Matt Cassel behind Larry Johnson’s “Twittergate”

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel was on the phone with running back Larry Johnson the evening that Johnson went on a Twitter tirade against Chiefs coach Todd Haley, prompting a two-week suspension and non-stop media scrutiny, sources reported Monday.

Confronted with phone records confirming that the two had spoke, Johnson broke down, confessing it was at Cassel’s urging that he spouted off about Haley after the two spoke following the Chiefs’ loss to San Diego. According to Johnson, Cassel spoke with Chiefs’ running back after the loss, hinting at the lack of credibility of the Chiefs’ coach, Todd Haley.

“He called me up, and just started venting about the game. At first, he didn’t come right out and tell me to say anything, he just started saying stuff as we got dressed, like, ‘That dude Haley’s kind of a pain in the ass, isn’t he? But I guess you learn a lot about football on a golf course,’” Johnson said. “Then, he was like, ‘Larry, you’re the leader of this offense. Guys respect you. I’m not saying we need to call a press conference, but damn, someone should call him out on this bs. Plus, isn’t your dad a coach?’ He just kept saying stuff like that over and over. I’m an emotional guy after a loss. He got to me.”

Johnson’s confession confirms what one high-ranking Chiefs official had speculated about, that Cassel, whom came to the Chiefs from the New England Patriots via trade during the off-season, encouraged, then demanded, that Johnson make outlandish statements, thus taking the focus off the Chiefs QB.

“For as awful of a year that (Cassel)’s had, it makes sense he’d want to keep the attention off of him,” said one Chiefs executive, who refused to be named for fear of losing his job. “We’re 1-6 right now, and have shown almost no hope of improving. At the beginning, people were blaming the offensive line, but the guy signed a $63 million contract this year. How long before he’s held accountable for his performance?”

Cassel has started six games for the Chiefs, compiling eight touchdowns with five interceptions and 994 yards. He leads an offense that is last in the NFL in total yards, last in the NFL in passing yards and third to last in scoring. Yet, thus far, much of the blame has been directed at the offensive line or a sub par group of receivers. However, in the Chiefs last game, against San Diego, Cassel completed 10 of 25 passes for 95 yards, three interceptions and a touchdown, and grumblings about his performance started to surface.

“The guy has been really, really bad,” the Chiefs’ executive said. “But I guess he studied public relations at USC, because all anyone can talk about is ‘Larry the nut job.’ Matt continues to get away with a quarterback rating of 73, and $60 million.”