FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) – Three years later, Matt Cassel doesn’t hold a grudge against Matt Leinart, even though he wonders what might have been had their battle at USC turned out differently.
Cassel, the New England Patriots’ backup quarterback, almost beat out Leinart for the Trojans’ starting job in 2003. Leinart went on to win the Heisman Trophy and a pair of national championships before the Arizona Cardinals chose him with the 10th overall pick in this year’s draft.
Cassel didn’t start a single game at USC and had to settle for being a seventh-round pick in 2005.
Their paths will cross again Saturday when Leinart’s Cardinals visit Gillette Stadium for a preseason game.
“We had a great, great team there at USC with a lot of talent,” Cassel said. “There’s always the ‘what if?’, but at the same time I wouldn’t be here (had circumstances been different). I’m in a great position right now, and I have no regrets whatsoever.”
On Monday night, Leinart ended his holdout and signed a six-year contract that includes $14 million guaranteed and could be worth up to $51 million. He is expected to challenge John Navarre for the No. 2 quarterback spot and should see action against the Patriots.
“It’ll be exciting,” Cassel said of the reunion. “I just talked to him (Tuesday). He’s excited about getting into camp and getting going. I’m sure he’ll be out there playing a little bit. He’s a friend of mine, so it’ll be fun.”
Cassel admitted it wasn’t always fun at USC. He already had backed up one Heisman Trophy winner – Carson Palmer, now with the Cincinnati Bengals – and figured that it was his turn to take the reins. Leinart had other ideas.
“Anytime you’re competing against someone for the same position, something that both of you want, it becomes difficult and there are strains” on the relationship, said Cassel, who threw only 33 passes in four years at USC. “But we never hated each other. We did our jobs to the best of our abilities, and it ended up one way and not the other.”
When Doug Flutie retired in the offseason, the Patriots opted not to sign another veteran to serve as Tom Brady’s backup. That was a vote of confidence for Cassel, who hasn’t started a game that counted since 1999 at Chatsworth (Calif.) High School.
Cassel was not sharp in last week’s preseason opener in Atlanta, so he’s looking to bounce back against the Cardinals. Meanwhile, Leinart will make his NFL debut without much preparation.
“I’m sure he’s capable of going in there and completing some throws and doing what he does,” Cassel said. “He’s definitely a great quarterback. I’m sure they’ll simplify things for him, but at the same time I’m sure his head will be spinning a little bit. Playing your first NFL game with only four days to prepare, it’s a little tough.”
I don’t care who you are.”
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