It was totally quiet except for Cassel, who kept saying, "Ca-Ching! Ca-Ching!" Just like a cash register, you know? He was high-fiving everyone.. it was really embarrassing.
He got his money. Yesterday, Matt Cassel was awarded a six year $63 million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. Scott Pioli, the Chiefs current GM and former Patriots head man, orchestrated the deal to get Cassel and subsequently granted him the big pay day. The contract was inevitable since Pioli was on the hook for giving up a relatively valuable second round pick for Cassel and Mike Vrabel. You can’t really blame the Chiefs for getting the deal done. But with $28 million in guaranteed money committed to a career (professional AND amateur) backup, the Chiefs could be regretting this contract before it expires. That’s why I felt the need to share my not-so-fond but hilarious memories of Scott Mitchell.
I might appreciate this rag to riches story more if Cassel's wife had a buzz cut
I applaud Matt Cassel for his efforts last year. He surpassed all expectations with numbers worthy of a number one quarterback. He was even named the VIZIO Top Value Performer for being the player whose on-field performance most exceeds the value of his contract. Cassel made only $500,000 last year and received 42% of the vote to win the award. But that was last year with a near minimum contract. ESPN’s John Clayton backed the new deal saying that the Chiefs signed him for the average market price of a starting QB. SI’s Ross Tucker was not as kind in reaction to the Cassel deal tweeting, “I am not that convinced Cassel is that much better than Thigpen. I would like to have seen them last year in reversed roles.” Note that Tucker played in the NFL and has a much more normal looking head than Clayton. Don’t worry — I’m not going to rant about how I actually think that Tyler Thigpen is solid right now. Instead, I’m going to focus on the other obstacle facing Matt Cassel: The Ghost of Scott Mitchell.
SCOTT MITCHELL: DESTROYER OF WORLDS
Unfortunately, I am a Lions fan. Other than seeing the brilliance of Barry Sanders, I’ve been subjected to some of the worst football and, specifically, quarterbacking in history. A man named Scott Mitchell is among the men who have taken snaps for the Lions recently. Before the Joey Harrington Era, there was the Scott Mitchell Era. Here’s the breakdown of Mitchell’s signing(s) from Page 2 presents the worst contracts in NFL history:
7. Scott Mitchell (Lions, 1997)
Four years, $21 million potential value, $8 million guaranteed
Many NFL followers remember the Lions making a laughable mistake by signing Mitchell away from Miami after he made a mere seven starts in place of the injured Dan Marino in 1993. It was actually Mitchell’s second Lions contract which was especially dubious. Mitchell was a relatively hot commodity when he landed a three-year, $11 million deal with a $5 million signing bonus from Detroit in ’94, and the former Eagle Scout enjoyed a fine season in ’95, with 4,338 passing yards, 32 touchdowns and a 92.3 passer rating. Coming off a mediocre ’96 campaign — a 4-10 record as starter and a 74.9 passer rating — Detroit lavished Mitchell with an $8 million bonus to re-sign. He improved marginally in ’97, and the Lions reached the playoffs behind Barry Sanders and his 2,053 rushing yards. After two poor games to begin the ’98 season, Mitchell was replaced by Charlie Batch, marking the end of his time in Honolulu blue. But at least Mitchell never did this.
SCOTT MITCHELL ENDS GAME, CAREER
Scott Mitchell made two memorable throws one season and two games into this big deal. Coincidentally, they were also among the last plays of his Lions career. It was a meltdown of epic proportions. I was watching this game on DirecTV when Mitchell destroyed any faith that I may have had in the Lions (that faith has been re-destroyed many times since then). Keep in mind that the Bengals had a total of three wins that year. And oh yeah, Barry Sanders had a 44 yard catch and ran for 185 yards with 3 touchdowns on 26 carries in the game. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts. It hurts.
From the LA Times archive (September 14th, 1998):
PONTIAC, Mich. — Scott Mitchell couldn’t survive two consecutive interceptions and the Detroit Lions lost to the Cincinnati Bengals, 34-28, in overtime on Sunday.
With 35 seconds left in regulation, Mitchell was picked off by Ashley Ambrose at the Detroit 35, but Doug Pelfrey, who missed a 35-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter, had a 48-yarder blocked by Ron Rice as time expired, forcing the overtime.
Then Corey Sawyer intercepted Mitchell’s pass to Johnnie Morton on the fourth play of overtime and returned it 53 yards for the winning touchdown.
THE REAL MATT CASSEL
Bruno on Matt Cassell's high school haircut: "Nicht nicht."
It is doubtful that an ACL tear will earn Matt Cassel another $60 million dollar raise. Other than preseason action, Cassel had last started for Chatsworth High School in California. He could never beat out Carson Palmer or Matt Leinart at USC. He obviously couldn’t win the job from Tom Brady in New England. I’m not knocking the guy, but he’s been handed the starting job and eight figure contract. If he plays every game and reaches the full value of his contract, he’d be earning $656,250 per GAME rather than $500,000 per season.
Again, I’m not saying that Matt Cassel is going to suck this year… or next year… or before the end of his contract. But I’m willing to bet $63 million that Cassel gets booed out of KC before he’s named VIZIO Top Value Performer again. Hilariously, Scott Mitchell was interviewed by ESPN and asked about Cassel going to Kansas City. He didn’t really say much in the segment and could have simply said, “Don’t be me.” As a bonus, Scott Mitchell’s ridiculously stupid ad for the Boy Scouts is below.
