Tom Curran, writing on NBCSports.com, quotes "a source who will be directly involved in the call" as saying that the Patriots have not made a decision to use the franchise-player tag on free-agent-to-be quarterback Matt Cassel, as had been reported by other media sources over the weekend.

The source termed as "speculation" reports that Cassel will be franchised, although -- as Curran notes -- it seems more likely than not that the Patriots will not allow Cassel to go on the open market given the uncertain status of rehabbing quarterback Tom Brady.

The Pats cannot make a decision on using the tag until Feb. 5, and it seems fair to assume that they will say nothing publicly until then (and if they don't use the tag, they won't say anything publicly at all). So stay tuned for more contradictory reports to come.