Chiefs coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Scott Pioli said Thursday that they want Matt Cassel to face some competition for the starting quarterback job.
"What happens in free agency remains to be seen," Crennel said, the Kansas City Star reported. "I know competition makes everybody better, and weâll just have to see what kind of competition weâre going to have at the quarterback position."
Pioli was even more blunt. "Weâve been saying it for three years, and Iâm going to continue to say it, because itâs a core part of our philosophy: There will be increased competition at every position, including the quarterback position," the GM said. "Who that is, I donât know. Maybe itâs Kyle (Orton), maybe itâs another free agent, maybe itâs a draft choice, I donât know.
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"Very few people can perform at an extremely high level without competition."
Right now only Cassel and Ricky Stanzi are under contract for next season.
Kyle Orton was Kansas City's starter when the Chiefs won two of their last three games. Orton will be an unrestricted free agent.
"Kyle did a good job in those three games, and you canât take that away," Crennel said. "I wouldnât be sitting here if he didnât do the job he did."
The coach also mentioned that he has interviewed quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn and Oakland Raiders offensive coordinator Al Saunders for the vacant offensive coordinatorâs job, adding that he might interview another candidate or two.
