Thigpen 'Not Ok' with Being Backup in Kansas City

The Kansas City Chiefs made a high-profile trade with the New England Patriots for quarterback Matt Cassel, very early in free agency, it is assumed that he will be QB1 this season for the Chiefs. Incumbent starter Tyler Thigpen is "not ok" with the demotion and isn't ready to give up his starting role so easily.

Thigpen said after the Chiefs’ final game that he thought he had done enough to begin the 2009 season as the team’s starting quarterback. Over the weekend Thigpen was running the second team offense while Cassel led the first team offense. So by early appearances Thigpen is buried on the depth chart once again, but he’s willing to trust coaches’ judgment and hopes he’ll get a chance at the starting job.

“It’s life,” Thigpen said Sunday. “Everything happens for a reason. You may not see the reason right now, but I know there’s a reason that they brought a guy in like Matt. I’m behind him, and all I’m doing is pushing him, making him better. Hopefully me doing that is going to make this team better.”

Thigpen has been in this situation before, he began last season as the No. 3 quarterback and wound up starting 11 games after Brodie Croyle and Damon Huard suffered season-ending injuries. Thigpen passed for 18 touchdowns and seemed to grow more comfortable after a few early-season struggles.

"Unless you come from a high-profile college, you’re always the underdog,” Thigpen said. “I’m back in that situation again. I don’t mind in that situation.”