Published: January 20th, 2011 | Tags: Matt Cassel, 2011 Pro Bowl, AFC roster, Kansas City ChiefsQuarterback Matt Cassel will replace Tom Brady, again — this time at the Pro Bowl — the Kansas City Chiefs confirmed Thursday.
Cassel will be making his first Pro Bowl appearance after passing for 3,116 yards with 27 touchdowns and just seven interceptions in 2010.
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Posted in: Pro Bowl
It is sounding more and more like QB Matt Cassel will be a wild card for his status Sunday when the Chiefs play at St.Louis against the Rams. Coach Todd Haley said it is a “day-to-day” situation with Cassel and they won’t have a definitive answer until later in the week.
As far as starting the practice week, Cassel is officially “limited” in practice. Cassel, who is just over two weeks removed from surgery, said that he is going to do whatever he can to get on the field. And he better after watching the Chiefs get pounded in San Diego Sunday 31-0.
“I think, medically, there’s a number of different issues that come up with a procedure like this but in terms of how I feel, if i can go there and do everything I want to do without any discomfort or without any pain, I’m going to go out there and play,” Cassel said.
Friday will be the key day for Cassel, as if he can get out there and throw the ball around and be somewhat close to 100 percent, it would be hard to see him not playing Sunday after last weeks showing by the Chiefs offense.
Published: December 15th, 2010 | Tags: Matt Cassel, Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Brodie Croyle, David Garrard, Dwayne Bowe, Josh Freeman, Keanu Reeves, Matt Cassel, Tyler PalkoThe Chiefs apparently are eager to rush QB Matt Cassel back into the lineup after an appendectomy. If you saw QBs Brodie Croyle and Tyler Palko play against the Chargers, you can certainly understand why.
But you, fantasy enthusiasts, are not obligated to rush Cassel back into your lineup this week against St. Louis. Mainly because you don’t have a pair of backup quarterbacks who are best known for marrying up or having a name similar to Keanu Reeves‘ character in “The Replacements.”
So let’s cut to the chase here. If you have Cassel, don’t start him even if he plays. Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger missed Week 1 of the 2006 NFL season because of an appendectomy. He would not throw his first touchdown pass until Week 6. Cassel — if he plays — will be handing the ball off plenty. This also means that you will have to sit WR Dwayne Bowe. Though, many of you — whom the receiver hasn’t already ruined — were likely already planning to bench him regardless of Cassel’s status.
So start your backup, Cassel owners. And if Cassel was your backup to a No. 1 like Aaron Rodgers — who could miss this week — grab another quarterback off the wire such as Jaguars QB David Garrard or Buccaneers QB Josh Freeman.
In fact, you could probably cut Cassel at this point if you have quarterback depth. It’s hard to imagine him making any sort of impact in the next couple of weeks. And really, you would not want to put your fantasy hopes on him right now.
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Posted in: Fantasy
Published: December 9th, 2010 | Tags: Brett Favre, Brodie Croyle, Matt Cassel, Percy Harvin, Todd HaleyChiefs coach Todd Haley said that Matt Cassel, who had an appendectomy on Wednesday, missed practice on Thursday but has not yet been ruled out for Week 14.
“Some guys have had the procedure and been out for awhile, some guys have come back quickly,” Haley said. “We have to wait. I really don’t have anything to give.”
Cassel has been one of the hotter quarterbacks in fantasy football in recent weeks, but coming off this procedure — coupled with a tough matchup against the Chargers — makes him a major risk even if he is active.
The bigger concern for fantasy owners is how Cassel’s potential absence would hurt the value of Dwayne Bowe, who is currently the highest-scoring wide receiver in fantasy football. Obviously, he’ll lose some of his appeal with backup quarterback Brodie Croyle under center. But unless you’re deep at wideout, Bowe is still a tough player to bench.
In Minnesota, Brett Favre was held out of practice due to his bum shoulder. Whether he returns in time to face the Giants on Sunday remains to be seen, but he shouldn’t be starting in the fantasy postseason regardless.
His teammate, Percy Harvin, was also held out of drills as he continues to deal with the effects of migraine headaches. Like Favre, he could be a game-time decision. But unlike the old gunslinger, Harvin should be active in fantasy leagues if he is able to suit up.
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Posted in: Fantasy
Published: December 8th, 2010 | Tags: Matt Cassel, Josh Freeman, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Tampa Bay BuccaneersThe Chiefs announced that QB Matt Cassel underwent an appendectomy Wednesday. The procedure was successful, according to the team, and the Chiefs said they expect Cassel to return to work this week.
Wait, what?
As in the Chiefs expect Cassel to play this week? Or do we just take the Greg Brady exact word route, and note that he will just return to work? Most medical websites indicate that recovery from an appendectomy will take four to six weeks. And that’s just for a dude who sits behind a desk. Coming back from an appendectomy and expecting him to “return to work this week” seems like a bit of a stretch.
But we will keep on top of the injury report and the latest from the Chiefs this week.
Cassel was a risky fantasy start to begin with this week against the motivated Chargers, who traditionally play well in December (despite last week’s performance against the Raiders). Now Cassel is an even bigger question mark.
One quarterback that has been on the radar for a while and has some great matchups down the stretch is the Buccaneers’ Josh Freeman, who is available in just over half of NFL.com fantasy leagues.
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Posted in: Fantasy
Outside of fantasy football circles, it seems as though Matt Cassel’s appendix has garnered more attention than how the Chiefs quarterback has been playing over the last two months. Just goes to show what a quarterback has to do to get noticed during this current era of great quarterbacks.
The Chiefs continue to be validated in their trade for Cassel, and the six-year, $63 million contract they gave him before he ever played a down for the team.
Cassel’s numbers add up. He has a touchdown to interception ratio of 23-4, and with four games to go that projects to 31-5. Over the last eight games, he has 19 touchdowns and one interception. He’s completing 59.9 percent of his passes, and only Tom Brady, Michael Vick, Philip Rivers and Aaron Rodgers have better passer ratings.
Most importantly, though, the Chiefs are 8-4 and on the verge of the AFC West title. NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock says a big part of it is Cassel.
“The Chiefs are a ball security team and he is a major reason they are plus-seven in turnover differential,” Mayock said. “They are an inside-out team, meaning the tight ends and running backs form a critical component of their passing game as well as the running game.
“Cassel is for real, and people need to start talking about him.”
Cassel has the benefit of playing for the league’s top rushing team, but statistically he’s in very good company. Under the tutelage of offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, he appears well on his way to becoming the quarterback everyone thought he eventually would be. And when Mayock dishes out endorsements such as these, it’s a good bet it’s worth paying attention to.
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Posted in: NFL Network
