THE BIG BOSTON MONSTAH

The latest information on the 3-time Super Bowl champion Patriots.

Today the Patriots traded away Matt Cassel just a day after trading linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Chiefs.  Cassel who filled in for quarterback Tom Brady last season was also traded to the Chiefs.  Vrabel has played for the Patriots since 2001.  Cassel who instantly became a fan favorite after taking over for the injured Tom Brady has played with the Patriots franchise since 2005.  What do the Patriots get in return?  A second round draft pick 34th overall.  Vrabel, 34 and Cassel, 26 will be reunited with former Patriots vice-president of player personnel Scott Pioli, who is now General Manager of the Chiefs.

The Patriots have signed running back Fred Taylor who is most likely a border-line hall of famer.  In other news Patriots Jabar Gaffney wide reciever signed with the Denver Broncos.

The Patriots announced today that they will franchise quarterback Matt Cassel.  The 26 year-old quarterback will make 14.65 million next year.  The Patriots could do 2 things with Cassel, either trade him or keep him.  If Tom Brady comes back fully healthy then it would be most likely that the team trades Cassel.  Last year Cassel had 15 starts and 21 TD passes.  Some suitors seem to be the Vikings or Cheifs if Cassel is traded.

Former Titans General Manager/VP Floyd Reese has joined the Patriots as a senior football advisor.  Reese is a 31- year NFL veteran.  Reese most recently was a analyst on ESPN.  Reese will work will head coach Bill Belichick and Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio on football operations including contracts. He was most likely hired to help Caserio (33) after longtime Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli left to become Chiefs General Manager.  Reese and Belichick have known eachother for some time.  They both were assistant coaches with the Lions in the 70s.  Reese was Titans assistant General Manager 1990-1993 and General Manager 1994-2006. 

Patriots Vice President of Player Personnel Scott Pioli has left the Patriots to become General Manager of the Chiefs.  Pioli has been with the Patriots for 9 years and has been a big part of their 3 superbowl wins.  ESPN's Micheal Smith who was one of the first to report the Pioli departure reported that Patriots Director of Player Personnel Nick Caserio is expected to replace Pioli.  Pioli who is 43 is one of the top executives in the league and has won 2 Executive of the Year awards.  Also there were many reports that Patriots special teams coach Brad Seely and special assistant/secondary coach Dom Capers are both expected to leave the Patriots.  Former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels who was recently named Broncos head coach stated that Capers and him haven't spoke about Capers joining the Broncos staff after there were rumors that Capers would run McDaniels defense.

Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels has left the Patriots to become head coach of the Broncos.  McDaniels and the Broncos agreed to a four year deal and he is expected to be announced as head coach today at 7 p.m.  McDaniels ,32, is the most recent Bill Belichick apprentice to become head coach.  That list would include Charlie Weis (Notre Dame), Romeo Crennel (formerly the Browns), Eric Mangini (Browns), and now McDaniels with the Broncos.  McDaniels has been with the Patriots his whole coaching career since 2001 serving as personnel assistant, defensive assistant, quarterbacks coach, and sense 2006 offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach.  McDaniels will become the youngest current NFL head coach.  There was a report that McDaniels expects to bring Patriots special assistant/secondary coach to his Denver staff to run the team defense, but that has not been confirmed yet.

For the first time in 6 seasons the Patriots failed to reach the post season.  After the Patriots win over the Bills today they either needed the Jets to beat the Dolphins or the Jaguars to beat the Ravens.  That didn't quite go that way.  The Jets and Ravens lost which meant that the Patriots were to miss the playoffs.  The Pats are only the second 11 win team to not reach the post season in NFL history.  Patriots QB Matt Cassel who filled in for injured QB Tom Brady did a great job replacing Brady for the season, leading the Patriots to a 11-5 record.  Cassel told the media recently that he didn't know if he was returning to the Patriots organization next season but loves the Patriots and would love to return.  Cassel will likely be offered a lot money to play somewhere else.  The Patriots who have been such a dominating team since 2001, winning 3 Superbowls and 4 AFC Titles since that time, hope that there regular QB Tom Brady will be healthy for the start of next season.

