • The Chiefs are split on whether Knile Davis or Charcandrick West will be Jamaal Charles‘ primary replacement going forward, assuming the star running back is indeed out for the season. According to Cole, head coach Andy Reid prefers West, since his running style is similar to Charles’, but Davis has plenty of support within the organization from those who believe he’s a better overall back than West. We heard this morning that Kansas City is also bringing in veteran back Ben Tate for a workout tomorrow.

QB Notes: Stafford, Cowboys, McCown

October 11th, 2015 at 7:14pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Lions head coach Jim Caldwell benched longtime starting quarterback Matthew Stafford during the team’s 42-17 loss to Arizona on Sunday after Stafford threw three interceptions and averaged just 5.5 yards per attempt on 32 passes. Backup Dan Orlovsky came in for Stafford and wasn’t much better, completing just over 55 percent of his 38 passes for 5.0 yards per attempt, a touchdown and an interception. Afterward, Caldwell said Stafford is still the 0-5 Lions starter going forward, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link).

More on Stafford and some other QBs from around the NFL:

  • Stafford was probably the least surprised about his benching, as Caldwell informed the 27-year-old at halftime that he’d sit if he threw a third pick, per NFL Network’s Albert Breer (via Twitter). Stafford did, so Caldwell stuck to his word and pulled him.
  • Unlike Caldwell, Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett is considering a quarterback change and will evaluate the position during his team’s bye week, Clarence Hill of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports (Twitter link). Brandon Weeden fared well statistically in his two starts prior to this week, but the club lost both outings and fell to 0-3 with him under center Sunday in a 30-6 loss to New England. Weeden had his worst game of the year, going 26 of 39 for 188 yards and an interception. That could open the door in Week 7 for veteran Matt Cassel, whom the 2-3 Cowboys acquired in a trade with Buffalo last month.
  • Surprisingly, one QB who has been playing great lately is Browns journeyman Josh McCown. The 36-year-old threw for a franchise-record 457 yards in Cleveland’s 33-30 win over Baltimore on Sunday. That gives him an eye-popping 1,154 yards over the last three weeks. Further, McCown has thrown six touchdowns against only one interception during that span, and Bud Shaw of Northeast Ohio Media Group writes that he’s the biggest reason the 2-3 Browns have to believe in themselves. Their defense – which was supposed to be a strength – has underachieved, and McCown’s stellar play of late has silenced calls for big-name backup Johnny Manziel.

NFC East Notes: Cassel, Cowboys, Kelly

October 9th, 2015 at 6:05pm CST by Rob DiRe

The NFC East is in flux right now, with the Cowboys, Giants, and Washington all sitting at 2-2 and the Eagles only a game behind at 1-3. Here are a few notes as we get ready for Week 5:

  • The Cowboys have activated Matt Cassel to be the primary backup behind Brandon Weeden, according to ESPN.com. Kellen Moore had previously been the backup as Cassel learned the offense, and will drop to the No. 3 quarterback for this Sunday’s game against the Patriots.
  • The Cowboys have only 52 players on their roster at the moment and David Moore of The Dallas Morning News expects them to promote either defensive end Lavar Edwards or wide receiver Vince Mayle from the practice squad to fill out that final spot (via Twitter).
  • In college news, USC lost to Washington at home despite being a huge favorite, leading to rumors that the Trojans could be in the market for a new head coach, and Eagles’ head coach Chip Kelly could be a target, according to Pete Thamel of Sports Illustrated. This was a huge defeat considering head coach Steve Sarkisian’s ugly start at the school, which was also considering Chris Petersen, who instead was hired in Washington. The loss has begun speculation of Sarkisian being replaced at Southern Cal, and one name the school would be extremely interested in Kelly, who they were interested in before he left for the NFL.

Zach Links contributed to this post.

Bills GM on Strategy, Trades, Ryan

October 3rd, 2015 at 11:23am CST by Ben Levine

Bills general manager Doug Whaley had a busy offseason. He added offensive weapons LeSean McCoy, Tyrod Taylor, Percy Harvin, Richie Incognito and Charles Clay, and he re-signed defensive end Jerry Hughes. Perhaps the most significant move of them all was hiring Rex Ryan as his head coach.

The executive sat down with Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com to discuss the moves, his team’s strategy, and the team’s outlook. We’ve compiled some of the notable quotes, which you can find below…

On the team’s front office strategy, and how the Bills are constantly looking to build for the future:

“Every day we sit and think about how we can make this roster better. Outside the perception of some is we’re reckless, we’re rogue. No, everything is calculated and that is driven a lot by information and what makes the best sense for our team going forward. If you look at any move that most management teams make, it’s not that move, but how that move sets you up for your next move.”

“It’s a delicate balance because we have to win now and we have to produce this season, but it helps you when you have depth and you have some pieces to play with. So it’s a delicate balance and each situation is different, but again if you can get guys with a high upside and a long shelf life you have a chance to stay competitive for a long time.”

