Tribal Warfare
03-03-2009, 12:00 AM
Cassel ready to compete for starting job with Chiefs (http://www.kansascity.com/sports/chiefs/story/1063820.html)
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Quarterback Matt Cassel waited a long time — five years in college at Southern California and four more with New England — to find a football team to call his own.
So a delay of another six months or so for the official designation doesn’t figure to bother him.
The Chiefs traded their second-round pick in the upcoming draft to the Patriots for Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel on Saturday. The Chiefs are unlikely to hand over a premium selection and then pay a salary of $14.65 million for a backup quarterback, but coach Todd Haley said Cassel will compete for the starter’s job with Tyler Thigpen.
“I don’t know that you can say the quarterback position is secure,” Haley said Monday in his first public statement since the trade was made. “I think we’ve got another guy to come in and compete for the starting quarterback position.
“I just got off the phone with Tyler. I told him I’m a very selfish coach. I think that’s evident by Arizona and what we did there. We’re going to play the guys that give us the best chance to win.”
For his part, Cassel didn’t seem to mind. Despite his designation as New England’s franchise player and his lucrative new contract, he wasn’t going to get the chance to compete with the Patriots as long as Tom Brady is around.
Which is why Cassel found himself rooting for a trade as soon as he signed his new contract.
“I was resolved to the fact I was going to get traded somewhere,” Cassel said Monday. “I knew there probably would be some kind of talks and transactions that would take place. I didn’t know when.”
The Chiefs became a favored landing spot when they hired general manager Scott Pioli away from New England in January. Sure, the Chiefs were 2-14 last season, with plenty of work to do before they are again competitive.
But they also are in need of stability at quarterback. Thigpen provided some last year, when he threw 18 touchdown passes, but the Chiefs also won just one of the 11 games he started.
A reunion with Pioli was also a factor for Cassel.
“I have a great relationship with Scott Pioli,” Cassel said. “He was one of my biggest supporters throughout the year. He was always very encouraging and anytime I needed some advice, I’d usually go to him as one of the guys who was always willing to open his office door.
“I was hoping there was some interest (from the Chiefs) and obviously there was.”
Cassel started 15 games for the Patriots last season, but only after the Chiefs knocked Brady out of the season opener with a knee injury. The Patriots wound up winning 10 of those games, with Cassel throwing for 21 touchdowns and almost 3,700 yards.
Cassel will presumably get the first shot at the starter’s job. He will be more familiar with the offensive system than Thigpen. New England runs a similar system to the one employed last year by Haley with the Cardinals.
But Haley gave a stronger endorsement to Thigpen than he did Cassel.
“I haven’t spent a lot of time with him,” Haley said of Thigpen. “I just had a brief phone conversation with him. But he’s got a lot of moxie.
“He’s an intriguing guy that presents some problems for the defense when you’ve got a guy that athletic and can run around and carry the football like he did.”
Haley spent time last year watching Cassel on video. Not only did the Cardinals play the Patriots last season, but the teams shared several common opponents, so Cassel kept popping up on the screen when Haley went to study for an upcoming game.
“Matt’s a young player in the league with a good year under his belt starting,” Haley said. “He was able to win 11 games last year. He’s the type of guy we’d like to have on the Kansas City Chiefs as we go forward. We’re trying to accumulate as many good players as we can.
“He’s coming from a very good system and a place where they’ve done a good job of winning games in the NFL. Anytime you can get a player that’s been around winning, I think that’s a good thing.”
Chiefs add assistant
By ADAM TEICHER
The Kansas City Star
Quarterback Matt Cassel waited a long time — five years in college at Southern California and four more with New England — to find a football team to call his own.
So a delay of another six months or so for the official designation doesn’t figure to bother him.
The Chiefs traded their second-round pick in the upcoming draft to the Patriots for Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel on Saturday. The Chiefs are unlikely to hand over a premium selection and then pay a salary of $14.65 million for a backup quarterback, but coach Todd Haley said Cassel will compete for the starter’s job with Tyler Thigpen.
“I don’t know that you can say the quarterback position is secure,” Haley said Monday in his first public statement since the trade was made. “I think we’ve got another guy to come in and compete for the starting quarterback position.
“I just got off the phone with Tyler. I told him I’m a very selfish coach. I think that’s evident by Arizona and what we did there. We’re going to play the guys that give us the best chance to win.”
For his part, Cassel didn’t seem to mind. Despite his designation as New England’s franchise player and his lucrative new contract, he wasn’t going to get the chance to compete with the Patriots as long as Tom Brady is around.
Which is why Cassel found himself rooting for a trade as soon as he signed his new contract.
“I was resolved to the fact I was going to get traded somewhere,” Cassel said Monday. “I knew there probably would be some kind of talks and transactions that would take place. I didn’t know when.”
The Chiefs became a favored landing spot when they hired general manager Scott Pioli away from New England in January. Sure, the Chiefs were 2-14 last season, with plenty of work to do before they are again competitive.
But they also are in need of stability at quarterback. Thigpen provided some last year, when he threw 18 touchdown passes, but the Chiefs also won just one of the 11 games he started.
A reunion with Pioli was also a factor for Cassel.
“I have a great relationship with Scott Pioli,” Cassel said. “He was one of my biggest supporters throughout the year. He was always very encouraging and anytime I needed some advice, I’d usually go to him as one of the guys who was always willing to open his office door.
“I was hoping there was some interest (from the Chiefs) and obviously there was.”
Cassel started 15 games for the Patriots last season, but only after the Chiefs knocked Brady out of the season opener with a knee injury. The Patriots wound up winning 10 of those games, with Cassel throwing for 21 touchdowns and almost 3,700 yards.
Cassel will presumably get the first shot at the starter’s job. He will be more familiar with the offensive system than Thigpen. New England runs a similar system to the one employed last year by Haley with the Cardinals.
But Haley gave a stronger endorsement to Thigpen than he did Cassel.
“I haven’t spent a lot of time with him,” Haley said of Thigpen. “I just had a brief phone conversation with him. But he’s got a lot of moxie.
“He’s an intriguing guy that presents some problems for the defense when you’ve got a guy that athletic and can run around and carry the football like he did.”
Haley spent time last year watching Cassel on video. Not only did the Cardinals play the Patriots last season, but the teams shared several common opponents, so Cassel kept popping up on the screen when Haley went to study for an upcoming game.
“Matt’s a young player in the league with a good year under his belt starting,” Haley said. “He was able to win 11 games last year. He’s the type of guy we’d like to have on the Kansas City Chiefs as we go forward. We’re trying to accumulate as many good players as we can.
“He’s coming from a very good system and a place where they’ve done a good job of winning games in the NFL. Anytime you can get a player that’s been around winning, I think that’s a good thing.”
Chiefs add assistant