Irony, Thy Name Is Cassel: Chiefs QB Goes Down With Left Leg Injury

In case you've somehow forgotten how Matt Cassel became a star in the first place -- it all started when Patriots QB Tom Brady took a hit low in a Week 1 game against Kansas City last year, injuring his left knee.

Cassel parlayed his one season as the Patriots starter into a six-year, $63 million contract with the same Kansas City squad. And, despite an up-and-down preseason, Cassel -- in large part because of the amount of money owed him -- remained entrenched as the Chiefs' No. 1 QB.

That is, until he took a hit low during the Chiefs' preseason game with the Seahawks on Saturday night, injuring his left knee. Irony 1, Cassel 0.

Kansas City and Seattle were just three plays into an eventual 14-10 Seahawks victory when Cassel had to limp off the field. He did so under his own power, though Brady also hobbled off last year before finding out he had multiple ligament tears in his knee. Cassel didn't endure the wicked helmet-on-knee contact that Brady suffered -- instead, Seattle defensive tackle Brandon Mebane wrapped up Cassel around the ankles as the Kansas City quarterback started to scramble. Cassel immediately grimaced and grabbed for his leg. Video below:

Not as obviously-bad as Brady's injury was, but troubling nonetheless. Anytime a quarterback starts clutching at his knee, it's problematic.

X-rays on Cassel's left leg came back negative -- on Sunday night, Yahoo's Jason Cole reported that Cassel suffered a strained MCL. If that's accurate, it's an injury that could keep him out two-to-four weeks and put his status for the start of the regular season in serious jeopardy.

The silver lining in all this is that Kansas City has, thus far, held onto backup quarterback Tyler Thigpen despite at least one trade offer trying to pry him loose. The Chiefs also like what they have in Brodie Croyle, who won the team's starting job in 2008 before injuries struck and has been performing well this offseason.

Should Cassel be shelved for any extended period of time, the K.C. quarterback battle once again becomes Croyle vs. Thigpen. Either guy could be adequate, but Cassel is the team's big-money acquisition -- they want and need him in the lineup.

Even if the football gods are being a little fickle with him right now.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

8-30-2009 @ 12:07PM

john said...

for the life of me i cannot under stand why the font in your news articles is so damn small a person has to put his nose on the screen to read the messages. it would not cost you a dime to increase the size so i man with poor eyesight can read them!!!!!

8-30-2009 @ 1:05PM

Alfie said...

Not only does it allow you change the text size at the top of the article(s) but if you have a wheel on your mouse, you can hold the "Ctrl" button and scroll up or down to zoom into the page~

8-30-2009 @ 6:47PM

WWLeake said...

You can increase the size of the font by clicking one of the three letters to the right of the article. Mine are blue and when you click on it will change to black and the size of the font changes to what you have clicked. I suggest using the largest one.

8-30-2009 @ 12:48PM

hondabuck said...

JOHN, i case you have not seen it yet, there is a FONT size in the upper right side of the screen

8-30-2009 @ 12:50PM

Paul said...

Hey John, you must be about my age. They have these things out now they call them "glasses" and you wear them and it allows one to see small print (again). I hate it too and my screen is plenty big, but once past a certain age or era in life, a lot of society tries to push you (and I) aside. Luckily I am big enough they cannot do that too easily and I also keep the glasses in the case unless something is really interesting and most of the time, they are collecting dust when reading AOL Sports. I hope that you still can see the TV set--they are getting bigger--thank god. Have a nice day

8-30-2009 @ 12:51PM

JOHN, sorry, it says text size LOL

8-30-2009 @ 5:41PM

onlyabill6 said...

STEELERS SUCK!!!!

8-30-2009 @ 8:06PM

ed344mu said...

Actually, John most of what is written on this site is not worth being able to see. That goes for both the articles and the comments! As a sports fan for sixty years, I hear you!

8-30-2009 @ 10:49PM

jim said...

I LIVED IN K.C. KS 74 TO 75 & 00 TO 04. I AM FROM PHILLY BUT I LOVE KANSAS CITY, GREAT YOWN & GREAT PEOPLE. I USED TO WORK OUT SOME W/ RICKY ZEIGLER FROM THE CHIEFS @ GOLDS GYM. I LIKED THE CHIEFS BUT I'M A BUFFALO & VIKINGS FAN. COLLEGE @ ARKANSAS W. JOE FERGUSON (BILLS QB) & MINNESOTA ( TARKINGTON QB). I REALLY LIKE NEW ENGLAND, THEY ARE WELL COACHED AND THEY PLAY GREAT AS A TEAM. CASSELL I THINK COULD HAVE WON THE SUPERBOWL LAST YR, 11-5 RECORD, AND THEY WERE HOT. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME ANYONE SAW AN 11 & 5 TEAM NOT MAKE THE PLAYOFFS. I LIKE THIS KID , I HOPE THAT HES ALRIGHT, THEY NEED A GOOD QTR-BK BAD. THEY HAVE HAD SOME GREAT PLAYERS OVER THE YRS. I'LD LIKE TO SEE THEM MAKE THE PLAYOFFS, ITS BEEN A LONG TIME.

8-31-2009 @ 1:22AM

k2bill7 said...

Since he can't bend his leg now, how is he going to go to the bathroom? He'll probably have to take a crap in the urinal so he can go standing up LOL

8-31-2009 @ 8:52AM

Danielle said...

To Bad it was not Micheal Vick

8-31-2009 @ 10:22AM

Chalondra said...

Whoever thought Matt Cassel was the answer to any club's prayers, has serious issues. There is a reason he has spent his career on the bench! He stepped up because he was being given the cold shoulder in the locker room and out on the field. He will go back to being the same Matt Cassel that backed up Carson Palmer and Tom Brady for years to come! Kansas City isn't doomed because he got hurt...they are doomed because they chose Cassel as their #1 quarterback!

8-31-2009 @ 4:25PM

Michael said...

Good to know you were in the locker room to witness Cassel being given the cold shoulder by the rest of the Patriots team.

8-31-2009 @ 2:14PM

murph said...

Seems the entire story of pro (and college) football is on the fast decline lately. Everyone in a hissy fit as a player or alternately, coaching gone AWOL, players either getting hit like they're concrete (passive aggressive defenders trying to kill) or wussy Qbacks like Cassell and his ilk doing anything they can to get out of the game. Add in Vick's nitemare,Farve's mid life crisis meltdowns, Marshall's little tantrum dance...Raiders coaching issues- Geez. All if it- a f'n mess. They're ALL overpd far as I'm concerned. Big Babies. All of em.

8-31-2009 @ 4:02PM

RAY said...

WOW....these NE quarterbacks are sissies.

9-13-2009 @ 3:02AM

Daryl said...

cut cassell!! What dumb azz wanted him here anyways?! Oh... Wait.. that would be the cheater.. Pioli!! Maybe we will start filming other teams now!! They cant use the excuse.. it wasnt cheating.. the teams get to see hi-lite films of the teams.. that part is true.. but the films they get to see do not show the sidelines.. Send Pioli and Cassell and Vrable back to the team that cheats to win games!!