KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Matt Cassel era has come to a close, long before fans would have expected in light of his 6-year, $62.7 million contract he signed in 2009.
Cassel played well in 2010, throwing for 3,116 yards and 27 touchdowns en route to a playoff appearance for the Chiefs. However, injuries and turnovers ultimately did him in. Between the 2011-2012 season he threw for 16 touchdowns against 21 interceptions and battled a concussion in a game against the Baltimore Ravens.
On Thursday the Chiefs released Cassel, one day after acquiring 49ers Alex Smith and signing free agent Chase Daniel of the New Orleans Saints.
Cassel (6-4, 230) played in 48 games (47 starts) with Kansas City (2009-12). In four seasons with the club, he accumulated 9,549 yards on 854 completions (54.7 pct.) with 59 touchdowns and 44 interceptions for a 77.5 rating. Prior to joining the Chiefs, Cassel spent four seasons in New England (2005-08). His career numbers include 1,203 completions on 2,044 attempts (58.9%) for 13,495 yards with 82 touchdowns and 57 interceptions for an 80.4 rating.
Cassel was originally acquired by the Chiefs in a 2009 trade that brought him along with linebacker Mike Vrabel to Kansas City from New England in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. The Chatsworth, Calif., native, entered the NFL as a seventh-round pick (230th overall) of the Patriots in the 2005 NFL Draft. He played collegiately at USC and prepped at Chatsworth High School in Chatsworth, Calif.
With the move, the Chiefs will save approximately $6 million dollars in salary cap space.
Among the teams reportedly might have an interest in signing Cassel are the Minnesota Vikings.
