Matt Cassell's Future: Will The New England Patriots Franchise Tag Him?

That's right folks, Matt Cassell's contract is up!

This must have been a blessing from the heavens for Matt Cassell. Tom Brady goes out with a season ending injury and Cassell get's a chance to show off his stuff. It's unfortunate that Brady got hurt because you never want to see a Prime Time QB (or any player for that matter) get hurt.

Matt Cassell has stepped up to the plate for the opportunity to lead the New England Patriots this year.

In the season opener Tom Brady went out with an ACL and MCL tear, Cassell got his chance to lead. Cassell lead the Patriots to a 17-10 win throwing for 152 yards and one touchdown.

So far this year Cassell has emassed 1892 yards with 15 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has also ran for about 200 yards and took has put two touchdowns under his belt on the ground.

Cassel became the first New England Patriot to throw for 300 yards and rush for 50 yards in the same game. Cassell is also the first player (since the NFL merger) to have 400 passing yards and 60 rushing yards in the same game.

In week 10 against Buffalo, the Patriots held the ball for 37 minutes. The final 19-play drive, which lasted over nine minutes, tied a franchise record for most plays in a single drive.

Cassel, in the last year of his four-year rookie contract, is scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in 2009. The question is whether the Patriots (with Tom Brady's recovery in question) will slap the franchise tag on him.

Cassell would be a starter on many of the teams in the NFL, and obviously his income is going to increase! Currently Cassell only makes $750,000 a year, and we all know he'll be looking for more next year.

Can New England afford to let him go at this point?