The man behind The Man

<p>SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Matt Cassel is the quarterback whom New England Patriots fans never want to see.</p><p>It was that way with the followers of his college team, too.</p><p>Cassel is 25, good-looking and affable. He has a lot going for him, including one of the prime jobs in all the land.</p><p>"He's got a great job," said Giants backup quarterback Jared Lorenzen. "Doesn't he?"</p><p>Cassel is the Patriots' backup quarterback. But this is where it gets interesting. Of course, he has never started an NFL game. After all, Tom Brady has not missed a start since he took over for an injured Drew Bledsoe in the third game of the 2001 season.</p><p>But Cassel never started a game in college, either. If the New York Giants wanted game film from the last time Cassel started, they would be looking at how he performed against Palisades High.</p><p>Cassel was heavily recruited out of Chatsworth High in Northridge. He turned down scholarship offers from Miami, UCLA, Oregon, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Tennessee to remain close to home at USC.</p><p>Cassel began his college career behind Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer and he ended it as Matt Leinart's backup. He did not start any game in his four-year college career.</p><p>"I went to USC for a number of different reasons," Cassel said. "It wasn't just for football. It was for the education and being close to my family. Would I have wanted to start and play a little more? Of course I would have. And that's the only thing that I regret, that I didn't get the opportunity to play a few years.</p><p>"But it all worked out in the end. I'm here and on a great team, a great organization."</p><p>Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli was asked if he is comfortable with the unproven Cassel, who has completed 22 of 39 passes in his three-year NFL career, as next in the line of succession.</p><p>"I'm very comfortable because it means the No. 1 quarterback is staying healthy," Pioli said.</p><p>But how well can a quarterback who has not started since high school expect to play -- especially if he were called upon in the Super Bowl on Sunday against the New York Giants?</p><p>"You'll find out," Pioli said. "That's the case with everybody at any other position. Something had to happen when Drew Bledsoe got hurt."</p><p>Cassel works primarily with the scout team in practices. This week, most of his responsibilities in practice involve replicating the Giants' offense and mimicking Eli Manning.</p><p>"Matt is a very skilled quarterback," Patriots receiver Kelley Washington said. "He has gained the respect of his teammates. He's just a guy who needs an opportunity. He has one of the strongest arms in the NFL."</p><p>Cassel's preparation for games involves a lot of mental work. When Brady is running plays with the first-team offense, Cassel uses visualization to condition himself to react as if he were on the field.</p><p>He can only guess what it might be like to get on the field for Sunday's game.</p><p>"The adrenaline would be going a little bit, so you just try to calm yourself down," Cassel said. "I know the offense. I've been here for three years now and there's a reason I'm the backup quarterback. If the coaches didn't have confidence in me, they'd go out and get somebody else."</p><p>New England offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels said he would stick with the game plan if Cassel had to replace Brady.</p><p>"He is capable of doing what we ask Tom to do," McDaniels said.</p><p>Said coach Bill Belichick, "Matt has showed he can handle the position. The experience he has in games, he's shown he's capable of. We have confidence in him.</p><p>"But we always hope he doesn't have to play."</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com.</p><p>CORRECTION</p><p>Jerry Robinson, former Cardinal Newman High and NFL star, will be at University of Sports in Rohnert Park Sunday for a Super Bowl party, and not at his home as reported on Page C1 in Wednesday's Press Democrat.</p>