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As unlikely as it may be, Cassel wants to stay with Pats

09:22 AM EST on Friday, January 23, 2009

Special to the Journal

http://www.projo.com/patriots/content/sp_fbn_patriots_cassel_23_01-23-09_OHD2FAR_v8.3fe7df0.html?npc

Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel says he would be “nothing but smiles” if he returned to New England next year, and would even be willing to return to a backup role if Tom Brady is healthy.

“I love New England,” Cassel said last night in an interview on Comcast SportsNet. “I love the Patriots organization. The Krafts have done some amazing things here, and [coach Bill Belichick] is the person who brought me along and taught me. If I’m back, I would be nothing but smiles.”

And if the job was his old job — backup to Brady — he said, “I would accept it.”

That’s unlikely to happen, however. Cassel earned the chance to dramatically increase his pay though his performance last year, and he believes he should be a starting quarterback.

“I’ve earned a right to play in the NFL and I’ve earned a right to start in the NFL, no question,” he said.

Cassel is a free agent, but there’s been talk the Patriots will use the franchise tag to keep him on the roster. He could serve as insurance in case Brady isn’t recovered from his knee injury, but more likely the Pats would shop him to a team willing to trade high draft choices for him.

To this point, Cassel says the Patriots haven’t approached him or his representatives about the franchise tag.