He’s been called a younger version of Tom Brady.  As if the team made a clone.

"If I were only 20 years younger and a cheerleader," said my lovely bride as she looked at a Matt Cassel interview on the TV  Hmm….  Yes, IF you only were.

She made a good point.  He looks like Brady — only younger. He talks like Brady.  But the question is: can he play like Brady?

Matt Cassel is one of those California kids, a multi-sport athlete with charm and good looks.  He’s backed up some of the best quarterbacks in football, from college (USC) to the pros.  When you look at him, the scruff on his face betrays his youth and inexperience, but that shouldn’t test your belief in his ability.

Cassel has been one step away from assuming control of some of the most important football teams this century.  At USC he played second fiddle to Carson Palmer, and was in a close battle with Palmer’s replacement — Matt Leinart.  

Unfortunately for Cassel, he wasn’t chosen to lead the Trojans, and fortunately for USC, Leinart was.  Both Palmer and Leinart won the Heisman trophy.  Both won a national championship, and both were first round picks in the NFL.  Cassel? Well, not so much.

The story parallel’s Brady’s.  Brady was in a battle for playing time at Michigan with Brian Griese and Drew Henson. Some thought that Michigan coach Lloyd Carr was crazy for keeping Brady over Henson, but Brady got his chance.

Brady’s performance in college gave NFL Scouts plenty of reasons to doubt his ability, even though he led the Wolverines to a Bowl victory.  Brady’s draft grades weren’t that impressive so he watched his stock fall. It was amazing to think Brady was the 199th player taken in the Draft after being the Wolverine’s leader fro two seasons.

Cassel never had the chance to lead the Trojans, but he knew he could play.  Considered at best an undrafted prospect, New England opted to pick him up in the seventh round so they didn’t have to fight other suitors for his services after the Draft.  

After eight years, Cassel finally gets to lead a team – not just any team, but the Patriots – for the rest of the season.  It’s the Cassel show and it’s going to be fun to watch.