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Pats ship Cassel, Vrabel to Chiefs

THE New England Patriots must feel certain star quarterback Tom Brady's injured knee will be fine next season.

After putting the franchise tag on Matt Cassel as insurance for their two-time Super Bowl MVP, the Patriots shipped Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday. The Chiefs gave up shockingly little ?? the 34th overall pick in the April draft for both players.

The Chiefs have the third overall selection following a franchise-worst 2-14 season. In yielding their second-round draft choice, they acquire a reliable 12-year veteran linebacker and a proven young quarterback who could immediately fill one of their most urgent needs.

Brady's rehab of a severe knee injury was set back when an infection forced a second operation. By putting the franchise tag on Cassel, New England would have had to pay him US$14.5 million to keep him as a backup.

Cassel, who hadn't started the previous seven seasons at college or the Patriots, led New England to an 11-5 record, but no playoff berth, after Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury in the opener - on a hit by Kansas City's Bernard Pollard, who said it was an "accident." Cassel went on to throw for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns in 15 starts.

Vrabel, 33, was part of three Super Bowl-winning teams in his eight years with New England. He joins a team whose linebackers were devastated by injury and played poorly.



 

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