QB Cassel, Vikings agree to two-year, $10M deal

Matt Cassel has signed up for two more years in Minnesota. (USATSI)

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New Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said this week that he'd love to have Matt Cassel in Minnesota if Matt Cassel wanted to be in Minnesota. Apparently, that's exactly what Cassel wants.

The 31-year-old quarterback has agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with the Vikings, CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora has confirmed. Cassel originally signed a one-year deal with Minnesota in March 2013, a deal that included an option for a second year that Cassel could void.

Cassel exercised his right to void the second year, which would have paid him $3.7 million in 2014, that decision paved the way for him to become a free agent on Tuesday.

Instead of becoming a free agent though, Cassel decided to re-sign with Minnesota where he'll make an average of $5 million per season over the next two years. Cassel's deal is similar to the two-year, $8 million deal Chad Henne signed in Jacksonville on Friday.

In both cases, neither quarterback is the long-term solution, but both coaches felt that it was imperative to keep their best starter from 2013. Cassel started six games for Minnesota in 2013 and went 3-3. In games where Cassel didn't start, the Vikings went 2-7-1.

Cassel joins Christian Ponder as the only other quarterback on the Vikings roster. Minnesota will almost certainly be adding another quarterback and that will likely happen in May's NFL Draft, unless of course Vikings general manager Rick Spielman lets Adrian Peterson pick the quarterback.

Peterson tweeted on Thursday that he wanted Michael Vick because he thought Vick could make the Vikings a playoff team.

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Denver RB Montee Ball will get first crack at starting job



The Denver Post says the Broncos "want to give [Montee] Ball the first chance at becoming their No. 1 running back in 2014." It's very unlikely that free-agent Knowshon Moreno will return to the Broncos in 2014, making Ball the most likely lead ball carrier for the Broncos.



Denver RB's aren't going to sneak up on fantasy owners this year. With defenses doing their best to slow down the passing attack, Knowshon Moreno rushed for over 1000 yards and 548 yards receiving out of the backfield. With him out of the picture in Denver, Montee Ball will be given the chance to rack up some big numbers himself.Assuming Ball holds on to the football through camp and the preseason, be prepared to pay for the second year back who averaged 4.7 YPC his rookie year. If Denver doesn't take a RB in the first half of the draft or grab a "big name" free agent (MJD? McFadden? Meh), both scenarios unlikely, expect Ball to be off the board by the midway point of the second round of your draft.For now, C.J. Anderson is the most likely change of pace back for the Broncos, with Ronnie Hillman also contributing. It is worth noting that Knowson entered camp last year as a long shot to make the team, so nothing is set in stone.