Patriot News and Notes

Franchise tag for Matt Cassel?

The Patriots are preparing to franchise quarterback Matt Cassel next month rather than let him walk away in free agency, according to a published report. Following up on a report in the National Football Post, ESPN reported yesterday that the Pats will apply the tag to Cassel for a little more than $14 million. Franchising Cassel will give the Patriots some protection in the event starting quarterback Tom Brady is not ready to go because of knee surgery. The move also will allow the Pats to get something for Cassel, who's coming off a breakout year, should they deem Brady healthy and want to trade his understudy. -- Boston Herald

Pats unlikely to keep LaMont Jordan

Although the Patriots got some nice production out of LaMont Jordan when he was healthy, his injury propensity and the Patriots' depth at running back make it unlikely they'll keep the thumping free agent around. On the other hand, Laurence Maroney will get one more crack to prove he's the quality running back the Patriots thought they were getting when they tabbed him with their first-round pick back in 2006. -- Pro Football Weekly

Eagles owner a fan of Pats Belichick

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie doesn't have a vote for Associated Press Coach of the Year - those go to 50 sportswriters/media members around the country - but if he did? "Bill Belichick and his staff would get my vote. They did one phenomenal job," he said. "It's not just losing Tom Brady. They lost Laurence Maroney and Adalius Thomas and Rodney Harrison, the list goes on and on, but they continued to get better in the course of the year with a [first-year starting] quarterback. I've always been a huge fan of Bill in terms of how he's run that team. This season, I think, was extraordinary." -- Boston Globe