Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel has become the center of some controversy in Kansas City, given a disappointing performance from the team and Cassel personally in 2011 -- and in light of an acknowledged effort by the team to sign Peyton Manning during the offseason. Instead, Cassel must fend off Brady Quinn, who already knows the new offense given his time in Cleveland, along with up-and-comer Ricky Stanzi, who could indeed be the team’s quarterback of the future.
But Cassel isn’t ready to concede anything.
“I believe in myself, and I know I’m a good quarterback,” Cassel told Sports Radio 610 in Kansas City on Monday. “Of course there are going to be criticisms and everything like that, and that’s part of the business. But at the same time at the end of the day I know that I’m going to go out there and I’m going to compete each and every day. I’m going to give you 110 percent. And hopefully it’s all going to go in the right direction, we’re going to win a lot of ball games, get in the playoffs, and ideally we’d like to win a Super Bowl.”
Cassel then went Balboa in defending his track record.
“Do I feel like I can you out there and win ball games? Absolutely,” Cassel said, while also conceding that it’s part of his job to be a game manager. “Do I feel like in the fourth quarter, do I want the ball in my hands with two minutes left? Absolutely. Have I done it before? Absolutely. I’m mean, the two years I’ve started full seasons, I’ve won 10-plus games, which is hard to do.”
In separate comments to the media, Cassel talked about the importance of Organized Team activities to the team’s preparations for the 2012 season.
“I think you come together as a team,” Cassel said, via quotes distributed by the team. “You build that camaraderie. You’re out on the field, you’re working on technique, you’re working on skills and you can’t spend enough time together as a group, as a unit, especially offensively with the new offensive scheme to really tone our skills. These OTAs are pivotal for us as an offense and also as a team. . . .
“I think we get a lot out of these OTAs. I think every day that we can be out here together as a unit, as a group, build that camaraderie and continue to hone our skills and work together is going to be a step in the right direction. These OTAs are pivotal for us, especially being that it’s a new offense, new offensive terminology and scheme, and just try to get better each and every day.”
One guy who isn’t getting better with the team is receiver Dwayne Bowe, the team’s unsigned franchise player. Cassel told 610 that he has tried on several occasions to call Bowe, but that Bowe keeps changing his phone number.
He’ll likely start answering his phone once the team gives him the right number of a different kind.