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EAGLES STARS PART OF THE WALKING WOUNDED
September 23rd – 5:06 PM

Eagles head coach Andy Reid gave everyone a sneak preview of the Philadelphia injury report this morning when he revealed that QB Donovan McNabb would not be practicing this afternoon. What he didn’t mention, would be the absence of RB Brian Westbrook and WR Desean Jackson.

Those three players represent, arguably, the Eagles three biggest play-makers. McNabb broke a rib in Week One at Carolina, while Westbrook (ankle) and Jackson (groin) both left last week’s game vs. New Orleans in the second half.

Kansas City was much healthier today, listing five players as limited participants - QB Matt Cassel (knee), CB Brandon Flowers (shoulder), LB Derrick Johnson (groin), TE Jake O’Connell (ankle), G Brian Waters (ankle).

It’s still too early to pass any judgment on the playing status of those three key Eagles, but it’s definitely something to watch leading up to Sunday. It’s also worth mentioning that the Eagles bye week is in Week Four, potentially giving any players nursing injuries an extra week to rest following Kansas City’s visit on Sunday.

THE “NEW” DORSEY LOOKS PROMISING
September 23rd – 3:39 PM

The early returns are in on the “New” Glenn Dorsey. Dorsey, the Chiefs first-round pick in 2008, had a quiet rookie reason to say the least. This offseason, however, Dorsey joined Club Haley and hit the gym early and often. Really, he had no choice.

Dorsey is now in much better shape and the early returns are promising. Last Sunday vs. Oakland, Dorsey may have turned in his finest game to date during his young NFL career. Dorsey was constantly a factor in the run game, got into the backfield against the pass and even showed some serious “ups” when he batted down a QB Jamarcus Russell pass on a critical third down in the fourth quarter.

”I think that Glenn has continued to make progress in the last few weeks,” Haley said. “As has been noted, he was a guy who kind of let himself go shape-wise, conditioning-wise in the offseason. It was a long way back (but) he’s worked hard to get back and I think he’s finally in a position body-weight and condition-wise where he can go to work and start to see some improvement.“

The new physique seems to be giving Dorsey an edge. An edge that seemed to have disappeared a bit during his transition from college ball to everyday life in the NFL. Last weekend, Dorsey showed the confidence that made him one of the most sought after defensive tackles in recent history coming out of LSU.

”I think he’s seeing that and that is leading to some confidence on his part and I think that’s all good stuff,” Haley said. “The important thing is that he stays where he’s at or better on his conditioning and stays on top of that week-in and week-out and continues to let that confidence build and be a disruptive player for us.“

Time will tell, but the Chiefs hope that the early returns on Dorsey are just the beginning.

HALEY AND CROYLE COMMENT ON QUARTERBACK SITUATION
September 23rd – 3:01 PM

There was a bit of a stir over the past 24 hours after some of Chiefs head coach Todd Haley’s comments regarding competition at the quarterback position. Today, Haley confirmed what was originally posted in this blog this morning (see first post): There is no quarterback controversy in Kansas City.

“No, there is not a quarterback controversy, ” Haley said. “My message is going to continue to be consistent to you. I just want (everyone) to understand that.“

Haley’s message of consistency is one of competition and dependable play at each position, quarterback included. Croyle echoed Haley comments in the locker room today.

“Matt is the man and they brought him here to be that,” QB Brodie Croyle said today. “I just go out there and try to play. Whenever my number is call, I try to go out there and play. But there is no controversy.”

REID RELATES TO HALEY’S DECISION TO CALL PLAYS
September 23rd – 12:16 PM

As we’re all aware, Chiefs head coach Todd Haley took over the club’s offensive play calling duties shortly following the Chiefs third preseason game. The topic has been dissected by fans and media members across the Chiefs Kingdom seemingly non-stop.

Everyone knows that Haley is an established offensive play-calller, but are coordinating duties too much for a rookie head coach to handle? Haley has said that he has an excellent supporting cast of coaches and it’s not. Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid chimed in today with his opinion on the matter.

“I did it for 10 years,” Reid said. “But i never hesitated, if things weren’t working, to turn it over to Brad (Childress) or Marty (Mornhinweg), that wasn’t a hesitation. Whether it was during a game or a week or whatever it might be.

“I would say this,” Reid continued. “Todd is extremely good at what he does and when i was in his chair during my first year I absolutely did everything. I made sure that every play, every drawing and everything was the way that I wanted it. You build a foundation that way, just like he is doing. He is doing it his way, building a foundation that will strengthen him to have a nice, long career in Kansas City.“

Reid went on to say that he moved on from play calling duties as he was able to establish his foundation as a head coach. He eventually turned those duties over to long-time trusted associates such Mornhinweg and Childress, men that he had quite a history with in the coaching ranks.

