Random Thoughts (March 1, 2009)

When the news broke this weekend that the Patriots had traded Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs for a second round pick (#34) in April's NFL Draft, a few things ran through my mind. First, I was shocked that Vrabel had been dealt. His stats in 2008 did drop off from 2007 (12.5 sacks to 4) but at age 33, I thought Vrabel still had a good 2-3 years of good football in front of him. Obvioulsy Belichick did not. Just like when Belichick thought Drew Bledsoe had to go and when he thought Lawyer Milloy's best days had passed him by and when he thought Ty Law wasn't earning his full salary. Belichick's ability to cut ties with players before they fall apart has been a major reason why the team has been so competitive for such a long time. I will side with Belichick, who must think that Vrabel's age and declining production are not worth the $4.3 million he would have counted for against the salary cap in 2009. Second, I was worried that the Patriots didn't get enough for Cassel. I thought that they would get more than just one second round pick and I would be lying if I originally believed that Belichick didn't grant his former associate Scott Pioli a favor in giving up both Cassel and Vrabel for the 34th pick. But after learning that the Patriots had shopped Cassel around the NFL -- including to Denver, where Josh McDaniels now has to kiss and makeup with Jay Cutler -- it looks like that Belichick got the best deal possible at a time when he needed to create salary cap space (the Pats save almost $20 million in cap space in moving Cassel and Vrabel). The bottom line is that Belichick will do what he believes is right for both the short-term and long-term future of his football team. What fans like myself or the so-called "experts" believe means nothing to him and that is why the Patriots are Super Bowl contenders on a yearly basis. Now that Belichick has moved Cassel, he can focus on free agncy and the draft. He has signed running back Fred Taylor and tight end Chris Baker already and has hosted cornerbacks Leigh Bodden and Shawn Springs as well as wide receiver Mike Furrey. As always, business carries on in Foxboro. Some of that extra salary cap space can also be used on re-signing their own players. James Sanders signed a three-year contract on Sunday and Vince Wilfork has been talking about an extension lately. As for the draft, the Pats now have four choices in the first two rounds. They have their own first and second round picks (#23 and #58) and the second round picks of the Chiefs (#34) and Chargers (#47). With the team looking to rebuild its defense, holding four of the top sixty picks is a good place to start... I would hate for the Bruins to move such a promising young star like Phil Kessel but with the Stanley Cup a reality in Boston for the first time since W's poppy was running the show on Pennsylvania Avenue, Peter Chiarelli better pull the trigger on a Chris Pronger-for-Kessel deal... The Red Sox turned down Pedro Martinez when the free agent and former BoSox ace asked if there were any spots in the Boston rotation but would it really kill the Sox to give Martinez a low-risk minor league deal just in case they need an arm at some point this summer. Martinez could hang out in the Dominican for $500,000 and if he isn't activated by July 1, he would become a free agent again... A year after BC quarterback Matt Ryan was drafted third overall by the Falcons, it looks like another former Eagle will be a top pick. Defensive tackle B.J. Raji looks like a possible top 10 pick. I guess former coach Tom O'Brien, now at N.C. State, really could recruit big time players... Enjoy Spring Training highlights in between shoveling tomorrow...