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Cassel, Vrabel Traded To KC For 2nd Round Pick

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Feb 28, 2009 2:45 pm US/Eastern

Cassel, Vrabel Traded To KC For 2nd Round Pick

BOSTON (WBZ) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 1: Cassel and Vrabel will be reunited with former Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli, who became head of football operations for the Chiefs earlier this year.
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The New England Patriots have traded quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel to Kansas City in exchange for the Chief's second-round pick in the 2009 NFL draft.

Cassel and Vrabel will be reunited with former Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli, who became head of football operations for the Chiefs earlier this year.

Cassel, 26, who had been the backup QB to Tom Brady, took over the starting spot last season after Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury during their season opener.

Cassel completed 327 of 516 passes for 3,693 yards, 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, compiling a passer rating of 84.4. Cassel's 63.4 percent completion rate was the third-highest in franchise history. He was also just the fifth quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 400 yards and rush 60 yards in the same game – an accomplishment he achieved during the Patriots' Nov. 13 game against the Jets.

Cassel was also named AFC offensive player of the Week twice last season. "It is very easy to root for guys like Matt Cassel, who do everything the right way and flourish as a result. As much as we would have loved to continue working with Matt, we wish him nothing but the best as he takes this next step forward in his career," said Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick.

Cassel was selected by the Patriots in the seventh round in the 2005 NFL Draft.

Vrabel played in 125 regular-season games for the Patriots with 110 starts. He also appeared in 17 playoff games with the Patriots, including three Super Bowl wins.

Vrebel joined the Patriots in 2001 after playing four seasons with the Pittsburg Steelers. He was team captain for four seasons and earned a Pro Bowl spot in 2007.

This past season, Vrabel played in 16 games with 14 starts and finished the season with four sacks and 67 tackles. "Mike Vrabel epitomizes everything a coach could seek in a professional football player," said Belichick. "Of all the players I have coached in my career, there is nobody I enjoyed working with more than Mike. In the same way people recognize guys like Troy Brown, we appreciate and thank Mike Vrabel. He is one of the very special Patriots champions."

The Chiefs were 2-14 this past season. In addition to new players, the Chiefs have also acquired a new coach, Todd Haley.