Another NFL story courtesy of Sports Pickle:
Matt Cassel confident due to years of quarterbacking Patriots in Madden
While many in the football media have written off the Patriots this season in light of the injury to quarterback Tom Brady, backup quarterback Matt Cassel says he knows he has the ability to lead New England to the Patriots.
“As a backup, I have a lot of free time on my hands, and it’s time I fill playing Madden,†he said. “I start myself over Brady when I play. Last season I missed the playoffs by a game and this year I’m off to a slow start at 3-5, but my quarterback rating is up.â€
Cassel says he thinks he is better than the so-called experts believe – or at least better than his rating in Madden.
“Seventy-six? That’s bullcrap,†he said. “I’m easily in the 80s. If I was rated accurately, I would definitely have made the playoffs by now.â€
Patriots coach Bill Belichick says he will scale back the playbook for Cassel’s first start, but the four-year backup says he wants to play a free-wheeling style.
“I don’t think we should ever punt on fourth down,†said Cassel. “More often than not in Madden I’m able to convert on fourth down. And there’s this one play-action pass that I hit to Moss all the time. I’m not sure if it’s in our real playbook, but it should be.â€