Matt Cassel won’t say as much, but he seems to know it’s over.
And Brady Quinn doesn’t seem to know where he is.
After being benched for the second time this season, this time at halftime of a 28-6 loss to the Bengals, the Chiefs opening day starting quarterback gave every indication that he was aware he wasn’t getting his old job back.
“I’m not going to go into that right now,’’ Cassel said, via Adam Teicher of the Kansas City Star. “I don’t know what my future holds, but I’m going to continue to be the same guy. I’m going to continue to work hard and do whatever I can to help this team win. It’s a tough situation. Anytime you’re the quarterback. There is a lot of weight put on you whether it goes good or whether it goes bad.
“I wasn’t anticipating it. I came in at halftime and Coach [Romeo] Crennel said he wanted to create a spark so he was going to make a change at the quarterback position. I wasn’t anticipating that at halftime after we came down and put three points on the board [before] the half.’’
That three points is viewed as an accomplishment speaks to the state of the 1-9 Chiefs.
“I wanted to start Cassel, so I started Cassel,’’ Crennel said, explaining it nicely. “When I felt like I needed to make a change, I made the change to Quinn. So Quinn got into the game in the second half and then after this, I will evaluate it and I will let you know what I am going to do next week.’’
To his credit, Quinn’s taking it all as a positive, despite the fact being the quarterback of the Chiefs doesn’t seem like such a great gig. Best by injuries on the offensive line and without his best receiver (Dwayne Bowe) for the second half, it is fair to suggest he didn’t have a chance.
“Look, I feel like I’m one of the most privileged people in the world,’’ Quinn said. “I’m very blessed to have the opportunity to do what I do. [Playing in] the National Football League is a dream, really. It’s not only changed my life, it’s changed my family’s life forever.
“I don’t care what team you’re on or what your record is, it’s without a doubt the best job you could ever have. I don’t care what the circumstances may sound like or look like to everyone else. I love what I do, and I love the game of football and I also will love being under center and going back there and slinging the ball around.’’
At least until he’s the one getting slung around.