Chiefs Teicher: Cassel on possibility of benching: ‘You can’t play scared’ - Page 2

**Tribal Warfare** · 10-03-2012, 04:34 PM

Cassel on possibility of benching: ‘You can’t play scared’
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Facing the biggest crisis of his career, Matt Cassel showed no weakness Wednesday when he answered questions about his tenuous hold on the Chiefs starting quarterback position. Cassel said if he fails in Sunday’s game against Baltimore, and the Chiefs have to replace him with Brady Quinn, it won’t be because of any lack of confidence.

“Throughout my career I’ve always had ups and downs,” Cassel said. “Everybody knows that I’m a grinder. I’m going to go out and grind each and every day and I’m going to try to get better.

“I try not to focus on what’s being said on the outside and I try to focus on how I can get better as a player. I know there’s room for improvement and I’m going to give everything I can to make those improvements and get better.”

Coach Romeo Crennel has said that while Cassel will start against the Ravens, Quinn may at some point replace him. Crennel also suggested he might give Quinn some first-team snaps in practice, though Quinn said his workload didn’t increase Wednesday.

“My reps have been the exact same as they had before,” Quinn said.

Until this week, the Chiefs had shown unfailing loyalty to Cassel since trading for him in 2009. He was handpicked by general manager Scott Pioli, who was then new to the Chiefs and had worked with Cassel when they were together in New England.

The Chiefs haven’t acquired a strong challenger to Cassel and there’s never been any suggestion he might get benched at any point in his four seasons.

That changed this week with Crennel and the Chiefs facing desperate times. They are 1-3 and haven’t had a lead during a game yet.

“I’m going to do what I think gives us the best chance to win,” Crennel said. “Hypotheticals about what if this happens or what if that happens, I don’t know what if anything happens. I’m going to wait until we get to the game and we’ll see what happens and then we’ll go forward.”

Cassel’s play in no small factor in the Chiefs’ dismal record. His 10 turnovers are tied for the NFL high with Dallas quarterback Tony Romo.

Cassel has had some rough times as Chiefs quarterback, most notably his first season as their starter in 2009 and a miserable ending to the 2010 season. His popularity in Kansas City among Chiefs fans has dipped — he was loudly booed during a celebrity softball game last summer at Kauffman Stadium — this is the first time Cassel’s play has been publicly questioned by someone affiliated with the Chiefs.

Crennel met with Cassel this week to discuss the issue.

“Matt is a professional,” Crennel said. “He takes it to heart. He understands we need to get better as a football team and we need to play better.”

Cassel indicated he wouldn’t be distracted in his preparation or during Sunday’s game.

“I don’t look over my shoulder,” he said. “You can’t do that. As a quarterback, you go out there and compete each and every day and you try to get better each and every day. For me, I don’t look over my shoulder. I just go out there and try to play my position.

“You can’t play scared. You can’t play tentative. I have tunnel vision. I go out and try to get better each and every day. I know as the quarterback of this team I’ve got to do a better job of taking care of the football. That comes first. I take full responsibility for that. We all need to take better care of the football and if we do, then we’ll be in more of these football games and we’ll be a better football team because of it. It starts with me, like I’ve said. I’m working each and every day to get better and I will get better.”

Quinn is familiar with the feeling. He was Cleveland’s starting quarterback for parts of the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

Then he was traded to Denver, where he didn’t play in a game during either of the last two seasons. He then signed with the Chiefs in the spring, but hasn’t played in any of their four games.

“That’s what you have to do,” Quinn said. “If you’re a quarterback a lot of times when things aren’t going well, you get more blame than you should and when you throw six touchdown passes, you get more credit than you should take.”

Balloon Knot · 10-03-2012, 05:22 PM

Go Matt!

Titty Meat · 10-03-2012, 05:23 PM

Come fly the plane bitch

R8RFAN · 10-03-2012, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy

Yep, that's what you want to hear out of your 63 million dollar QB who's in his 4th year as a starter.

Well atleast you got value for your money, JR got that much for 2 years

Red Beans · 10-03-2012, 05:33 PM

Hoagies and Grinders, Hoagies and Grinders, Hoagies and Grinders, Meatloaf Sandwich...

