BOSTON - The Patriots placed the franchise tag on quarterback Matt Cassel on Thursday. The Patriots might keep him if they have doubts that Tom Brady will be ready for the start of the season after coming off a knee injury. If they're confident Brady will be ready, they could trade Cassel rather than pay him the $14.65 million offer for 2009 in the franchise designation. For now, he remains a free agent, but the Patriots can match any offer made by a team or allow him to sign with that team in exchange for two first-round draft picks. The franchise tag value is the average of the top five paid players at that position.
BC's Logan joins Bucs
TAMPA - The Bucs hired former Boston College offensive coordinator Steve Logan, though the team hasn't decided whether he will coach tight ends or running backs. He will be reunited with former BC coach Jeff Jagodzinski, who was hired as Bucs offensive coordinator last week.
Logan was the head coach at East Carolina from 1992 to 2002.
The Bucs also appear ready to hire Princeton tight ends coach Chris Mosley, who worked as an assistant offensive line coach under Jagodzinski at BC in 2007.
Lewis to Jets? Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, an unrestricted free agent, called the possibility of playing for the Jets and former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan a "great opportunity" in an interview with the NFL Network. Then again, Lewis used the same phrase in describing Dallas and referred to Baltimore, as "my city."
Titans: Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who could become an unrestricted free agent, said he's not giving discounts: "I want to be the top (paid), not among the top. ... Hopefully the Titans step up, if they don't, I'm looking."
Times staff writer Rick Stroud contributed to this report.
