The Matt Cassel Trade: A Conspiracy Theory

The truth is out there.

The New England Patriots traded quarterback Matt Cassel and 12-year veteran linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs for a second-round draft pick, the 34th overall.

This trade obviously indicates that the Patriots are confident in Tom Brady’s return after losing him to a season-ending injury in 2008. This trade may also indicate a vast NFL conspiracy of epic proportions.

OK, that is a hyperbole and a much more dramatic way of saying "collusion."

The man calling the shots for the Chiefs is Scott Pioli. He joined the team in January after working for the Patriots’ organization since 2002 as their President of Player Personnel.

(Cue eerie Twilight Zone music).

The Patriots put a franchise tag on Cassel, meaning any team that signed the former USC backup quarterback would have to give New England two first-round draft picks.

By trading Cassel to Kansas City, the Patriots avoid paying him $14.65 million.

The Chiefs get a quarterback they desperately need. Cassel threw for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns in 2008. During that year, the Chiefs paraded out Brodie Croyle, Damon Huard, and Tyler Thigpen (or the three geeks from the X-files known as “The Lone Gunmen").

To further the point, three other teams were in the mix: the Denver Broncos, the Detroit Lions, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

So, we are to believe that none of the aforementioned teams, two of which desperately need a quarterback, were willing to give up more than a second-round pick for Cassel?

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