On the team trading veteran quarterback Matt Cassel:

“When the opportunity presented itself where we could get a valuable draft pick for Matt Cassel, and you already felt comfortable enough with EJ (Manuel) because we moved Cassel off the roster previously. So if you look at it analytically if everything is equal or close, go with the guy with higher upside and the longer shelf life.

“Then you add in the fact that we’re going to get a pick and another young guy that we’ll have another four years, so you have two guys with longer shelf lives and possibly better upside. Analytically and informationally that makes the decision.”

On the relationship between him and head coach Rex Ryan:

“It’s easier because we’re looking for the same type of players. So what I deem as a good player or a player that can fit what we’re trying to build he seems the same way. Obviously there is always going to be some difference of opinion, but generally he wants the best player at every position and we do too.

“The scouts were wondering how things were going to change. He comes in and says, ‘Keep doing what you’re doing. Get good football players. We’ll make it work.’ So we don’t want to be scheme or system specific when we scout. You can see it in the offense as well. If they shut down Sammy (Watkins) then you’ve got Percy (Harvin). If they shut down Percy then you’ve got Charles (Clay). It’s not a difficult situation or problem to solve. Just get as many good football players as possible.”

On owners Terry and Kim Pegula’s willingness to spend on the team:

“They have made a concerted effort to say, ‘If they’re ours and we believe in them, let’s exhaust every resource we have to try to keep them.’ It starts with them and that to me goes along with drafting being the backbone of your organization. If you draft well and you can keep your own then you don’t have to go and get as many free agent targets. You’ve already got those guys on your roster.”

Extra Points: Cassel, Bryant, Cruz, Los Angeles

October 2nd, 2015 at 7:59pm CST by Rob DiRe

In a chat with for the Dallas Morning News, columnist Kevin Sherrington guesses that the Cowboys will dress Kellen Moore as the backup this week while Matt Cassel continues to learn the offense. He does note that if Brandon Weeden doesn’t turn things around, Cassel will eventually get the chance to start, which is key since he is doubtful Tony Romo will be ready to return as soon as he comes of the IR-DTR.

  • Sherrington also believes the Cowboys could be in the market to add a wide receiver, specifically one who could threaten to take the top off the defense. He cites the team’s inability to get the ball to any wideout other than Cole Beasley since the injuries to Romo and Dez Bryant.
  • Steelers wide receiver Martavis Bryant has had his suspension ended after the team played their fourth game last night, according to Pro Football Talk (via Twitter). The team will still have a roster exemption until Tuesday, October 13th.
  • Free agent wide receiver A.J. Cruz has been suspended for the next four games of the regular season, reports Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle (via Twitter). He has previous experience with the Arena Football League and was on the Bears’ 90-man roster this offseason.
  • The league office has informed teams that they will be discussing “relocation guidelines” surrounding a potential Los Angeles franchise at next week’s owners’ meeting in New York, per Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports (via Twitter). It is unclear if they will discuss relocation fees and a timetable for the move (via Twitter).

East Notes: RGIII, Patriots, Washington

September 29th, 2015 at 12:12pm CST by Luke Adams

Robert Griffin III hasn’t dressed for any of Washington‘s first three regular season games, but his presence “continues to loom over the franchise, writes Mike Jones of the Washington Post. Griffin still has support within the organization, and – according to Jones – league insiders have speculated that the Washington brass could eventually force Jay Gruden to go back to RGIII if Kirk Cousins falters, even though Colt McCoy is technically the backup.

Griffin has a fifth-year option on his contract for 2016 that is currently guaranteed for injury only, so playing him would put the team at risk — if the fourth-year quarterback suffered a serious injury, the club would be on the hook for $16MM+ in ’16. Still, Jones can’t help but wonder if the former second overall pick will get one last shot in D.C.

Here’s more from across the NFL’s two East divisions:

Zach Links contributed to this post.

NFC Notes: Weeden, Kaep, Cam, Bradford

September 27th, 2015 at 7:18pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Prior to the Cowboys’ Brandon Weeden making his first start of the season Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted that some around the NFL think it’s only a matter of time before newly acquired Matt Cassel takes over as Dallas’ starter. Weeden, who’s subbing for the injured Tony Romo, then completed an efficient 22 of 26 passes for 232 yards as part of a conservative Cowboys game plan. However, he tossed a costly interception and the Cowboys dropped a 39-28 decision to the Falcons.

Afterward, Bob Sturm of The Dallas Morning News wrote that Weeden isn’t someone the Cowboys should feel good about continuing to start. That’s certainly not an unreasonable opinion when you consider the abysmal numbers Weeden has put up throughout his career in Cleveland and Dallas. While Cassel isn’t exactly an ideal option, he has had more success in his career than Weeden. If the Cowboys don’t show an ability to stay afloat with Weeden under center, a switch to Cassel would become inevitable.

