Kansas City Chiefs Release Matt Cassel
The Kansas City Chiefs released Matt Cassel on Thursday, ending the former starting quarterback’s rollercoaster career with the NFL team.
Kansas City’s decision to part ways with Cassel comes as no surprise after acquiring Alex Smith in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers earlier in the offseason.
The team held a press conference to introduce Smith on Wednesday afternoon, and it was inevitable that Cassel would be formally released shortly after.
New Kansas City coach Andy Reid wished Cassel the best of luck in the next phase of his career and thanked the former New England Patriots QB for his service to the team.
“He’s a good football player and deserves the respect we’re trying to give him right now,” Reid stated. “We think that is important.”
Cassel should not be out of a job for too long though, as the Arizona Cardinals have expressed interest in obtaining his services for the upcoming campaign.
Cassel looked as if he was going to be the quarterback the Chiefs were so desperately looking for after posting impressive numbers in his first season at the helm.
He threw for 3166 yards and 27 touchdowns while leading the Chiefs to the AFC West title. However, Kansas City was eliminated in the playoffs by the Baltimore Ravens in a disappointing 30-7 loss at Arrowhead Stadium.
Big things were expected of the Kansas City Chiefs, and Cassel the following year but he went 4-5 in nine starts before being sidelined with a hand injury late in the season.
Cassel was then benched in favor of Brady Quinn in 2012, and the writing was on the wall when Kansas City GM Scott Pioli was fired shortly after the season ended.
Kansas City released Cassel after numerous attempts to trade him for a late round pick were unsuccessful, as his $7.5 million salary scared some teams off.
