May 26, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Matt Cassel (16) passes the ball as quarterback coach David Lee watches during the organized team activities at the ADPRO Sports Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
2015 will be a big year for Matt Cassel. Not only is he fighting for a starting job in a new uniform but it might be his last shot at leading a playoff-caliber team to the playoffs.
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At 33 years of age and heading into his 11th year as a pro, Cassel has seen his share of up-and-downs in the NFL. He entered the league coming out of USC in 2005 and didn’t start a game for the New England Patriots until the 2008 season when Tom Brady fell victim to a gruesome knee injury. He had a productive year, falling just short of making the playoffs after the Miami Dolphins clinched the AFC East.
That season catapulted him into what many thought was a top-tier category of quarterbacks, and in free agency of 2009 the Kansas City Chiefs were the top bidders for his services.
Cassel lasted four years in Kansas City. Aside from the 2010 season when he threw for 27 touchdowns he never really found his groove in a Chiefs uniform. The 2012 season, after playing in only nine games, he found himself looking for another new team. That’s about the time the Minnesota Vikings were looking to bring in some competition at the quarterback position for Christian Ponder.
Much like his four seasons in Kansas City, Cassel never took ahold of the starting job with the Vikings. He started only six games in 2013 and three in 2014, relinquishing the starting gig to rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. He finished the rest of the season and his stint with the Vikings on the bench.
May 26, 2015; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills quarterback Matt Cassel (16) throws a pass during the organized team activities at the ADPRO Sports Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports
Heading into the 2015 offseason, the Buffalo Bills knew they had to find some competition to push EJ Manuel into being a better quarterback. That’s when they traded multiple picks for the services of Cassel, who’s now on his third team in as many years.
For Manuel there are no excuses not to improve as a quarterback with the weapons general manager Doug Whaley surrounded him with. The same goes with Cassel; there’s actually less excuses, with the experience that Cassel has, for him not to come out and produce.
As OTA’s (organized team activities) started yesterday, both Cassel and Manuel were given first-team reps. As the veteran that may be getting his last shot at running a team, Cassel certainly has more to lose.
Will he prove to be an average quarterback that could never find his groove in the NFL? Or did he just never find the right fit for his style of play? Regardless, Cassel has to be successful this season under new offensive coordinator Greg Roman.
I believe he’ll get a shot at one point throughout the season to start for Buffalo. Will he be a starter week one? Probably not. Buffalo has a lot invested (specifically Whaley) in making Manuel successful so he may be given the edge at the start of the season. Due to injuries and Manuel’s inconsistent play, however, I believe Cassel will get his shot.
Prediction: Second String