Matt Cassel deserves $63 million and more

Congratulations to Matt Cassel, the former Chatsworth High and USC quarterback who just signed a $63-million contract with the Kansas City Chiefs.

No one deserves to be recognized more as one of the best in his profession than Cassel, who's always believed in himself and never let setbacks or being second string prevent him from success.

I met him when he was 12 and one of the top players for the Northridge team that made it to the Little League World Series in 1994. He was the team's most charismatic talker, humorous, outgoing, friendly but classy and respectful.

He always enjoyed having fun. I thought baseball would be his sport, but he loved football. He was a standout at Chatsworth, went to USC and was stuck as the backup behind Heisman Trophy winners Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. He never stopped believing he could play quarterback, so when he went to the NFL and became a backup to Tom Brady, he waited for his turn.

His time has finally come, and he can thank his mother and older brothers for preparing him for the pressures and expectations ahead. He'll perform to the best of his abilities, and he'll have fun doing it, and there will be countless Cassel fans rooting for him because he's one pro athlete who has truly paid his dues, put team ahead of individual and patiently waited for his chance to prove himself.

-- Eric Sondheimer

Photo: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassell. Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Tom Highway]

I'm glad to see Cassel receive his big payday.

In college at USC, he was better than Leinart, but Pete Carroll chose to favor the guy who he personally recruited (Leinart) and ignored the fact that Cassel outplayed him in practice everyday.

And Cassel was a much more serious, professional, and focuses player, too... and he carried that attitude to the NFL.

As for Leinart? He's got about one more year as a backup in Arizona, and then he'll most likely be cut. A victim of his own immaturity and lack of focus on his job (football).

Good for Matt Cassel!

[lane]

As a die hard Chiefs fan, I hope we get every penny out of Cassel. As of now, in my opinion, he's unproven. Success in New England is one thing. Success with a down and out football team with considerably less in the offensive arsenal is an entirely different story. I hope he's the linchpin for a future great KC Chiefs team. He can't do it all alone, but if he can provide stability at such a critical position, it's one less thing for us to worry about.

I live in Arizona, and I appreciate Tom's comments about Leinart. That guy is the second coming of Ryan Leaf.

[Paul]

I hope Matt does not become another Elvis or Trent, lots of money, lots of talk, but few wins. I hope he earns his paycheck with wins...Paul in Spain