Q: How was the first day?

MATT CASSEL: “The first day was great. We got out there and it was good to be back out there on the field playing football. It was very competitive; we had some very competitive periods. We are just getting back into the swing of things.”

Q: Coach Haley told us that you’re constantly in his ear about things?

CASSEL: “There is no doubt. I am one of those people who is not very patient, so I try to get out there and get into his ear as much as I can with any input that I can give him. If he needs to tell me to shut up sometimes but that is fine, I just need to keep coming at him.”

Q: Is that part of being a leader, expressing your thoughts to the head coach?

CASSEL: “Probably a little bit more-so than it has in the past. It is definitely a different role when you are a started and you feel like you have seen a few things. Maybe you want something installed and you are just talking. That is just the relationship that I have with Coach Haley.”

Q: How do you feel about WR Dwayne Bowe’s comment on not wanting to upset the quarterback because you are the team leader?

CASSEL: “It is something that comes along with that quarterback position, being in a leadership role. We are trying to make everybody accountable. If I am doing my job wrong, I expect them to notice and maybe get on me. The same goes if somebody else isn’t doing their job right. If I think that they can do it better than I will let them know.”

Q: What does the commitment by the Chiefs to a long-term contract mean to you?

CASSEL: “I am honored and humbled by the commitment that they have made to me. Obviously I am excited to be here for the long term and it is a commitment by me to the Chiefs organization, the community and I am happy to have it. I got that out of the way and now I can concentrate on football.”

Q: Was getting the contract done a distraction?

CASSEL: “It definitely was because throughout the entire off-season you have to deal with whether it is going to be a one-year deal, a long-term deal and now to have that all behind me and my family, we can move forward and I can concentrate on football. That is what I am here to do.”

Q: Were you satisfied with the offer the Chiefs put on the table?

CASSEL: “It just worked out the way it is. I’m not much to worry about the numbers in the contract and I was pleased with what I had on the table. I am excited about the way this organization is going and what I can do to get to the next level.”

Q: Is there any pressure that comes with a contract like that?

CASSEL: “No, there is no pressure that comes with the contract. The pressure is put on you each and every week that you play this game. Every week you have different pressures that come with what team you are going to play and what defense. Contract is not the pressure, it is the weekly preparation and getting your team ready to win ball games.”

Q: What does having the starting role going into training camp do for you confidence?

CASSEL: “It has definitely been a different off-season this year than it has in the past going into training camp and it makes a huge difference. Mainly when it comes to the reps and the preparation that goes into being a starter. Now I get to be with the first- team unit and build that relationship with my receivers and our other guys on the team and try to grow into that leadership role.”

Q: How are you meshing so far with WR Dwayne Bowe?

CASSEL: “It is going well for the first day. So far so good. He is working really hard out there and he is running some really good routes. We have more time to work on some more things and it’s a process like anything else. We are going to continue to make sure the process builds and hopefully by the time we get out there and start games we will be ready to roll.”

Q: What do you like about what Bowe brings?

CASSEL: “He brings a big physical receiver. He is a big target, he has strong hands and he has got some good quickness for being such a big guy. He is a big target out there and he has obviously had some big numbers in the past so hopefully that will continue this year.”

Q: What about Bowe’s personality?

CASSEL: “That is great. All the great receivers are confident so you have to have that confidence to play the game.”

Q: What would you say to those who might say you were a beneficiary of being surrounded by talented receivers in New England?

CASSEL: “It’s interesting because it is not like I am going to apologize for the other guys that were on the field with me. It is one of those situations where, you can ask any quarterback around the league who has had success like Kurt Warner, where you can say, ‘if you take away Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are you going to have as much success?’ I don’t know but at the same time I am confident in my ability. The other thing that is really interesting is when people say you’re a system guy. Well, last year when we were struggling early on it was Matt Cassel’s fault and then I started to play better and things started to turn around and the season started to really pickup from my performance standpoint, then he became a system guy. It is just interesting how the perception changes from one day to the next. That is what you have to deal with when you are a QB.”

Q: Is it weird to be on this team? After all, QB Tom Brady was injured against the Chiefs last year and that opened up an opportunity for you?

CASSEL: “It is weird. It is crazy how I show up here and I see Bernard (Pollard) on the first day. You come in and this was the team that really gave me my start. Unfortunately it was t and injury to one of my friends (Brady) but at the same time, they jump started my career and I was lucky enough to take advantage of that opportunity. Now I am here and expecting big things from the organization and for us in the future.”

Q: Are you excited to work with RB Larry Johnson?

CASSEL: “I am excited about Larry. He has come out each and every day in the offseason and been diligent about his work. He has been to every offseason workout and he goes out there with intent each and every day. He runs the ball hard, he finishes runs and we expect big things out of him this year. He is going to help this team.”

Q: (FROM FORMER CHIEFS QB LEN DAWSON, WHOSE #16 IS RETIRED) Now that you have signed a contract, what would you pay to wear number 16?

CASSEL: “Give me a number. That 16 jersey is special. It is in retirement for a reason. You have obviously done such great things in your career so I’m not touching that jersey. There is too much that goes along with it. Big, big shoes to fill if you wear that.”

Q: Do you feel that you have talent around you here in Kansas City?

CASSEL: “There is no doubt. We have great players at each and every position that can compete and can play. It is not going to be about that, it is going to be about whether we can execute the plays that we are given and mesh as a team. We’ve got the players, we’ve got the offensive line, the receivers, the tight ends, the running backs, we have everybody that we need to have to win ball games in this league. Now it is about going out and executing, finishing games in the fourth quarter and doing what we need to do because we can be a very good team. It is up to us whether or not we are going to make it happen.”

Q: Can you talk about the offensive line? You were sacked quite a bit in New England last year?

CASSEL: “It starts with me. I need to get the ball out quick and go through my reads to take the pressure of them. At the same time, it is part of the game. Sacks are going to happen. I’m not going to predict how many sacks we are going to give up but its one of those situations where we have to play well on the O-line and I have to do my job of getting the ball out to take pressure off them as well.”

Q: Is there something unique about defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast’s defense? How tough were they to prepare for last year?

CASSEL: “His defense is a very elaborate scheme. They are blitzing from all over the place and they are doing a lot different things out there and giving us a lot of different looks. It’s definitely challenging from a quarterback position when you are getting different looks each and every play. Its changing and it is one of those defenses that is always challenging.”

Q: Does it stand out to you, having to prepare for it last year?

CASSEL: “I think so. I’m not much of a defensive guy. It does stand out to me because it is one of those defenses where you can’t anticipate anything on any given play. I was never the same look or same blitz.”

Q: How important is it for the running game to be affective?

CASSEL: “I think it is always important for any team to establish a running attack because I think it takes the pressure of the passing game and also brings up lanes when you are trying to run play-action. We have the running back and the O-line to do that so hopefully we can establish the running game early and go from there.”

Q: How is your relationship with RB Larry Johnson?

CASSEL: “We are starting to develop a relationship and build on that relationship. I have a lot of respect for him as a player. I didn’t know much about him as a person but since I have been here I really appreciate the fact that he has welcomed me with open arms and been such a good guy. To watch him work, I have a tremendous respect for how he works and how he comes in prepared each and every day.”