In the most anticipated move this offseason for the Patriots, New England has agreed to send Matt Cassel to the Chiefs.  This deal actually coincides with the Mike Vrabel deal announced yesterday.  As of right now, the terms are said to be Cassel and Vrabel for K.C’s second-round pick (#34 overall)

This gives the Pats some much needed cap space as clearing Cassel and Vrabel frees up about $18 million.  This also gives New England several picks on the first day of the draft.  Currently, they have the 23rd overall pick in the first round, three second rounders (#34, #47, and #58) as well as the #89th overall pick in the 3rd round, plenty of ammo up top to help improve an aging defense.

NFL.com is reporting that linebacker Mike Vrabel has been traded to the Kansas City Chiefs.  It is estimated that the Pats will recieve a draft pick for their end of the bargain.  Vrabel was about to enter the last year of his deal with New England, accounting for more than four million dollars against the cap.  He made his only Pro Bowl with the team in 2007 after recording 12.5 sacks, the highest total for any Patriot under Bill Belichick.

This is a money move, pure and simple.  The Patriots know that until they unload Matt Cassel, they can’t make any big free agent moves, or even sign any high round draft pick to the kind of money they’ll expect.  Vrabel’s decline was noticeable last year and the focus of the defense has to be to get younger and faster.

Reports from several sources indicate the Patriots will sign veterans Fred Taylor and Chris Baker.  Most NFL fans will recognize Taylor from his long and distinguished career with the Jaguars.  The 12 year vet was cut by Jacksonville as they look to lock up Maurice Jones-Drew to a long term deal and make him their feature back.  Baker’s regarded as one of the top tight ends available on the market this season.

Taylor’s a great fit, a guy who can come in add some quality veteran leadership to a team loaded with it and can split carries with Maroney, Faulk, Morris and anyone else the Pats might want to trot out in the backfield.  Baker can catch a little and block a little more.  He comes over from the Jets so certainly Belichick knows exactly what Baker’s all about.

A couple more quick free agency notes that affect the Pats:

- Jabar Gaffney is visiting the Broncos.

- long snapper Lonnie Paxton has agreed to sign with Denver already

- the Pats are visiting with free agent corner Leigh Bodden

- the Jets are close to signing free agent linebacker Bart Scott to a five year deal

New England linebacker and special teams captain Larry Izzo is set to testify in the perjury trial against Barry Bonds.  Izzo is one of several athletes who was associated with Bonds’ former trainer Greg Anderson and BALCO.  The prosecution says Izzo will testify that he met with Anderson back in 2003 and received performance enhancing drugs as well as a schedule on when to take those substances.  Neither Izzo nor the Patriots chose to comment on the story.

This could be just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to steroids and the NFL.  The league’s testing policy has been far better than that of baseball’s, but Izzo has never been suspended for a positive test.  Plus, Dana Stubblefield pleaded to a deal last week that gave him two years probation if he gave up names of players that took illegal substances.  I certainly don’t believe the number of players using was a big as it was in baseball, but the names will leak out, it’s just a matter of when.

Matt Cassel has accepted the franchise tender offer from the Patriots for one year at 14.65 million dollars according to Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe.  Now all that remains to be seen is what other teams may put on the table to try and pry him from the Pats’ hands.

Congratulations to the Pittsburgh Steelers on winning the Super Bowl.  Special props to Santonio Holmes on the game-winning TD catch, one of the best in a big game of all time.

Now that that’s out of the way a quick message to any Steelers fan who happens to stumble onto this website, or any Patriots fan who is forced to deal with an insufferable Pittsburgh fan for the next few weeks.  The Steelers are not, I repeat NOT the NFL’s best team this decade, they are NOT the new dynasty on the block.  They are 2-0 in Super Bowls in the past 10 years.  The Patriots are 3-1.  Not only has New England made more title games, they’ve won more.  If the Steelers get back next year, then we’ll talk, but for right now, let’s calm down with new dynasty/greatest team of the zeroes talk.

Story from the Boston Globe this week:  Tom Brady’s recovery from rehab appears to be going well.  The face of the franchise is currently working in some light running drills as well as dropping back and throwing passes.

It’s never bad news when Tom Brady’s throwing passes, still plenty of time to be patient.  The next move comes during the franchise period when the Pats are expected to apply the franchise player tag to backup Matt Cassel, which would pay him $14 million this coming season.

Because I hate Roman numerals.  So it’s the matchup everyone expected….the Steelers and the Cardinals.  OK, no one expected the Cardinals to be there, but they answered the bell again today, jumping out to a big lead, blowing it, and then scoring with under 3 minutes left to win the game.  I don’t like their chances a ton against an experienced, tough team like Pittsburgh, but kudos to Arizona.

As for the AFC champs, Pats fans well know what the Steelers are capable of.  For whatever reason, I don’t feel insane contempt for Pittsburgh like I do for our other conference rivals (Colts and Chargers).  They do have trash-talkers (Hines Ward, Polamalu) but I feel like those are guys I would want on my team too.  Maybe part of it is pity, because sports fans in that town have nothing else to cheer for (the Pirates, really?).  And that city pours its heart and soul into that team and any fan can admire that kind of effort.

New podcast out this week.  Matt and I discuss the losses of Josh McDaniels and Scott Pioli to the AFC West, plus our Super Bowl predictions.

So, we’re down to Baltimore at Pittsburgh and the Eagles at…..the Cardinals.  Yes, that’s right, the often awful Arizona Cardinals will be hosting an NFC Championship Game.  We’re just three weeks from hell possibly freezing over.  The Eagles advanced today courtesy Plaxico Burress shooting himself and the Giants offense in the leg.  Philly came ready for the run and New York predictably ran.  One dimension doesn’t get it done in the playoffs and so the defending champs go home.  Not a huge upset given the slobber fest the Eagles were getting following their destruction of Dallas to get in and their subsequent victory at the Vikings last weekend.

Pittsburgh the only home team to survive the Divisional Round and their prize is maybe the best defense in the NFL in the Ravens.  If you’re a fan of tough, hard hitting, trash talking football, make sure to check out the AFC title game.  These are two proud defensive units with vocal leaders that flat out hate each other.  Don’t be surprised if this one goes to overtime 0-0.  Sudden death might take all night, especially with how awful it is to try and kick field goals in the swirling winds at Heinz Field.

I speak, of course, about the Cardinals surprising  blowout victory over the Panthers in Carolina.  I, for one, had Carolina pegged as a possible Super Bowl favorite.  They had all the classic ingredients I like in a team: great running game, solid QB play, underestimated defense, a proven head coach, plus the national media seemed to forget about them after losing a heartbreaker (and the #1 seed) to the Giants.  Oops, guess I was wrong there.  Solid QB play actually became Jake Delhomme doing his best Brett Favre on steroids impression, yikes.  A high school quarterback wouldn’t have made some of the dumb throws he did.  And now as a consequence, we have the Cardinals in the NFC Championship, and potentially hosting it if the Eagles win. 

As for the AFC side, I liked Baltimore as the only road team to make it through this weekend.  Thought their offense would look a little better, but kudos to the Titan defense.  What matters is they won the turnover battle significantly, again, something that will definitely help them no matter who they play next weekend. 

FYI: New podcast up tomorrow.  Matt and I discuss the current coaching climate and the decision to franchise Matt Cassel.