**RealSNR** · 10-03-2012, 05:44 PM

Cassel not yet benched, remains seated as team's starter

**RealSNR** · 10-03-2012, 05:46 PM

After Sunday's imminent loss: "Cassel struggles, fans want their quarters back."

kcxiv · 10-03-2012, 05:46 PM

"For me, I don’t look over my shoulder. I just go out there and try to play my position."

really Matt? you try to play it? lol wow

**bevischief** · 10-03-2012, 05:47 PM

So what does he call crapping the bed with the least amount of pressure.

SPchief · 10-03-2012, 05:48 PM

Yes matt, we know you have tunnel vision

Coogs · 10-03-2012, 05:51 PM

Probably save time if they would not even play the first half Sunday and just put 27-6 on the scoreboard. Let everybody enjoy an extra hour and a half of tailgating. Let all the players come out of the locker room fresh just like the start of the game... only it is the start of the 3rd quarter. Only drama would be who gets the nod... Cassel or Quinn.

**mlyonsd** · 10-03-2012, 05:52 PM

Dear Matt,

I've supported you as long as anyone. I said months ago this was your chance. Your play has proven to me at least that you are not the guy to advance the Chiefs. I hope in the long run you realize you were given every opportunity.

I have no doubt you have tried your best but I'm sorry and we need to move on.

Sincerely, mlyonsd and thousand of other Chief fans

R8RFAN · 10-03-2012, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SNR

After Sunday's imminent loss: "Cassel struggles, fans want their quarters back."

Your sig is disturbing man

Cannibal · 10-03-2012, 06:05 PM

Im sick of this **** saying he needs to get better. He's speaking like he's a 2nd year player. He's been in the league over 7 seasons. He should be peaking at this point!

CoMoChief · 10-03-2012, 06:09 PM

What a bunch of cliche' bullshit.

I'm a grinder.....I'm a hard worker.....I've had ups and downs but I play through it.

Uhh, Matt..........YOU JUST SUCK ASS.....plain and simple.

**RealSNR** · 10-03-2012, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by R8ers

Your sig is disturbing man

Not my fault. Blame Gadzooks.

10-03-2012, 04:34 PM
Tribal Warfare The Boom Boom Room Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Far Beyond Comprehension Casino cash: $952813	Teicher: Cassel on possibility of benching: ‘You can’t play scared’ Cassel on possibility of benching: ‘You can’t play scared’ By ADAM TEICHER The Kansas City Star Facing the biggest crisis of his career, Matt Cassel showed no weakness Wednesday when he answered questions about his tenuous hold on the Chiefs starting quarterback position. Cassel said if he fails in Sunday’s game against Baltimore, and the Chiefs have to replace him with Brady Quinn, it won’t be because of any lack of confidence. “Throughout my career I’ve always had ups and downs,” Cassel said. “Everybody knows that I’m a grinder. I’m going to go out and grind each and every day and I’m going to try to get better. “I try not to focus on what’s being said on the outside and I try to focus on how I can get better as a player. I know there’s room for improvement and I’m going to give everything I can to make those improvements and get better.” Coach Romeo Crennel has said that while Cassel will start against the Ravens, Quinn may at some point replace him. Crennel also suggested he might give Quinn some first-team snaps in practice, though Quinn said his workload didn’t increase Wednesday. “My reps have been the exact same as they had before,” Quinn said. Until this week, the Chiefs had shown unfailing loyalty to Cassel since trading for him in 2009. He was handpicked by general manager Scott Pioli, who was then new to the Chiefs and had worked with Cassel when they were together in New England. The Chiefs haven’t acquired a strong challenger to Cassel and there’s never been any suggestion he might get benched at any point in his four seasons. That changed this week with Crennel and the Chiefs facing desperate times. They are 1-3 and haven’t had a lead during a game yet. “I’m going to do what I think gives us the best chance to win,” Crennel said. “Hypotheticals about what if this happens or what if that happens, I don’t know what if anything happens. I’m going to wait until we get to the game and we’ll see what happens and then we’ll go forward.” Cassel’s play in no small factor in the Chiefs’ dismal record. His 10 turnovers are tied for the NFL high with Dallas quarterback Tony Romo. Cassel has had some rough times as Chiefs quarterback, most notably his first season as their starter in 2009 and a miserable ending to the 2010 season. His popularity in Kansas City among Chiefs fans has dipped — he was loudly booed during a celebrity softball game last summer at Kauffman Stadium — this is the first time Cassel’s play has been publicly questioned by someone affiliated with the Chiefs. Crennel met with Cassel this week to discuss the issue. “Matt is a professional,” Crennel said. “He takes it to heart. He understands we need to get better as a football team and we need to play better.” Cassel indicated he wouldn’t be distracted in his preparation or during Sunday’s game. “I don’t look over my shoulder,” he said. “You can’t do that. As a quarterback, you go out there and compete each and every day and you try to get better each and every day. For me, I don’t look over my shoulder. I just go out there and try to play my position. “You can’t play scared. You can’t play tentative. I have tunnel vision. I go out and try to get better each and every day. I know as the quarterback of this team I’ve got to do a better job of taking care of the football. That comes first. I take full responsibility for that. We all need to take better care of the football and if we do, then we’ll be in more of these football games and we’ll be a better football team because of it. It starts with me, like I’ve said. I’m working each and every day to get better and I will get better.” Quinn is familiar with the feeling. He was Cleveland’s starting quarterback for parts of the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Then he was traded to Denver, where he didn’t play in a game during either of the last two seasons. He then signed with the Chiefs in the spring, but hasn’t played in any of their four games. “That’s what you have to do,” Quinn said. “If you’re a quarterback a lot of times when things aren’t going well, you get more blame than you should and when you throw six touchdown passes, you get more credit than you should take.”
Posts: 42,032