Here’s more from the NFC:

  • Colin Kaepernick‘s performance in the 49ers’ 47-7 loss to Arizona on Sunday was the nadir of the fifth-year man’s career, as he went 9 of 19 for 67 yards and four interceptions. Head coach Jim Tomsula isn’t considering switching to backup Blaine Gabbert, however. “Colin’s our quarterback,” he said, per Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group (via Twitter)
  • Panthers quarterback Cam Newton drew a hit that he felt could have warranted a flag in a 27-22 win over New Orleans on Sunday. Referee Ed Hochuli disagreed, though, and gave a bizarre reason for the non-call, per Newton. “Was it a late hit? I don’€™t know,” stated Newton. “But the response that I got was, ”Cam you’re not old enough to get that call.” For what it’s worth, Hochuli denied Newton’s story (link via Jonathan Jones of The Charlotte Observer).
  • The Eagles broke into the win column Sunday with a 24-17 victory over the Jets, but it wasn’t because of struggling QB Sam Bradford. Although the sixth-year man went just 14 of 28 for a meager 118 yards, head coach Chip Kelly was encouraged that he didn’t turn the ball over after tossing four picks in the first two weeks of the season. He also pointed the finger at the Eagles’ offensive weapons for not hauling in more of Bradford’s passes. “I thought Sam did a nice job considering what [the Jets] brought,” Kelly said, according to Corey Seidman of CSNPhilly.com. “They can bring a rush unlike any team we play. They bring seven, they’re gonna play zero-man behind it. A few of those drops, I think all those guys want them back.”

East Notes: Cassel, Bills, Brady, Eagles

September 25th, 2015 at 10:33am CST by Luke Adams

After being traded to the Cowboys by the Bills, quarterback Matt Cassel is joining his fifth team in 11 NFL seasons, but as Charean Williams of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram details, he’s looking forward to the new challenge.

“I’m just coming in trying to learn a new playbook,” Cassel said. “There’s a lot to get done obviously. It was explained to me that Brandon [Weeden] is the starter, and I’m going to support him in any way I can, help the team in any capacity they want me to. At the same time, I’m going to try to learn the playbook and see how far I can move along and how quickly I can move along, so if an opportunity does come up, I’m ready to play.”

As Cassel adjusts to his new team, let’s check in on a few other items from around the NFL’s East divisions….

  • Babe Laufenberg of the Dallas Morning News “loved” the Cowboys‘ trade for Cassel, since it gives the club a viable veteran backup option if Weeden struggles in Tony Romo‘s absence.
  • Jerry Sullivan of the Buffalo News addresses the Cassel trade, the Rex Ryan/Doug Whaley relationship, and a handful of other topics in his latest Bills mailbag.
  • Responding to a report that suggested a “very influential” person in the NFL is confident that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady will still serve a suspension this season, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk says that such a belief is skewed to the point of being delusional.
  • Phil Sheridan of ESPN.com takes a look back at some of Chip Kelly‘s most noteworthy offseason transactions for the Eagles, weighing in on the early impact of those moves. So far, only the club’s signing of defensive back Walter Thurmond and selection of rookie linebacker Jordan Hicks get a thumbs-up from Sheridan.

Cowboys Acquire Matt Cassel From Bills

September 22nd, 2015 at 5:52pm CST by Zachary Links

5:52pm: The Cowboys will send their 2017 fifth-round pick to the Bills in exchange for Buffalo’s 2017 seventh-round choice, David Moore of The Dallas Morning News tweets.

5:30pm: The Cowboys have acquired quarterback Matt Cassel from the Bills, according to a source who spoke with Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The Bills will receive a 2017 pick, according to ESPN.com’s Todd Archer. Albert Breer of NFL.com (Twitter link) hears that there will actually be a swap of picks.

Cassel, 33, was cut loose by the Bills on September 5th but his unemployment lasted less than 72 hours as he re-signed with Buffalo just days later. The veteran was first acquired by the Bills back in March in a trade with the Vikings, but didn’t initially survive the cutdown to 53 players over the weekend. The Bills kept Cassel around as veteran insurance for Tyrod Taylor and EJ Manuel, but they apparently feel comfortable enough to part with him at this point.

Of course, the Cowboys were motivated to acquire a veteran QB due to Tony Romo‘s injury, which will sideline him for at least seven games. Dallas will turn to Brandon Weeden as their starter in Week 3, but if he falters, Cassel could jump in and take the job. Prior to this trade, the Cowboys auditioned a number of quarterbacks including Christian Ponder, Matt Flynn, and Josh Johnson. Apparently, none of those options were satisfactory for them.

He had initially been slated to make a base salary of $4.15MM in 2015, which likely contributed to his release from Buffalo. His new deal is probably be closer to the veteran’s minimum, perhaps with some playing-time and performance bonuses attached.

In a related move, the Cowboys have also promoted quarterback Kellen Moore from the practice squad, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Moore’s promotion coupled with the Cassel acquisition gives Dallas three QBs on the depth chart.

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