RIVER FALLS, Wis. — Whenever he’s not throwing passes at training camp, new Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel can usually be found just off the hip of Todd Haley, talking in the head coach’s ear.
Not just a few words here and there. Like an excited preschooler talking about a new toy.
Most of the time, Haley listens or shrugs off Cassel’s exhortations. Occasionally, the hyperactive quarterback’s chatter becomes too much and he has to tell Cassel to shut up.
Not that Cassel cares.
With a team to call his own for the first time since high school, Cassel is ready to put his imprint on the Chiefs.
“I’m not very patient, so I try to get out there and get in his ear as much as I can, give him my input,” Cassel said Sunday at training camp. “He needs to tell me to shut up sometimes, but I’m going to keep coming at him.”
The leadership role is relatively new to Cassel. He spent most of the previous eight years as the man behind the man, backing up Heisman Trophy winners in four years at USC, and Tom Brady for four more with New England.
He took over last season when Brady was injured and cozied up to the role, throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 23 touchdowns to help the Patriots compile an 11-5 record.
Brady recovered quickly during the offseason, so the Patriots traded Cassel — and linebacker Mike Vrabel — to Kansas City.
The Chiefs see Cassel as the franchise quarterback who’s been missing in Kansas City since Len Dawson’s glory days and rewarded him this offseason with a six-year, $63 million contract that includes $28 million guaranteed.
Cardinals’ Wells injured.
Rookie running back Beanie Wells sprained his right ankle in his first training camp practice Saturday with the Cardinals in Flagstaff, Ariz.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt said the injury doesn’t appear serious but it’s uncertain how much time the first-round draft pick will miss.
Wells and the Cardinals agreed on a five-year, $11.8 million contract, with $6.3 million guaranteed.
Footnotes.
First-round draft pick Percy Harvin, a wide receiver from Florida, agreed to terms on a five-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings. No terms were announced.
• Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson did not practice Sunday while rehabbing a sprained MCL in his left knee. Jackson wore a brace on the knee when he emerged from the locker room.
• Top draft pick Donald Brown and the Colts have agreed on a contract. No terms were released.
• Quarterback Pat White signed with the Dolphins, the last of the team’s draft picks to sign.
• First-round draft pick Eugene Monroe, a 6-foot-5, 320-pound offensive tackle from Virginia who hasn’t signed a contract, was the only no-show when players reported to the Jaguars’ training camp.
The Associated Press
