Could Cassel End Up Better Than Palmer And Leinart?

This Sunday, Matt Cassel, the former USC backup for Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer, is finally getting his time in the sun. Cassel spent his four years at USC watching the starters in front of him get idolized by fans and media everywhere.  

Cassel spent his first season as the backup for Palmer during his Heisman-winning 2002 season. However, after Palmer graduated he lost the quarterback battle to red-shirted freshman Matt Leinart.

For the next three years, Cassel backed up Leinart, who won the Heisman in 2004 and led the Trojans to an AP National Championship and a BCS title. Cassel didn’t have much of a college career, as he never started a game and only threw 33 total passes.

After Palmer and Leinart graduated they both went on to be top 10 picks in the NFL Draft. Surprisingly, even though Cassel barely played in college, he was drafted in the last round of the 2005 draft by the Patriots.

Cassel once again seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Out of all teams Cassel could have been drafted by, the Patriots seemed to be the worst place.

There was almost no chance of him ever starting a game since he was playing behind two-time Super Bowl MVP Tom Brady, who hadn’t missed a game due to injury in his NFL career.

However, when Brady was knocked out of the Patriots-Chiefs game last Sunday, Cassel took center stage and led the Patriots to victory. This past week Cassel’s team won, while Palmer’s lost, and Leinart didn’t even play.

For once Cassel, not Leinart or Palmer, has been getting all of the media attention. While Cassel’s career is finally starting to look bright, Palmer’s and Leinart’s careers appear to be heading downward.

Although Palmer has had some great NFL seasons, last year was easily his worst, and this season doesn’t look like it is going to get much better. This past Sunday, Palmer had a quarterback rating of 32.3 as the Bengals lost 17-10 to the Ravens.

While Palmer’s career appears to be on a downward spiral, Leinart’s career appears to be disappearing. Leinart played awfully in the preseason and lost the Cardinals' quarterback battle to 37-year-old Kurt Warner.

Two years ago, when Leinart was playing for the BCS championship and Palmer was a Pro Bowler, who would have thought that Cassel would be in a better situation than both of them in just two years?

Cassel will finally get to start his first game in the NFL this Sunday against the Jets. Ironically, he will be getting his first start against his childhood hero, Brett Favre, who started playing in the NFL when Cassel was only nine years old.

This Sunday’s game is intriguing because a quarterback who hasn’t started a regular season game on any level in nine years will be playing against a quarterback who hasn’t missed an NFL regular season start in 16 years.

Even though Cassel hasn't had much playing experience, it doesn't hurt to have backed up two Heisman trophy winners and a Super Bowl MVP.

Out of any system in the NFL that a first time starting quarterback could play in, the Patriots' system would be the ideal one. This Sunday Cassel will be playing with arguably the best coach, offensive line, and receiver in the NFL.

The saying, "Good things come to those who wait,” appears to be coming true for Cassel.