So Long, Matt Cassel

Oct 23, 2011; Oakland, CA, USA; Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel (7) celebrates after running back Javier Arenas (21) rushed for a touchdown against the Oakland Raiders in the third quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Chiefs defeated the Raiders 28-0. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

It is an Arrowhead Addict tradition that we like to do special farewell posts to important Chiefs players when they depart the team.

And we usually do so with a song.

With today’s release of Matt Cassel, we knew it was time to dust off that old tradition.

What can we say about Matt?

He came to KC with much fanfare in 2009. Cassel was coming off a breakout season with the Patriots and Chiefs fans were convinced that the long-awaited franchise QB had finally arrived. After all, it was the Chiefs’ Bernard Pollard who knocked Tom Brady out of action, thus providing the opportunity for Cassel to step into the starting lineup in the first place.

The fact that Cassel’s arrival in KC was fate was not lost on the fans.

Only it didn’t work out.

Early during Cassel’s tenure, debate raged between those in the “Cassel is good, he is just surrounded by terrible players” camp and those in the “terrible players or not, he still sucks” camp.

In 2010, Cassel presented a bit of a problem for everyone. He still wasn’t terribly impressive but there was absolutely no doubt he was improving. Even the staunchest of Cassel’s critics (cough, this guy, cough) had to admit that they might have been wrong about #7.

In 2011, however, Cassel took a step back. Sure, there was the excuse of injuries happening to key players, but the truth remained that Cassel wasn’t good enough to lift up his team in the face of adversity.

In 2012, despite the writing being on the wall, then-GM Scott Pioli and the fans tried to convince themselves that if Cassel was just surrounded with enough talent that he could flourish.

Well, you know the rest.

Cassel gave Chiefs fans some great moments. His return from an appendectomy to lead the Chiefs to a victory over the St. Louis Rams was both gritty and inspiring. His performance later that season, vs. the Tennessee Titans, to put the Chiefs in the playoffs, was perhaps his best performance in Kansas City.

There were also some bad moments. The inexplicable interception on a screen against the Chargers with the game on the line. The hat fumble. All the interceptions to Eric Weddle.

But it wasn’t all bad:

We took some requests for Matt’s farewell song. There were some really great suggestions but we just had to go with Phil Collins. Nothing quite sums up a complicated situation quite like Phil Collins.

And so, we bid farewell to QB Matt Cassel. I think we can all agree Cassel is a standup guy and a tough-as-nails competitor.

Matt, we’re sorry it didn’t work out. Chiefs Nation wishes you the best. Thanks for the memories.

Note: There is a random boob in this YouTube Video…well, more like a see-through t-shirt. See if you can spot it. Also, fair warning if you are offended by sort-of nudity.