KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Brodie Croyle has a much higher quarterback rating and a better completion percentage, but Matt Cassel has a bigger guaranteed contract. Guess who'll start for Kansas City on Sunday?

It will be Cassel facing the Eagles in Philadelphia, coach Todd Haley said yesterday. But the rookie head coach also said he would not hesitate to make a switch if he decided Croyle gives the winless Chiefs a better chance.

Would he really have the courage to bench someone his boss showered with millions of dollars and staked a big chunk of his reputation on?

"You've got to ultimately do what you think gives your team the best chance to win," Haley said. "If that means another quarterback being in there other than Matt Cassel, then sign me up."

Cassel has been one of the happiest success stories in recent years. He is one of the few, and perhaps the only, quarterback to start and win an NFL game without ever starting a game in college.

But in the loss to Oakland on Sunday in his and Haley's regular-season debut in Arrowhead Stadium, he was 24-of-39 passing for 241 yards, a completion percentage of 61.5. His quarterback rating is 66.3

Croyle, as Cassel's injured left knee continued to mend, hit 16 of 24 for 177 yards and two touchdowns the week before at Baltimore. He threw two touchdown passes and did not throw an interception while compiling a rating of 116.1

"I think when you talk about any of these players, you're talking about a total evaluation, going all the way back to when we first got together as a group," Haley said. "And there's a lot of different things that factor into those decisions. Again, it's a process. It's how they practiced last week, how they practiced the week before, how they prepare, are they studying?"

SHORT SNAPS

NFL: All NFL players have been warned the league's drug-testing program is still in effect despite commissioner Roger Goodell's ruling to delay suspending several players who tested positive for a banned substance.

BIlls: Buffalo signed rookie tackle Jamon Meredith off Green Bay's practice squad to bolster its banged-up offensive line.

Buccaneers: Tampa Bay safety Jermaine Phillips will miss the remainder of the season with a broken left thumb.

Cowboys: Dallas signed running back Chauncey Washington to its practice squad, two days after starter Marion Barber got hurt.

Patriots: New England obtained linebacker Prescott Burgess from the Baltimore Ravens for a conditional seventh-round draft pick.