SO BILL OBVIOUSLY ISN'T MAD AT PIOLI FOR LEAVING:

Cassel and Vrabel to KC for pick (Christopher Price, 2/29/09, It Is What It Is)

While dissecting the weekend trade that sends quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel to the Chiefs’ for their second-round pick in April — the 34th overall selection in the draft — I can’t help but believe this trade is not an isolated event, but the first step in a larger move (or series of moves) that’s coming sooner rather than later. [...]

New England was up against the cap when free agency began Friday at midnight with roughly $3 million to spare. Now, they’ve been able to clear roughly $18 million in space with the trade, and with holes at linebacker and in the secondary, you figure they aren’t just moving that kind of money around in hopes of re-signing James Sanders. There are a number of big names left out there — especially at linebacker — and now, the Patriots have the cap space to make a deal. They also have more flexibility when it comes to some players who are nearing the end of their current deals, a group that includes Logan Mankins, Stephen Gostkowski, Vince Wilfork and Richard Seymour.

In addition, New England adds a draft pick. It now holds five of the first 89 selections in April’s draft — the 23rd, 34th, 47th (from San Diego), 58th and 89th.

Keep the picks and take 5 defenders.

Posted by Orrin Judd at February 28, 2009 4:18 PM