“Now listen, I did it for ten years,” Reid reiterated. “I’m still involved. Marty and I talk every day about the offense and so on. It’s a unique situation and it was the same way with Brad. I was with him at Northern Arizona and had a lot of trust in him.

“Early on, I did everything,” Reid concluded. “So I know what Todd is doing and he’s doing it the right way.”

MCNABB MISSES; CHIEFS MOVE FORWARD
September 23rd – 11:58 AM

Eagles head coach Andy Reid told members of the media this afternoon that QB Donovan McNabb will miss Wednesday’s practice in Philadelphia. McNabb’s absense, paired with Philadelphia’s Week Four bye, point towards QB Kevin Kolb making his second consecutive start for Philadelphia.

While the Eagles are nursing a series of injuries today on the East Coast, Kansas City held practice with all players participating. The lone injury note was LB Demorrio Williams sporting a heavily wrapped leg. Williams did participate in early drills though.

LET IT BE HEARD – MATT CASSEL IS KC’S STARTER
September 23rd – 6:00 AM

If you don’t read anything else in this blog today, read this next sentence. There is not a quarterback controversy in Kansas City.

Some of you are probably reading and thinking, “What? Thanks Captain Obvious.” You’re welcome.

“I wouldn’t speculate on that,” Haley said of the Chiefs quarterback situation.

Thing is, Chiefs head coach Todd Haley spent a good amount of minutes yesterday answering questions as to Matt Cassel’s grasp on the Chiefs starting quarterback job. I’m not entirely sure where the debate comes from other than the fact that backup QB Brodie Croyle turned in a solid training camp and posted a 116.1 QB rating in a spot start at Baltimore, while Cassel threw two INTs in an up-and-down Chiefs debut.

Croyle’s performance in Baltimore wasn’t very far from fantastic. Heck, he turned in the Chiefs best QB rating by a starter since Trent Green 2006, and he did what was necessary to give the Chiefs a shot at victory. But Cassel took every first-team rep this training camp before he suffered the injury vs. Seattle, and he took every first-team rep in his return to the lineup last weekend.

“With Matt we just need to keep chopping wood,” Haley said. “There were a lot of positives in Matt’s performance. There are a few we would like to have back obviously. But that being said, I like a lot about this guy. Anybody watching can see the competitiveness. Here’s a guy who’s injured that was not running with that thought in his mind. He added 34 yards of rushing to our game and when you do that it’s pretty positive.”

Right now this is Matt Cassel’s team. He knows that, and this locker room knows that. Croyle also knows that. Just last week, Croyle sat in front of his locker and explained his role to the media. According to Croyle, in short, his job is to prepare as if he were the starter each and every day, stepping up whenever called upon. Whether that happens no more times, one more time or four more times this season isn’t important. What’s important is that he is prepared for that event to potentially happen.

“I’m excited about Brodie’s progress,” Haley said. “I think Brodie getting to play in the first game got his feet under him and started to gain some confidence. I think that was clear in this past week’s practice and I expect all those guys to improve every week. That’s their job and my job is to get our quarterbacks better.”

Another reason for the quarterback inquiry could be Haley’s history. Haley benched former first-round draftee Matt Leinart in favor of veteran Kurt Warner last season. We all know how that story unfolded.

“No more glaring than in the last couple of years in Arizona between Matt (Leinart) and Kurt (Warner) and Matt being a number one pick,” Haley explained. “When we made that change there was a lot of negative feed-back and what about the future. There weren’t many people saying much when we were in the Super Bowl last year.”

This situation is different though. Matt Cassel was brought into Kansas City to be the franchise’s starting quarterback and only has one game under his belt. Leinart had 16 starts before Warner re-claimed the Cardinals starting role in 2008. It’s also not the same situation as when Haley saw a young up-and-comer in Tony Romo pass up the aging Drew Bledsoe on the Cowboys depth chart.

Cassel will get every opportunity to shine in his role as the Chiefs starting quarterback. The players that give the Chiefs the best chance at victory will play and that is no different at the quarterback position than it is at right guard, defensive end or kicker. Right now that player is Cassel and it will continue to be Cassel over a sample size larger than one football game.

“Those are decisions you’ve got to make as a coach,” Haley said. “As a head coach you take the brunt of the criticism or the accolades. You’ve got to ultimately do what you think gives your team the best chance to win. If that means another quarterback being in there other than Matt Cassel then….”

Then Brodie Croyle goes into the football game. But that is a BIG IF and it is definitely a “then…” Right now, the ball belongs to Cassel.