6A SPORTS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
NFL
TUESDAY, MARCH 3. 2009
Chiefs, Pats mum on trade
Teams won't discuss how the seemingly one-sided deal worked
BY JOHN MARSHALL
Associated Press
KANSAS CITY. Mo. — Scott Pioli pulled off a big deal in his first major act as Kansas City's general manager, landing quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel for a second-round draft pick.
Not a package of draft picks, not the second-rounder and another player, not even with cash thrown in. A potentially franchise-building quarterback and a starting line-backer for one second-round draft pick. That's it.
The obvious question is, how did he get so much for so little?
Sadly, there's still no answer.
like a monumentally lopsided deal.
Pioli? Unavailable, Coach Todd Haley? Evasive. Cassel? On speaker phone for his introduction to the Kansas City media. Vrabel? Also not available.
"I won't get into specifics of that. I'm glad we have both players on the team." Haley said Monday.
That's it. No discussion of how the trade came together. It was calculated, tidy, somewhat mysterious. In other words, very Patriots like.
Of course, that's no surprise. As vice president of player personnel in New England, Pioli helped turn the Patriots into a dynasty, gathered all the pieces for coach Bill Belichick to win three Super Bowls.
Those ties to New England clearly played some role in the trade to get Cassel and Vrabel.
Cassel was talking, but not about specifics of the trade. He said he was thrilled at the chance to be the man after eight years as a backup.
"I've been working really, really hard for a long time, and I finally had an opportunity last year and got a taste of what it's like to be out there and play and be on the field every snap," he said. "I'm excited that I'll have the opportunity to do the same thing here and try to get this thing going and get on the right track and win ball games."
On paper, the Chiefs clearly got the better end of the deal.
Cassel, after three years as Tom Brady's backup and five more on the bench at USC, led the Patriots to an 11-5 record after Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury in the opener against Kansas City.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Patriot Quarterback Matt Cassell, now a member of the Kansas City Chiefs, throws a pass during a 2008 game against the Buffalo Bills. Neither the Patriots nor the Chiefs would discuss the details of how a trade between the teams that gave the Chiefs linebacker Mike Wrabel and Cassell. Cassell led the Patriots to an 11-5 record after Tom Brady's week one injury, for a second-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.
MLB
Cardinals ace struggles in first start; Rays rookie shines as teams match up
ASSOCIATED PRESS
JUPITER, Fla. — Adam Wainwright's first spring training appearance wasn't exactly what the
St. Louis Cardinals ace had hoped for.
Wainwright allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits and a walk in two innings Monday as
the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the Cardinals 8-5.
The right-hander said he was "disappointed" when asked about his outing.
"Because I know I should have been better than I was. I was prepared to throw better than that. It's not something I will hang my head over. It's something I can build on," he said.
Manager Tony La Russa wasn't concerned considering Wainwright will have six more appearances before he's expected to start on opening day.
"He was all right for the first time out," La Russa said, "He missed a couple of times, but it wasn't like he was wild."
Things went much better for Rays starter Wade Davis, who now has had two impressive outings as
"I kept the ball on the ground; they made some good plays and I threw the ball good again," Davis said. "If I keep doing that I'll be all right."
Davis allowed one hit and no runs in 3 2/3 innings. He pitched a perfect two innings against the Yankees in his first spring outing.
Davis believes he'll start the season in Class AAA but added, "hopefully I'll get a chance at some point this year."
on the second, one coming on an Adam Kennedy single.
he attempts to earn a spot in man- manager Joe Maddon's rotation.
Longoria reached base all three times he batted with a single, double and walk. Kennedy was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored. The Rays signed Kennedy to a minor-league contract after the Cardinals released him in early February. The Cardinals still owe him $4 million for the final year of his contract.
The Rays built a 3-0 lead for Davis on Evan Longoria's run-scoring double in the first and two runs
Kennedy and Maddon were part of the 2002 World Series champion Angels. Kennedy was the second baseman and Maddon a coach.
"He's one of the best teammates, best clubhouse guys I've ever been around," Maddon said.