[KC Chiefs.com] Seventy-two hours after Eric Winston touched off a storm when he was critical of Chiefs fans who may have cheered the injury to quarterback Matt Cassel, chairman Clark Hunt issued a statement in their defense.

“Over the last few days, there has been a lot of talk about our fans, and I feel like it’s important to set the record straight,” the statement reads.

“I know our fans. They are passionate, hardworking, loyal, educated football fans, and they are the heart and soul of the Arrowhead experience. They know cheering an injury to anyone in any stadium is unacceptable.

“I want to make it perfectly clear:

“A small few who may have cheered when Matt went down do not accurately represent the best fans in the National Football League. Period.”

Some fans cheered while Cassel was down on the field last Sunday with a concussion but it’s unclear whether they were cheering for Cassel’s injury or the fact Brady Quinn was on the field and preparing to replace Cassel.