Good article in the USA Today on new Chiefs QB Matt Cassel. Lots of good leadership qualities listed here:
This weekend's mandatory minicamp brought all the Chiefs players on the field with their new quarterback for the first time. The realization is sinking in that his time is finally at hand.
"Slowly but surely," he said Saturday with a grin. "We're building chemistry, we're building rapport and everybody's working hard."
Although coach Todd Haley refuses to name a starter at any position, there is no question in anyone's mind who the No. 1 quarterback will be.
"He's running the team," said wide receiver Bobby Engram. "And I'm very impressed. He's a very sharp guy. He's watching film, he's drawing up plays, he's coaching everybody up. He's shown early on that we're going to be able to rely on him."
Haley, the offensive coordinator the past two years at Arizona, is not known as an easy man to please. But when asked about his new quarterback, he seems almost to gush.
"He's the leader for every workout group. It's hard to outwork this guy," he said.
"When he's done working out, he's upstairs bugging us. He's making drawings, coming up with ideas, wanting to talk football, all the time on top of working out real hard. He's lost some weight, has his body in shape. We want our quarterback to be one of the hardest workers on the team. I think he's clearly shown me that."
Even with his naturally upbeat outlook on life, there were times when Cassel did get discouraged. But now he believes even that is going to work to his advantage in Kansas City.
"You get toughened up," he said. "There's going to be a lot of adversity that comes up during the season, whether we lose a game, whether it's a tough play or an interception or something like that. You have to be able to overcome it and be mentally tough.
"You continue to be mentally tough and you continue to push through and know there's a bright spot at the end of the tunnel."
