Matt Cassel Free Agency update (02/09/2009):

According to ESPN and their League sources, on February 7th Matt Cassel accepted the New England Patriot's non-exclusive franchise tender, valued at $14.651 million for the 2009 season.  The Pats will need to send Cassel a contract for signing, but at this point he is guaranteed the $14.651 mil and cannot shop himself to other teams.

Excerpt from Craig Jacobin's "Top 2009 Free Agents: the First Five"

5.       QB Matt Cassel - New England Patriots
It’s easy to dismiss Cassel as a bit of system Quarterback - - a guy who was simply given the keys to a machine that was able to keep moving forward.  But the thing that makes Cassel remarkable is how much he improved during the season.  By the end, he was performing at an elite level and had the Pats playing as well as any team in the league.  He’s already accepted his franchise tag, so he’s not an unrestricted FA, but he will likely be dealt before the 2009 season begins.