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This is why Matt Cassel, and not Brady Quinn, will start for Chiefs vs. Bengals

Here's why Cassel is starting this weekend.

Gregory Shamus

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback situation is confusing a lot of people and I can understand why. It is confusing the way they're going about this.

At Wednesday's press conference, Romeo Crennel announced that Matt Cassel, and not Brady Quinn, would start for the Chiefs on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Quinn told the KC Star after Monday's game that he has been cleared to play, so most people were assuming that Quinn would start this game. But Crennel clarified on Wednesday that Quinn is cleared to practice -- not play in a game.

So the practice week is starting today and the Chiefs needed to figure out what to do. Do they go ahead and say Cassel is the starter, giving him all the first team reps? Or do they hold out hope Quinn can play and give him the reps?

Crennel decided not to take the chance that Quinn won't play and named Cassel the starter today. The guy who is going to be playing on Sunday needs to be taking the first team reps during the week and since the Chiefs don't know if Quinn will be ready they are rolling with Cassel.

Does that make sense to everyone?

I had myself confused for a little bit on why Cassel -- and not Quinn -- was starting this game. But the need to give your starter practice reps is one of the big reasons Cassel is going to start.

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