I would love to see them stuck with two high-priced QBs. I also think it would be interesting to see how a negotiation might go between Pioli and NE. Would it be fair market value, or would there be a discount/premium based upon the relationship?

I did just a little bit of research on the Pats salary cap situation, and it doesn't look pretty. Their top 5 cap hit players for 2009 eat up almost $56 million and the next 5 $22 million.

By comparison, our top 5 (now incl. Carey) eats up $30.5 million and our next 5 eat up $20 million.

Perhaps more importantly, our top-5 cap space is being used primarily on young players early in long contracts, while theirs is dedicated to much older players later in their contracts. To be fair, their players are being paid like those whose team has dominated for much of a decade.

Finally, our overall 2009 cap looks to incl. about 9 million in dead cap...I have no idea what there dead cap hit looks like.

tsstamper: THANKS for the valuable update.

Could you also post WHERE you're getting your cap-space information?
(I've had troubles finding this).

THANKS!

Geez. Who would have thunk it a few years ago that someone would be trading for Sage.

Of course, with that trade that just happened, it makes me wonder why Beck isn't on the block.

I heard Thigpen doesn't fit Todd Haley's system but they did retain Chan Gailey so who knows if they will stick with Gailey's spread offense or go with Haley's. Haley runs the same offense as the Patriots....a version of the Ron Erhardt/Ray Perkin's offensive system. Sounds like Cassel may be a better fit.

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“I'm here" You're welcome!" - Kenny Powers

Yeah, that's the problem with a lot of NFL teams when it comes to coacing personell. Too many times coaches step in an with their "new system" ruin a promising thing. Thigpen and KC were turning things around. Defense let them down a lot, and they had one of the youngest teams in the NFL. I really hope they keep a lot of the same things installed in their system next year. Would be tough for the team to basically have to start over.

Far as Sage going to Vikes. Wooohooo! Huge Fresno State fan, so I'd LOVE for Berrian to have somebody who can actually throw the ball. Not that Sage is a Godsend, but he's WAY better than anything they have or any rookie they could bring in. Besides, I've always kinda liked Sage.

Sage sucks.

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"When you suck long enough, you get a Hickey"

Thigpen has some glaring weaknesses - he doesn't operate well under center and he can be a turnover machine. That said, Cassel doesn't operate well under center either. I heard the other day that something like 80% of Cassel's snaps came out of the shotgun during the second half of last year.