Matt Cassel named Week 1 started in Minnesota
Cassel had been the projected to be the starter from the get-go, but as is always the case with a highly touted rookie prospect waiting in the wings, there had been some speculation as to whether Teddy Bridgewater would take the reins right away. He has played extremely well in the preseason, living up to the hype which for a while had him pegged as the top propsect at the postion coming out of college (Remember "Tank for Teddy"?).
But after some unimpressive pre-draft workouts, Teddy's stock slipped a bit. He was still ultimately selected in the first round by the Vikings with the 32nd pick, and looks like a promising player moving forward. But Mike Zimmer has opted to go the route of the veteran to start the season, which seems to be a trend around the league this year, with the Jaguars and Browns both opting to sit Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel to start as well. The Patriots will play the Vikings in Week 2 in Minnesota.
Cassel is a solid quarterback, and Patriots fans remember him fondly when he took over for Tom Brady in 2008 after he was lost for the season to a torn ACL (The Beginning of the Curse of Bernard Pollard). Cassel stepped in and improbably led the team to an 11-5 record, although they still missed the playoffs. After that season, Cassel played four season in Kansas City with the Chiefs before landing in Minnesota last season. Playing in 9 games, Cassel had a mediocre season, throwing eleven touchdowns vs. nine picks with a passer rating of 81.6%.
He has reportedly responded well this year to Norv Turner's new system, and has done enough to earn the first spot on the depth chart to begin the regular season. That being said, it seems to be widely believed that much like the situations in Jacksonville and Cleveland, once the team begins to slide, it will be Teddy time.
@LC_NEP
@PatriotsLife
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But after some unimpressive pre-draft workouts, Teddy's stock slipped a bit. He was still ultimately selected in the first round by the Vikings with the 32nd pick, and looks like a promising player moving forward. But Mike Zimmer has opted to go the route of the veteran to start the season, which seems to be a trend around the league this year, with the Jaguars and Browns both opting to sit Blake Bortles and Johnny Manziel to start as well. The Patriots will play the Vikings in Week 2 in Minnesota.
Cassel is a solid quarterback, and Patriots fans remember him fondly when he took over for Tom Brady in 2008 after he was lost for the season to a torn ACL (The Beginning of the Curse of Bernard Pollard). Cassel stepped in and improbably led the team to an 11-5 record, although they still missed the playoffs. After that season, Cassel played four season in Kansas City with the Chiefs before landing in Minnesota last season. Playing in 9 games, Cassel had a mediocre season, throwing eleven touchdowns vs. nine picks with a passer rating of 81.6%.
He has reportedly responded well this year to Norv Turner's new system, and has done enough to earn the first spot on the depth chart to begin the regular season. That being said, it seems to be widely believed that much like the situations in Jacksonville and Cleveland, once the team begins to slide, it will be Teddy time.
@LC_NEP
@PatriotsLife
