Brady Quinn Will Start For The Kansas City Chiefs

John Rieger-US PRESSWIRE

Kansas City Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel announced today that QB Matt Cassel has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and that backup QB Brady Quinn will start in his place.

Cassel left last week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens with a head injury. It was later determined that he had a concussion.

This will certainly make the vocal group of Chiefs fans that want Cassel benched happy. The cries for Quinn have been coming for a couple of weeks now, as Cassel has struggled to avoid turning the ball over.

Quinn will make his first NFL start since 2009 when he was with the Cleveland Browns. The former first round pick was selected by Cleveland when Chiefs head coach Romeo Crennel held the same position in Cleveland.

Ironically, Sunday could signify the last chance for both Crennel as an NFL head coach and Quinn as a starting NFL QB. If Quinn can help the Chiefs turn things around and make a playoff run, Crennel will likely be brought back for another season in KC and Quinn will be more apt to get a chance to be a full time starter, whether it be in KC or elsewhere.

The Chiefs enter their Bye Week after Sunday’s game and so there is a good chance, depending on his progress, that Cassel could be cleared to play when the Chiefs play their next game. Whether or not he will start may come down to how Brady Quinn performs Sunday.

The national media may not take much interest in Sunday’s game between the Chiefs and Bucs (both 1-4) but make no mistake: the stakes are high. Not just for the teams, but for Crennel and Quinn as well.

Best of luck, gentlemen.