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ESPN’s John Clayton reports that QB Matt Cassel and the Kansas City Chiefs worked out a six-year deal that will pay him in excess of $10 million a season, according to a source. The contract will keep Cassel with the Chiefs until 2014. The deal is for $63 million, with $28 million guaranteed, according to a source. He's going to make $40.5 million in the first three years of his contract.
 

Mancini’s Take: I like the deal from the standpoint that it saves the team a few million this year since Cassel had signed a one-year franchise tender of $14.65 million. But looking beyond 2010, this contract was excessive when you consider that we’re dealing with a one-year starter, who has some alarming holes in his game. Realize that Cassel led all starters in sacks allowed with 47 last season. Behind that same line, Tom Brady was only sacked only 21 times. This tells me that Cassel wasn’t nearly as good as Tom Terrific at recognizing defenses. Yet, on the other side of the coin, the $28 million the 27-year-old is getting in guaranteed money pales in comparison to the $41 million rookie Matthew Stafford has pocketed. All in all, it’s not an insane deal, just a bit excessive. Word on the street is that your man Eli Manning may get $50 million in guaranteed pocket change down the road, Mandel. Your thoughts.

Mandel's Take: This contract was a necessary risk for the Chiefs, who are trying to create some stability under their new coaching regime. The fact that Cassel will actually be raking in more than Tom Brady isn't as alarming to me as the fact that Cassel has been a starter for only one season. What if that success was due to the Patriots' all-around talent? What if Cassel had a good season as a starter because there wasn't any pressure on him? After all, no one expected anything when Brady went down in week one. That's not the case now in KC, where Chiefs fans--some of the most knowledgeable in the league--will have every right to demand success from their new quarterback. I don't want to freak out about Eli Manning until the Giants actually give him that money. But when they do (not IF they do), rest assured that I'll have plenty to say.
 

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