Cassel

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Injuries have slowed the New England Patriots this season, and may affect the team’s chances of qualifying for the postseason, but yesterday it became clear that some things are bigger than ligaments and sprains.

Greg Cassel, the father of Matt Cassel, died Monday night, and the quarterback reportedly got the news Tuesday morning. Matt Cassel did not practice yesterday with his teammates at San Jose State University, and it is unknown whether he will play Sunday against the Raiders in Oakland.

“Our thoughts are with Matt and his family during this time,” head coach Bill Belichick said. “From a football standpoint, we will just handle it with the other guys like we normally do in any other situation. … He’s going to take care of what he has to do.”

Belichick alluded to the death of his own father in 2005.

“It’s bigger than football. It’s a personal situation that you just have to deal with,” Belichick said.

The Boston Globe reported that Greg Cassel had been ill for some time. He was a longtime Hollywood script writer, and he also worked as a horse trainer. Greg and Barbara Cassel divorced when Matt was 14, but Greg remained a fixture in the lives of the couple’s four children.

Matt Cassel grew up in Northridge, Calif., near Los Angeles.

Yesterday, Cassel’s teammates expressed their support for the signal-caller who went from relative unknown to a leader this season.

“Matt knows his teammates always have his back,” defensive lineman Richard Seymour said. “It’s a tough situation and we wish him and his family the best. It’s a personal issue and a part of life. That’s one thing that’s going to happen to all of us one day. It’s a tough situation. I don’t think you ever prepare for it.”

Seymour lost his father under difficult circumstances in 2004, and as he talked about Cassel yesterday, he teared up a bit. As Seymour noted, his father died in the offseason, so he was able to deal with it in a different way than Cassel, who may be struggling with his obligation to a New England team that needs to win out this season for a chance to make the playoffs.

“I think everyone handles the situation differently. It’s a personal issue for him and how he deals with it. You can never say how much time someone needs; you give them as much time as they feel like they need,” Seymour said. “Whatever he needs, at this point — to be with his wife and other siblings, his mom … we’re just giving him the time to do everything he needs to do. Like I said, it’s a game we go out and play, but we’re there for him and in his corner.”

Seymour said he saw Cassel at breakfast at the team’s hotel in Santa Clara yesterday morning. Cassel’s teammates offered their condolences, and also recognized the need to give Cassel some space.

Running back Sammy Morris said it must be a lot to deal with for the 26-year-old.

“I couldn’t imagine having to deal with that in-season — especially with what’s going on for us football-wise, too. Matt is more than just a teammate to me and, again, his loss was like my loss,” Morris said.

If Cassel chooses not to play against the Raiders, the start would go to rookie Kevin O’Connell, who has gotten on the field for one game this season, completing three of four passes against Miami on Sept. 21.

“I think Kevin learns every week,” Belichick said. “He takes advantage of the opportunities that he gets in the meetings and on the practice field. He’s a smart guy; football is important to him; he works hard at it and I think he gets better on a daily basis. He’s gotten better through the course of the year with the opportunities that he’s had, which have been limited.”

O’Connell did not speak with the media yesterday.

smanza@projo.com