Getty Ex-Patriots QB Matt Cassel is hilariously lobbying to replace Tom Brady.
A former New England Patriots starting quarterback is making his best pitch to take over for Tom Brady in Tampa.
Matt Cassel, who had a notable career as a starter for the Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs, has a hilarious pitch following Brady’s retirement. As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers prepare to look for their next starting quarterback, the 39-year-old wants to remind the Bucs that he never officially retired. Brady’s former backup last played in the NFL during the 2018 season with the Detroit Lions.
Just putting this out there. @Buccaneers, I’ve never officially retired and did well the last time I stepped in for @TomBrady. 🤷♂️
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Cassel Stepped in for Brady in 2008
Cassel previously stepped in for Brady during the 2008 season when the latter suffered a torn ACL in the first game of the year. The then-Patriots backup QB proceeded to lead New England to an 11-5 season, missing out on the playoffs due to a three-team tiebreaker in the AFC East.
The former seventh-round draft pick spent four seasons as Brady’s teammate before he was traded to the Chiefs in 2009. Cassel then went on to become a Pro Bowler in 2010 before spending his later years as a journeyman backup quarterback.
While Cassel is clearly joking, he is right on one thing — he did do well the first time he stepped in for a legendary quarterback.
Considering he’s five years younger than Brady, maybe Cassel could step in after all.
Kraft Threw ‘Temper Tantrum’ Over Brady’s Retirement
Brady officially called it a career on Tuesday, February 1, with an Instagram post that saw the legendary quarterback thank many people. Everyone with the exception of the Patriots or team owner Robert Kraft.
According to Ted Johnson, a former Patriots linebacker who played from 1996 until 2004, Kraft had a “temper tantrum” over Brady’s omission of the team.
“I was told earlier tonight that … it was an unpleasant day today at the executive offices in Foxborough, and that Robert Kraft initially when he first heard the news was very upset,” Johnson said on NBC Sports’ “Boston Sports Tonight.”
“He was screaming and he was yelling and there was … a temper tantrum that he threw after he read this IG post. So, he was not happy about it in Foxborough, and I’m not surprised, but to hear about the outward emotion that he showed regarding this post was a little bit surprising,” Johnson continued.
Brady would go on to thank the Patriots in a later post in response to Kraft’s statement on his retirement. But it appears by then, the damage had been done.
The 44-year-old quarterback left the Patriots during the 2020 offseason to sign with the Buccaneers in free agency. The 20-year relationship between the two sides came to a surprising end when New England didn’t make an offer to Brady as he hit free agency, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.