King Carl, eat your heart out. Scott Pioli is quickly becoming the real king of Kansas City. Not some self-appointed king bereft of any clout away from his imaginary little kingdom either. The NFL is abuzz over Pioli right now. Actually, the NFL media might be more impressed with Pioli than Chiefs Nation is right now.

Why? Because the new king just went out and got himself a Cassel. As in quarterback Matt Cassel, and for only a second-round pick. Oh yeah, he just happened to get a 2007 Pro Bowl outside linebacker thrown into the deal, too. As if getting the young potential franchise QB Chiefs fans have waited decades for for just a second-rounder wasn’t enough. It’s sure nice to have a king who spoils his subjects for once.

In our comments there was a statement about Chiefs Nation drinking the Pioli Kool-Aid. I’m not drinking the Pioli Kool-Aid. Not at all. I’m doing a freakin’ kegstand gulping down throatfuls of Pioli Pilsner! Boy, does it taste good.

Zach and I have been on the phone just shocked.

Shocked that a deal happened? Not one bit. Zach and I called for this in our first Blueprint and Cassel has been our No. 1 quarterback target all along (And, yes, Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez were options B and C for me.). In fact, I predicted this last night. Hitchcock’s calm before the storm, remember? So we weren’t surprised about the trade at all. What we were shocked about was that the Chiefs hauled in Cassel and Mike Vrabel in exchange for only the No. 34 pick. I told Zach that I thought it was our 2009 third along with our 2010 first.

Here’s what I’m thinking…

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The Man Who Bought A Cassel For Pennies - Arrowhead Addict - Arrowhead Addict - A Kansas City Chiefs Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more

Don Banks, SI.com:

Secondly, and this one’s going to be discussed and dissected more than the state of Matt Walsh’s video skills in early 2002, but the second-round pick compensation the Chiefs gave up for both Cassel and fellow Patriot, linebacker Mike Vrabel, is so laughably low that we must ask whether Bill Belichick has grown soft before our very eyes?

First Tom Brady is caught numerous times looking like Gisele’s well-dressed errand boy, now this. Belichick doing both Pioli and Cassel a huge favor by not demanding more than the 34th overall pick in the draft for two players who could have brought far more in value from about 30 other NFL teams.

Mr. Nice Guy, Bill Belichick. I don’t know that we should get used to that idea, but in this case he unquestionably did a nice thing for two people he feels a kinship for and considers friends. And that’s going to make us think a bit differently of Belichick’s image and reputation for a while.

Brian Miller, Phin Phanatic:

The Chiefs fans have to be rejoicing.  They would not have found anyone in this years draft at pick 34 that would have filled what Cassel alone brings to the table let alone Vrabel.  While Cassel will not have the talents of a Randy Moss or Wes Welker on his team in KC, he will have the premier TE in Tony Gonzalez and a young WR who appears like the real deal in Dwayne Bowe.

Mike Reiss, Reiss’ Pieces:

Patriots fans might be asking “that’s it?”

It’s an understandable question given that Matt Cassel has proven to be a capable NFL starting quarterback, and those are hard to find, and Mike Vrabel is a do-it-all veteran who is a “glue” guy in the locker room.

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Cassel Trade Buzz: Deal A Masterstroke For Chiefs - Arrowhead Addict - Arrowhead Addict - A Kansas City Chiefs Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more

Second-Round Pick For Cassel and Vrabel - Arrowhead Addict - Arrowhead Addict - A Kansas City Chiefs Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more

Cassel Traded To Chiefs - Arrowhead Addict - Arrowhead Addict - A Kansas City Chiefs Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more