We’ve mentioned Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel a couple times this week. It got us thinking about Cassel’s future and there is little doubt that future will take place in Kansas City.

Had there not been a lockout, we’d officially already know where Cassel will be playing. According to the language in his contract, the Chiefs must exercise an option on Cassel by the 10th day of the new league year. Of course, it is unclear when that will be.

But there’s little chance the Chiefs will not exercise the option on Cassel. That wasn’t necessarily a sure thing after an uneven 2009 season -- Cassel’s first in Kansas City. Yet, he made major strides in 2010 and ended up in the Pro Bowl.

At the NFL owners meeting Tuesday, Kansas City coach Todd Haley made it clear that he stands by Cassel moving forward.

“We have a relatively inexperienced quarterback. He hasn't played a lot of games,” Haley said. “You take four years of college away from the guy and another chunk in the NFL not playing in a lot of games. Now he has almost three years under his belt, counting the [one season] in New England. That's just now where with a normal progression guy you'd be expecting great development. Matt [Cassel] is maybe ahead of where a young guy ... would be. I know he's going to work and I know he's going to do anything asked of him. That's what's exciting.”

Friday, Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. looked at what Cassel needs to do to improve moving forward in Kansas City.