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The New England Patriots didn't waste any time placing the non-exclusive franchise tag on free agent quarterback Matt Cassel, doing so they first day they were allowed. Cassel, it would seem, has also wasted no time in accepting the offer, according Chris (scoop!) Mortensen of ESPN.
Cassel is now guaranteed a salary of $14.65 million in 2009, which is the average salary of the top five quarterbacks in the NFL.
After being a backup the first three years of his NFL career -- and his entire college career -- Cassel took over for reigning league MVP Tom Brady after Kansas City's Bernard Pollard rolled into Brady's knee in the season opener.
Cassel started the remaining 15 games of the regular season, helping guide the Patriots to an 11-5 record.
He finished the season with an impressive 89.4 passer rating, and completed over 63% of his passes for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns (to only 11 interceptions).
It's possible the Patriots could still trade the 26-year-old Cassel to one of the many teams around the league in desperate need of a quarterback (Detroit, Minnesota, Kansas City, Chicago, etc. etc. etc.) for a package of draft picks.
Michael Lombardi of National Football Post, for example, speculated this week that the Patriots could expect as much as a first round pick -- and more -- in return.
If the Patriots decide to keep Cassel, they will have nearly $30 million of their salary cap in 2009 tied up in the quarterback position.
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