Cassel isn’t a big fan of the Boston media: Kudos to The Big Lead for being able to land an interview with New England Patriots QB Matt Cassel. They talk about Cassel’s impending free agency, Tom Brady and his dislike of the Boston media among other things. [The Big Lead]

According to Christoper Gasper and Shira Springer of the  Boston Globe, injured New England Patriots QB Tom Brady should be ready for the start of the 2009 season.

Tom Brady is progressing on pace in his rehabilitation from reconstructive left knee surgery and is now dropping back and throwing passes, according to a medical source familiar with the Patriots quarterback’s case. No additional surgical procedures are planned, according to NFL and medical sources.

The medical source who has been consulted about Brady’s injury said Brady is “on track to be fine for the opening game of the season.

“Based on anybody else doing an ACL rehab, he’s going right along. He had a shaky start, but he’s caught up,” said the source.

The source added that Brady, who suffered torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in the Patriots’ opener against the Chiefs Sept. 7 and had surgery to repair both ligaments Oct. 6, is throwing, running, doing his skill drills, and getting in shape.

Still, the sources acknowledged that Brady has “laxity” in the MCL and some stiffness in the joint. Additionally, sources said Brady has not regained full range of motion, though it is not unusual for patients who have undergone ACL reconstruction to have lingering range-of-motion issues, especially in cases of infection.

If the report is true, this is great news for the Patriots and the fans. The question remains though what they will do with Matt Cassell should this be true.

I know it’s going to cost the Patriots some money but I’d like to see Cassel back with the Patriots next season. He proved himself worthy of the starting job for years to come but would also provide the Patriots with a capable backup should Brady not be ready or get hurt again.

Of course if Brady is healthy enough come April, the Patriots could do a sign-and-trade with another team as well. I just don’t see the Patriots letting him walk away without compensation.

After last year’s Superman outfit in the NBA All-Star Dunk Contest, Dwight Howard and Jameer Nelson of the Orlando Magic discuss what Howard should wear this year.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEbnkxcXN3Y[/youtube]

According to Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald, the Boston Red Sox have set a Saturday deadline for their free agent catcher Jason Varitek to accept their offer.

The Red Sox have set a Saturday deadline for Jason Varitek to accept or reject a one-year offer, according to a source close to the negotiations.

The club set the Jan. 31 deadline in order to keep negotiations with its free agent captain and catcher from inching any closer to the Feb. 12 spring training reporting date in Fort Myers.

This makes sense as if they don’t get a deal done, they will need to move forward with trade talks or just decide to go with what they have at catcher.

Hopefully Tek is able to put aside any ego and accept what the Red Sox have offered him. And if you want to know how valuable he is to the team, just check out what former Sox catcher Kevin Cash had to say about him.

UPDATE: Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe confirms what Silverman says and adds that Varitek can choose between a 1-year deal and the other offer.

According to another source, Varitek has the choice of picking between either a straight one-year, $5 million contract or a one-year offer for a guaranteed $5 million with a dual option for 2010.

For Varitek, the one-year offer may prove more appealing because it would allow him to re-enter the market again next fall, at which point he might have greater earning power.

The $5 million offer would be half of what Varitek would have gotten in arbitration had he chosen to accept it. The ball is now in Varitek’s court. It’s up to him whether he returns it or not.

UPDATE 6:00 PM: The AP is reporting that the deadline is Friday.

UPDATE 8:00 PM: Tony Massarotti of the Boston Globe clarifies the deadline  and it is Friday.

Amid confusion about the actual deadline for Jason Varitek to accept or decline the Red Sox’ latest contract offer, a baseball source indicated tonight that the player was given “one week” to make a decision in a letter both he and agent Scott Boras received from the club on Friday, Jan. 23.

According to the same source, the Red Sox dated and mailed the letter on Thursday, Jan. 22, raising the question of whether the Sox meant to establish the deadline on the night of Thursday, Jan. 29. However, all indications are that club factored in the delivery time of the letter, placing the deadline at the end of the current work week.

So like before we’ll still probably find out on Saturday.

