Matt Cassel
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| Matt Cassel | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth | May 17, 1982 (age 24) |
| Place of birth |  Northridge, California |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| College | Southern California |
| NFL Draft | 2005 / Round 7/ Pick 230 |
| Statistics | |
| Team(s) | |
| 2005-present | New England Patriots |
Matt Cassel [CASS-ul] (born May 17, 1982 in Northridge, California) is an American football quarterback for the New England Patriots of the NFL.
Contents |
[edit] Youth and High school career
Cassel was a member of the Northridge, California baseball team that reached the finals of the 1994 Little League World Series.[1]
Cassel attended Chatsworth High School (Chatsworth, California) and was a letterman and standout in football and baseball. As a Senior, he was ranked as the #8 QB and overall #53 of the top high school players in the nation in ESPN's Tom Lemming's Top 100, with notes stating he was a "Pro-style pocket passer with a very strong, accurate delivery."[2]
[edit] College career
Cassel spent all of his time at USC as a backup behind Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. Cassel was the backup for Palmer during his Heisman-winning 2002 season. In the fall, Cassel lost the battle for the starting position to the previously 3rd string quarterback Leinart. As a result of Leinart's success, Cassel spent time at tight end but stayed as a backup quarterback, taking snaps during the 2003 and 2004 seasons. He is the only football player in history to have backed up two Heisman winning quarterbacks (Since college he has backed up one more Heisman winner in Doug Flutie he now is placed on the depth chart before another Heisman winner; Vinny Testaverde).
[edit] Professional career
Cassel was selected in the seventh round of the 2005 NFL Draft and the 230th choice overall by the New England Patriots, ahead of more accomplished college quarterbacks such as Timmy Chang and Heisman winner Jason White.
As Tom Brady had done in 2000, when he himself was a late-round draft choice, Cassel worked hard in training camp and made the team, which resulted in the release of longtime backup Rohan Davey.
Cassel began the 2005 season third on the Patriots depth chart, behind Tom Brady and Doug Flutie. He saw his first regular season NFL action in the closing minutes of the Patriots' 41-17 loss to the San Diego Chargers on October 2, 2005, going 2-for-4 for 15 yards and throwing an interception.
In the Patriots' final game of the 2005 regular season, a 28-26 loss to the Miami Dolphins on January 1, 2006, Cassel played the final three quarters. Though he was sacked for a safety, he threw two touchdown passes, one to Tim Dwight, and the second to Benjamin Watson. The pass to Dwight set up Doug Flutie's drop-kick goal (the first such goal since 1941).
Following Flutie's retirement in the 2006 off-season, Cassel moved up to second on the Patriots' depth chart. Although the Patriots considered signing a veteran quarterback to compete with him, Cassel played well in preseason and became the primary backup to Tom Brady.
In week 16 of the 2006 season, after injuries to Josh Miller and Ken Walter, Cassel assumed duties as holder for kicker Stephen Gostkowski.
[edit] Personal
His older brother, Jack, is a pitcher in the San Diego Padres organization and younger brother, Justin, is on UC Irvine's baseball team.
Matt played one season of baseball for USC (2004) and was selected by the Oakland Athletics in the 36th round of the 2004 baseball draft.
[edit] Career stats (as of December 31, 2006)
| Year | Passing | Rushing | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Comp | Yds | TD | Int | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | ||
| 2005 | 24 | 13 | 183 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 2.0 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 8 | 5 | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | |
| Total | 32 | 18 | 215 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 12 | 2.0 | 0 | |
