“Even if you're in a backup role, you've always got to prepare yourself...” — Matt Cassel Quote

“Even if you're in a backup role, you've always got to prepare yourself.”

“I'm not trying to be Tom Brady. I'm just trying to be Matt Cassel.”

“In 2005, our starting center, Dan Koppen, went down with a season-ending injury. Russ Hochstein was always our interior 'swing guy' - he played guard and center - and I remember Russ stepping in and playing beautifully.”

“Backup dancers are completely respectable. They're the studio musicians of dance.”

“My preparation doesn't change from being a backup to a starter.”

“It's definitely hard when you're putting in the work and the guy who's starting isn't, especially if he's overhyped or you're not winning. I can't imagine how hard it would be to be that guy's backup.”