During a conference call with reporters announcing his retirement, Sean Casey said that he would be surprised if Jason Varitek wasn’t back with the Boston Red Sox this season.

From Adam Kilgore of the Boston Globe:

“I’d be shocked if ‘Tek doesn’t come back to Boston,” Casey said. “The fans love him there. The guys in that clubhouse love ‘Tek. I can’t imagine Jason Varitek putting on a uniform besides the Boston Red Sox. I saw him a few weeks ago. I know he wants to come back to the Boston Red Sox. So I hope they get that done. I think it would be good for both sides, no doubt about it, especially that pitching staff.”

The general sentiment with the Red Sox players and former players is that they want him back and think he’ll be back. That answer will come by Saturday or maybe even earlier.

“I’m a sports junkie”: Kudos to Red and Denton over at Surviving Grady for scoring an interview with NESN heartthrob Heidi Watney. [Surviving Grady]

When former UConn Husky Mel Thomas headed to Ireland, she went there with one goal. To get a tryout in the WNBA. And according to her grandmother via Jim Fuller of the New Haven Register,  she will get that chance with the Seattle Storm.

Fuller ran into Mel’s grandmother on a flight out of Cincinnati today and passed this along.

She asked me if I went to the game and I said I did and I covered the team. She then told me who she was and of course the reporter instincts in me took over. When I spoke to Mel last month to write a story on her recently-released book, she was hoping to get herself into a WNBA camp and headed over to Ireland to play for the Waterford Wildcats. I asked me if Mel had any luck getting an invite and she told me Mel has agreed to a contract with the Storm. Mel will be returning to the U.S. in time to be ready for the start of Seattle’s training camp. It could be a good fit as Seattle was second to last in the WNBA in 2008 in 3-point percentage. She will join former UConn stars Sue Bird and Swin Cash with the Storm.

Mel is averaging 22.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.3 steals with the Wildcats.

It’s good to see Mel get the opportunity and at least she’ll be somewhat comfortable with two former Huskies there as well.

Two Red Sox Prospects You May Not Know: Sure we’ve all heard of Boston Red Sox prospects Lars Anderson, Michael Bowden and Daniel Bard. But do you know about Kris Johnson and Zach Daeges? If you don’t, I highly suggest you check out the article because they will be names we need to know in the Red Sox organization soon enough. [Providence Journal]

The Under Armour Senior Bowl was played last night in Mobile, AL and the UConn Huskies had three former players participate for the North Squad in offensive lineman Will Beatty, defensive back/kick returner Darius Butler and defensive end Cody Brown.

Beatty started at left tackle and saw his draft stock rise during the week. He is being projected as a late 1st round to mid 2nd round pick in the upcoming NFL Draft in April. He is ranked as the 6th best offensive tackle.

Here is some video on Beatty who most pundits say improved his draft stock during the Senior Bowl week of practices.

[dailymotion]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x852lr_will-beatty_sport[/dailymotion]

Butler started at left cornerback and made 4 tackles and had a pass breakup. He also had one kickoff return for 26 yards. He is being projected as a 2nd round draft pick. He is ranked as the 6th best cornerback available.

Brown saw action in the game at outside linebacker and made 1 tackle. He is being projected as a 3rd round pick. He is ranked as the 6th best outside linebacker.

West Virginia quarterback and Senior Bowl MVP Pat White led the South team to a 35-18 win over the North Squad.

In case you wondering where the other draft eligible Huskies were projected here is the list:

• Donald Brown – projected to go in the 2nd to 3rd round. He is the 5th rated running back available.
• Dahna Deleston – right now isn’t projected to be drafted.  He is the 31st best strong safety available. A good showing in the Texas vs The Nation game next Saturday could change that.
• Julius Williams – right now isn’t projected to be drafted. He is the 41st best defensive end available. A good showing in the Texas vs the Nation game could change his draft status as well.
• Robert Vaughn – projected to go in the 4th to 5th round. He is rated the 7th best free safety available. (As HHF points out in the comments, Vaughn will be back at UConn for his final season. This is actually Vaughn’s draft ranking for the 2010 NFL Draft.)

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