Chiefs burning fantasy question:Will Matt Cassel be a reliable No. 1 fantasy quarterback?
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The great thing about history is that you can tweak it to prove any point that you are trying to make. Think Cassel is going to struggle this season? Compare him to Derek Anderson. Or, better yet, Scott Mitchell. There's no way Cassel can be a great quarterback in Kansas City -- don't you remember when Mitchell fell on his face?
In your face, Cassel fans.
Of course, Steve Young, Brett Favre and Matt Hasselbeck all were backups who switched teams and moved on to stardom. Kurt Warner thrived in new coach Todd Haley's offense.
And if you really want a history lesson, Mitchell had some decent years in Detroit, including one year when he threw for 4,338 yards and 32 TDs.
So in your face, haters.
What does any of this mean to Matt Cassel in 2009? Let's start with the facts.
The Chiefs running attack isn't what it used to be. The team finished in the middle of the league in rushing offense in 2008. Larry Johnson reportedly doesn't want to play in Kansas City. Jamaal Charles has shown flashes, but doubts remain about whether he can produce over a full season.
Wide receiver Dwayne Bowe is on the verge of being a superstar -- he's primed for that boost that most receivers get in their third season. But quick, can you name the Chiefs' opposite receiver without looking?
Don't feel bad, Haley probably couldn't either. For the record, it's Mark Bradley. In your face, again.
And to top it all off, TE Tony Gonzalez is in Atlanta.
With all of that going against Cassel, he's still poised for a great season. Haley specializes in the short passing game, which should play into Cassel's strengths.
But the most telling aspect is Broncos coach Josh McDaniels' endorsement. McDaniels thought so highly of Cassel, he was willing to alienate his own Pro Bowl quarterback to take a run at Cassel. When the guys in the know thinks highly of a quarterback, that means something.
Is it really scientific? No.
But it makes more sense than trying to gauge a quarterback's future success by comparing him to completely unrelated players.
