Chiefs 1 – NE 0 Pioli Rapes Old Team
By Brian Miller
The New England Patriots have been sitting atop the AFC East for the last 8 years minus last year when you know who won the division. The big question has always been “who is the responsible party for the personnel on the field?” Bill Belichick or GM Scott Pioli? If today’s trade between Belichick’s Patriots and Pioli’s Chiefs are any indication, that honor goes to Pioli. Today, Pioli man-raped his old team. Kansas City Chiefs – 1, New England Patriots – 0!
The Chiefs and Patriots have indeed finalized a deal that sends recently franchised QB Matt Cassel to the Chiefs along with LB Mike Vrabel for the Chiefs 2nd round pick in this years draft. Number 34 overall. In addition the Chiefs have agreed to send the Patriots, ummm, barbecue maybe? Nothing else. No conditional pick in 2010, no late 2nd day pick. Nothing. Nothing at all.
Consider that last year the Miami Dolphins sent a 4th rounder for TE Anthony Fasano and LB Akin Ayodele to the Dallas Cowboys. That almost seems like a decent deal compared to a potential franchise QB and a former Pro-Bowl LB.
The Chiefs fans have to be rejoicing. They would not have found anyone in this years draft at pick 34 that would have filled what Cassel alone brings to the table let alone Vrabel. While Cassel will not have the talents of a Randy Moss or Wes Welker on his team in KC, he will have the premier TE in Tony Gonzalez and a young WR who appears like the real deal in Dwayne Bowe.
Reports have surfaced that the Patriots preferred the 34th overall pick over the 3rd overall pick due to salary compensation that goes along with picking that high in the first round of the draft. The team has also been under scrutiny since placing the franchise tag on Cassel guaranteeing him 14.5 million dollars this season which is more than returning starter Tom Brady will make.
There are some who are speculating that the Patriots may use this new found money on free agent Ray Lewis although nothing is being reported that the Patriots have any interest. CB Leigh Bodden, a street FA prior to the start of free agency visited the Patriots on Friday and left without a contract, perhaps because NE didn’t have the money to assure themselves they could afford him should a trade for Cassel fall through.
So far, I am two for two on my FA predictions saying that the first FA the Phins would sign would be Dallas OG Joe Berger and then last night saying that Cassel would be traded to the Chiefs. Today the second came true and it sure is a lot of fun listenting to the Patriot faithful complain about this rape.