Totally random

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Matt Cassel could not beat out Matt Leinart in a quarterback competition in the spring of 2003, but he never complained about having to sit behind Carson Palmer and Leinart as they won Heisman trophies at USC.

Cassel’s breakout season for the New England Patriots -- in a contract year -- apparently has not changed him.

ESPN’s Bram Weinstein asked Cassel if there should be a quarterback competition this summer if Tom Brady returns from a knee injury and Cassel is still with the Patriots.

‘This is Tom’s team,’ Cassel said. ‘The Patriots have been Tom’s team. He’s built that franchise up with his own two hands. He’s the guy, and he was the MVP the year before. I realize that.

‘He’s been such a mentor for me that I would say, ‘No, there is no quarterback competition.’ But I’ve learned so many things from Tom, and hopefully it’ll help me in my career.’

Trivia time

How many USC players have been chosen No. 1 overall in the NFL draft?

Getting ahead of themselves

An English amateur soccer team recently mourned the death of one of its former players with tributes by the club that were covered in the local press to the 86-year-old man. There was only one problem. He is still alive.

An official of the club, which had held a moment of silence in Tommy Farrer’s memory before a recent match, called his wife to offer condolences.

Gladys Farrer said her husband had indeed departed -- but only for a few minutes to buy a newspaper.

Farrer, a former England amateur who played in three Wembley finals, said in Friday editions of the Northern Echo: ‘We are not upset, but we did think it was a bit of a joke at first.’

Farrer said he wants to play down the mistake, saying it was time to ‘let it die.’

Trivia answer

Five. Offensive lineman Ron Yary (1968, Minnesota Vikings), running back O.J. Simpson (1969, Buffalo Bills), running back Ricky Bell (1977, Tampa Bay Buccaneers), receiver Keyshawn Johnson (1996, New York Jets), quarterback Carson Palmer (2003, Cincinnati Bengals).

And finally

The Denver Post’s Mark Kiszla puts X Games star Shaun White in some pretty good company.

‘At 5 foot 9 and 145 pounds, White casts a shadow that has eclipsed his sport. In the world of snowboarding, he is Tiger Woods. The New York Yankees. And the iPod. Combined.’

-- Gary Klein