Kansas City's Sweetheart Deal for Cassel Warrants NFL Probe

Presumably because a pulled pork sandwich wasn't available from Arthur Bryant's barbecue joint, the New England Patriots settled for a mere second-round draft pick in a blockbuster trade with Kansas City. Sorry, but something smells here, and it's not the beans and potato salad. In fact, I'm interrupting an offseason weekend at the NFL offices to make an announcement:

"Paging Roger Goodell, Roger Goodell! Bill Belichick is at it again!''

First it was Spygate, the espionage caper that left a permanent cheating smear on Belichick's legacy after the Patriots illegally videotaped opponents' defensive signals. Now we have the Pioli Scheme, a suspicion that Belichick's relationship with his close pal and dearly departed partner in dynasty glory, new Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, contributed to a ridiculously soft compensation package in their Saturday deal. In return for the second-round choice, the Chiefs acquired a whopping, franchise-changing haul -- promising young quarterback Matt Cassel and veteran linebacker Mike Vrabel -- that should have merited at least two high picks, if not Kansas City's golden No. 3 slot in the first round of the April draft. For perspective, consider that the Houston Texans sent two second-round picks to Atlanta two years ago after signing quarterback Matt Schaub, who didn't have nearly the experience or success enjoyed by Cassel in his breakout 2008 season. And that the Chiefs obtained a first-round pick and two third-rounders last offseason when they traded Jared Allen, the Pro Bowl pass-rusher, to Minnesota.

But Belichick, usually the crustiest S.O.B. in the business when it comes to wheeling and dealing and protecting the sanctity of his football operation, didn't hold out long in accepting the 34th-overall pick for a potential Pro Bowl passer and reliable defensive player and leader. Beyond that, the Chiefs also keep the No. 3 pick, which they might use on a Cassel-protecting offensive lineman or a compelling talent such as linebacker Aaron Curry. By my count, no fewer than six NFL teams -- Tampa Bay, Detroit, San Francisco, Chicago, Carolina and the New York Jets -- need quarterbacking upgrades and could have been lured into the Cassel bidding. But only one day into the league's free-agency marketplace, Belichick sent Pioli an extravagant Welcome Wagon gift, complete with wrapping and a pretty bow.

What better way to thank Pioli, who tag-teamed with Belichick to mold three Super Bowl-champion teams, than by setting him up with a dramatic personnel boost in his first winter? Problem is, it smacks of an integrity issue when Belichick earmarks business with a pal and doesn't maximize his return in a big trade. You think other teams aren't irked today at The Gray Hoodie's unusual graciousness? Complicating the story was a Saturday night report on ESPN.com that the Denver Broncos had pursued a three-way trade that would have reunited Cassel with new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels and sent Jay Cutler to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who would have compensated the Patriots. The talks fell through for whatever reason -- all of which is said to rightfully anger Cutler, an accomplished Pro Bowl quarterback who reportedly wants to be traded now -- and it prompts more questions about the Belichick-Pioli perfecta winning out.

These developments really should draw the attention of the commissioner. Goodell's rock-solid performance so far has been based on an aggressive, proactive approach to most league issues, including player conduct off the field. His one lapse in judgment was letting Belichick off the hook on Spygate, limiting his discipline to a $500,000 fine and the docking of a low first-round draft pick. Why no suspensions? Why not an exhaustive investigation into the three championship seasons and whether the Patriots were illegally taping signals then? The commissioner seemed to be protecting Patriots owner Bob Kraft, a prominent league power-player who helped Goodell land his job.

Let's watch how he handles this. We've seen baseball commissioners, even Bud Selig, rescind trades because of hanky-panky. Belichick can argue that a 34th pick is quite valuable and that Cassel, before throwing for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns after Tom Brady's season-ending knee injury, had spent his pro career wearing a ballcap. He also can say he loosened up almost $20 million of cap room, unloaded an older linebacker who had only 4 1/2 sacks last year and now owns four picks in the first two rounds, which will allow an aging team to keep getting younger. Still, all of that is overwhelmed by the fact his deal was with Pioli. It looks like an orchestration, and if the Chiefs recover from a lengthy futility streak that has bottomed out with 23 losses in their last 25 games, you'll be hearing plenty next season about Belichick's grand assist.

Naturally, both men issued statements that didn't address anything but the players involved. "I have a long history with both players. Mike and Matt are men that I respect both personally and professionally,'' Pioli said. 'I look forward to having them as new members of the Chiefs family.'' Belichick raved about Vrabel's leadership and work ethic and said of Cassel, "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.''

With a distinguished executive member of the Belichick Tree, mind you.

As NFL trades go, this one was an eye-opener in many ways. It confirms the Patriots are confident that Brady will make a full recovery from reconstructive knee surgery and a subsequent infection. Of course, some will say Cassel should have been kept as Gisele Insurance, pointing to Brady's creepy track record since he began dating his new bride, supermodel Gisele Bundchen. They initially hooked up in 2006. In 2007, the Patriots lost the AFC championship game and dealt with Spygate. In 2008, they were upset by the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, a jolt followed by Brady's lost season. While Gisele is dressing her dogs in matching Dolce & Gabbana floral lace collars, she might want to extend more tender, loving care to her hubby. But by trading Cassel, Belichick is showing remarkable faith in Brady, who also was troubled by a foot problem in the Super Bowl defeat.

His game isn't about mobility and scrambling, anyway. It's about accuracy, savvy and thinking on his feet better than any quarterback since Montana. Brady hasn't said much about his rehab, other than this from an appearance on a Toronto radio station: "(Bleep) happens, so to speak. The reality is, it happens ... I'm in a new part of my career, and a different process that I'm excited about. Rehabilitation has different challenges. The tough part is you're not experiencing stuff you love to do. Once you get over that, you focus on whatever you have to focus on."

And the rehab itself? "It's going really well. Things come up and you just have to focus your energy and attention on all the positive things,'' he said. "I'm excited about the process and the so many wonderful people that have helped me. I think I'm the most well-taken care of knee patient in history."

The Chiefs, meanwhile, finally have an arrow that is pointing upward. They purged a stodgy chief executive, Carl Peterson. They fired coach Herm Edwards and replaced him with fireball Todd Haley, who will work well with Cassel. Pioli can bring in more draft picks to accompany his big one by trading tight end Tony Gonzalez. Apparently, rather than trading troubled running back Larry Johnson, the Chiefs are hoping to brighten his sour mood with the Cassel deal. Oh, and guess who else is still on the team? Safety Bernard Pollard, who took a low path toward Brady's knee and knocked him out for the season. If not for Pollard, Cassel is still holding a clipboard and make a couple of bucks instead of the financial bonanza currently being negotiated.

I doubt the Chiefs will follow the quantum leaps taken last season by the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins, who emerged from the gutter to make the playoffs. But they will be a respectable operation with a dynamic QB, a renovated Arrowhead Stadium and hope in the air.

All thanks to Bill Belichick, the new GM's bosom buddy.