WILL PATRIOTS HOLD ON TO CASSEL?

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported Saturday night that Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel has accepted the franchise tag, guaranteeing him $14.65 million for the 2009 season. But that doesn’t necessarily mean New England will deal Cassel this offseason. According to NFL Network’s Adam Schefter, there is popular sentiment around the league that the Patriots will hold on to him. “Some around the league believe it’s 95 percent that he remains in New England,” Schefter writes. A couple things need to happen for the Patriots to find a suitable trading partner. One, they need to get an offer that makes a deal worth it. And two, Cassel has to agree to terms with the new team. According to Schefter, even if Tom Brady shows he’s healthy, the Patriots could still hold on to Cassel.