Since late June and July are times for contract negotiating in the NFL, it will be interesting to see if the Chiefs and Matt Cassel can work out a long-term deal.

Currently, Cassel is playing on the franchise player tender given to him by the New England Patriots earlier this year: $14.65 million for this season. When they picked Cassel up in a trade with the Patriots, the Chiefs inherited that tender offer.

It's a situation that Cassel says is irrelevant to his 2009 season on the field.

"You always love the fact you have some stability," Cassel said. "This to me isn't a one-year deal. I want to come here and build this team and work towards a common goal of getting better, making the playoffs and winning championships.

"If I go into the year with just the ...More