"Watch Derek Anderson at practice, and it's hard to imagine him being uptight during games. He laughs and teases and celebrates like a kid when he wins a throwing contest over his fellow quarterbacks.

Yet, relaxing in games hasn't been easy for him, especially when he's starting, as he will Sunday in Minneapolis against the Vikings.

What Anderson wants to do is enjoy the game and forget its enormity.

"I obviously didn't understand the scale, how big it was until I got here (the NFL)," said the six-year veteran. "It was more of a game to me, more of going out and having fun with my buddies.

"That's what I'm trying to get back to doing, understanding it's just a game and approaching every down that way."

Anderson was benched by coach Ken Whisenhunt after starting, and struggling, in the Cardinals' first four games. He replaced Max Hall in each of the past three games, twice because of injury and once because of performance, and appeared more relaxed.

That's not a coincidence. Whisenhunt joked recently that maybe Anderson would benefit from coming off the bench, but there was an underlying truth in is observation.

"Mariano Rivera," the 6-foot-6-inch Anderson said, smiling. "Bring the big righty out of the 'pen."

There were at least two major factors in Whisenhunt's decision to reinstate Anderson.

First, the offense has shown more life under Anderson than Hall in the past two games. Second, the Cardinals play at Minnesota and Kansas City in the next three weeks, and Whisenhunt believed Anderson was better equipped to succeed in those venues.

"One of the things I considered is that Derek has at least been in situations like that," Whisenhunt said. "Also, I think he's a little bit more in tune with, after having been away as a starter for a couple weeks, what our expectations are."

This is the third quarterback change Whisenhunt has made since the preseason. It started with benching Matt Leinart for Anderson. Then Anderson was replaced by Hall and now Anderson is back again."