10-03-2012, 05:22 PM	#16
Balloon Knot Banned Join Date: Oct 2012 Casino cash: $10004900	Go Matt!
Posts: 62

10-03-2012, 05:23 PM	#17
Titty Meat Inmem 2.0 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: My house Casino cash: $2317558	Come fly the plane bitch
Posts: 75,046

10-03-2012, 05:33 PM	#19
Red Beans Not dead yet... Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Indian Creek Casino cash: $3279903	Hoagies and Grinders, Hoagies and Grinders, Hoagies and Grinders, Meatloaf Sandwich...
Posts: 2,794

10-03-2012, 05:46 PM	#22
kcxiv In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Central Valley, Cali Casino cash: $8807996	"For me, I don’t look over my shoulder. I just go out there and try to play my position." really Matt? you try to play it? lol wow
Posts: 29,110

10-03-2012, 05:47 PM	#23
bevischief .... Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Somewhere Kansas Casino cash: $8659352 VARSITY	So what does he call crapping the bed with the least amount of pressure.
Posts: 27,731

10-03-2012, 05:48 PM	#24
SPchief In Search of a Life Join Date: Feb 2004 Casino cash: $1882905	Yes matt, we know you have tunnel vision __________________ http://give.somo.org/site/TR/Plunge/...nal&fr_id=1244 ^^^^^^^^^^ Click here to help with a special cause. Please help me out
Posts: 36,007

10-03-2012, 05:51 PM	#25
Coogs In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Northern Kansas Casino cash: $1644349	Probably save time if they would not even play the first half Sunday and just put 27-6 on the scoreboard. Let everybody enjoy an extra hour and a half of tailgating. Let all the players come out of the locker room fresh just like the start of the game... only it is the start of the 3rd quarter. Only drama would be who gets the nod... Cassel or Quinn.
Posts: 21,603

10-03-2012, 05:52 PM	#26
mlyonsd Supporter Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Spink, SD Casino cash: $1713762	Dear Matt, I've supported you as long as anyone. I said months ago this was your chance. Your play has proven to me at least that you are not the guy to advance the Chiefs. I hope in the long run you realize you were given every opportunity. I have no doubt you have tried your best but I'm sorry and we need to move on. Sincerely, mlyonsd and thousand of other Chief fans
Posts: 38,858

10-03-2012, 06:05 PM	#28
Cannibal Better to burn out... Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Bible Thumping Country Casino cash: $10010618	Im sick of this **** saying he needs to get better. He's speaking like he's a 2nd year player. He's been in the league over 7 seasons. He should be peaking at this point!
Posts: 9,306

10-03-2012, 06:09 PM	#29
CoMoChief Mahomes Dynasty Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Parts Unknown Casino cash: $8052254	What a bunch of cliche' bullshit. I'm a grinder.....I'm a hard worker.....I've had ups and downs but I play through it. Uhh, Matt..........YOU JUST SUCK ASS.....plain and simple. __________________
Posts: 39,156