They fought through snow and rain but the Patriots still found a way to completely blowout the Cardinals in Foxboro today.  The 1:00 game started with heavy snow which eventually turned into rain, but that didn't seem to stop the Patriots.  Arizona's defense was horrible in the snowy weather allowing the Patriots to score on 9 of their 10 possessions until Cassel was given the rest of the day off.  Cassel completed 20 of 36 passes and threw for 345 yards also with 3 TD passes. Lamont Jordan had 2 running touchdowns and Kevin Faulk had a 15 yard touchdown reception.  Wes Welker had a 11 yard touchdown and Randy Moss with a 76 yard touchdown reception.  With the Patriots playoff hopes still alive they play the Bills next week at a away game at 1:00.

Patriots WR Wes Welker and kicker Stephen Gostkowski have been named to the NFL Pro Bowl.  It is the first time in the event for both players.  Welker who is second in receptions (102) will serve as a reserve.  Gostkowski is the only kicker for the AFC.

Today the Patriots re-signed 39 year old Junior Seau.  Seau who is a 12-time pro bowler played for the Patriots in 2006 and 2007.  This will be Seau's 19th NFL season.  Seau said in October that he would only come back to the Patriots to finish what they started.  Seau joined the Patriots in 2006 just four days after signing a one day contract with the Chargers and retiring.  Seau then was re-signed in 2007.  Seau is expected to play against Seattle this Sunday.  He has  not played a game this season.  Seau seemed happy about returning saying, "Obviously there is a lot of history here with us. It wasn't a hard decision."  Seau was given his number 55 that he has owned for the past two years.

Today the Patriots signed old friend linebacker Rosevelt Colvin to a 1 year deal.  Colvin who played with the Patriots for 5 years (2003-2007) was let go after 2007.  Colvin who hasn't played a game this season, signed with the Texans after being released by the Patriots.  Colvin did not play one game with the Texans and was released shortly after training camp ended.  He has been out of football since.   FYI, Colvin will wear number 95.

Patriots tackle Matt Light was not suspended for a altercation with Miami Dolphin's Channing Crowder.  Light and Crowder were both fined $15,000 by the league.  The NFL called the incident a "a verbal and physical altercation".  The incident happened when Crowder and Light verbally argued during a play and then Crowder's helmet was ripped off.  They both pushed each other many times before Light pulled Crowder's hair and punched him in the head several times.  Both were then ejected from the game.

The Patriots took over second place today after winning big against the Miami Dolphins today 48-28.  Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel threw for 400 yards for the second straight game.  Wide Reciever Randy Moss caught 3 touchdown passes.  Patriot Matt Light and  Dolphin Channing Crowder were both ejected from the game after Light knocked off Crowder's helmet and threw punches to his head.  Both were hit with a unsportsmanlike penalty and then ejected by the referee.  The two could both be easily hit with a suspension.

The Patriots are currently tied with the Miami Dolphins for 2nd place in the AFC East.  Both are 6-4.  The Pats and Dolphins will play next week for second place.  Stay tuned....

Patriots Safety Rodney Harrison has an injured torn quadriceps on his right leg.  Harrision left last nights game from the injury.  Harrison is 35 and his contract expires at the end of the season with the Patriots which might just mean that Harrison might have already played the last game of his career and he didn't even see it coming.

Patriots running back Lawrence Maroney has been placed on season ending injured reserve and his season is over just like that.  More news on the subject will be reported when learned of.

Patriots will play the Broncos tonight.  Here are some pre-game notes.

Injury Report

Questionable:LB Eric Alexander, WR Kelley Washington and CB Jonathan Wilhite

The following are doubtful for tonights game.