It has been nearly a decade since the Patriots used a seventh-round draft pick on a USC quarterback who had spent his college career backing up a pair of Heisman winners. Matt Cassel has fond memories of his time in New England, where he blossomed from a college clipboard-holder into a capable NFL quarterback.

But, of course, the league mandates him to say that Sunday will be just another game.

"I'm excited to be playing a good team that historically has been one of the most consistent teams over the last decade," the 32-year-old quarterback said. "It will be a great challenge for us to see where we're at as a team. Like any other game, it's just the next game on the schedule for us."

But believe it or not, the next one will be the first time Cassel plays against his former team, not even in his four years in the AFC with the Chiefs. A hand injury sidelined him when the two teams met in 2011.

Today, Cassel had nothing but nice things to say about the Patriots, and probably rightfully so. He spent three seasons in New England learning from head coach Bill Belichick and star quarterback Tom Brady before Cassel was thrust into the lineup in Week 1 of the 2008 season, when Brady tore his ACL. The Patriots went 11-5 that year — but somehow missed the playoffs. The Chiefs traded for him that offseason and paid him handsomely to be their starting quarterback.

"It's been six years now and I have great, fond memories," Cassel said. "I'm forever grateful for them giving me the start. Coach Belichick and [former Patriots general manager] Scott Pioli and those guys for drafting me, really for somebody who hadn't started a game in college and giving me an opportunity to grow, to learn and I feel very fortunate and blessed that I had that opportunity to do that. It helped me mature into the player that I am today."

Cassel is still buddies with Brady. They're both California guys. They hit the links together in the offseason and their families are friendly. Cassel said he and Brady still talk about every other week.

"We probably won't talk this week, I'm guessing," said Cassel, who called Brady "a great mentor."

Brady taught Cassel a lot of things over those four years together, but Cassel said the biggest ones dealt with how to lead a football team.

Cassel often talks about how he can't get on other guys for making mental mistakes if he is making them, too. He got that from Brady. He remembers one time in Patriots practice when he forgot a motion on a particular play. He still completed the pass, but when he got to the sideline, Brady "got after him pretty good" for forgetting to motion the player.

"The whole point to why he did it, he said, 'Look, you can't be a guy and seen as a leader if you're making mistakes, simple mistakes, on the field. You can't be a guy that goes up and tries to get after somebody else if you're making those mistakes,'" said Cassel, who tossed two touchdown passes against the Rams. "And I thought it was a great point and I've carried that with me wherever I've gone. And just his approach. I think that his approach was tremendous and I really learned a lot from him."