The Kansas City Chiefs are 2-0 but it doesn't sound like a lot of folks are thinking they'll stay atop the AFC West with their quarterback, Matt Cassel, playing so poorly.
"Matt Cassel is running out of excuses for his poor play," NFL Network's Jason La Canfora wrote this week. "They can run the ball, and they're playing better on defense. Sure, there isn't an abundance of playmakers, but they didn't give Cassel his big contract to win despite him. I continue to think the Chiefs will strongly consider getting out of this contract in the offseason."
We rarely hear national reporters (or even local ones for that matter) thinking the Chiefs could move away from Cassel.
Prior to this season, the words surrounding Cassel were how hard he works, what a great leader he is and he's the first one in the building every day. With his bad start to the 2010 season, the narrative is quickly turning to how the Chiefs can move away from him.
As you know, Cassel signed a reported six-year, $63 million contract with the Chiefs in July 2009. Back when the story was originally reported, $28 million of it was guaranteed and he would make that in the first two years. He's entering year two of that and it's been reported that in March of 2011, he has approximately a $7 million roster bonus due. That would give the Chiefs an opportunity to get out of the contract, if that's what they wanted to do.
However, there has been no indication that they're even thinking of cutting ties. The Chiefs continually back Cassel publicly and, in the last year, have done nothing to suggest that job is anyone's but his. They are clearly committed to Cassel.
We'll see how Cassel plays moving forward. A few good games would quiet the questions about him and turn the story into how well the Chiefs are doing -- not how well they're doing in spite of Cassel.