"Remember when Sam Keller and Rudy Carpenter were involved in that quarterback controversy at Arizona State and then-coach Dirk Koetter pulled that mind-boggling last-second switcheroo?

Admit it. No matter which side of that controversy you fell on, it was juicy stuff.

Everybody loves a good quarterback controversy, and Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt gave us a beauty when he named Derek Anderson to start ahead of Matt Leinart in Chicago last week.

Fortunately, nothing really has been decided yet, so the competition and the conversation continues heading into Thursday's preseason finale against the Redskins. Heck, this competition over who is going to keep the seat warm for Max Hall might just carry into the regular season.

Bless you, Whiz.

Anyway, it's all about putting seven points on the board. So, The Heat Index gives you seven points for . . .

Matt Leinart

• Once threw for an NFL rookie-record 405 yards against the Minnesota Vikings, so it's in him somewhere.

• OK, maybe Leinart doesn't have Anderson's starting experience or a Pro Bowl on his resume.

However, he hasn't completed 44.9 percent of his attempts with three touchdowns to 10 interceptions and a dismal passer rating of 42.1 (which were Anderson's numbers last year), either.

• Leinart doesn't have a big arm and is too quick to check down. But he's accurate on the short- and mid-range stuff. And if the offensive line can't keep defenders off whichever quarterback is in the pocket, nobody is getting the ball deep.

• Brings added prestige of being a Heisman Trophy winner. You know, assuming Southern California doesn't decide to send that one back, too.

• Whisenhunt has said that his decision won't be made strictly on statistics, but also chemistry. This is Leinart's fifth NFL season. If he hasn't formed a bond with his teammates by now, he's never going to.

• The Cardinals have invested a lot of money and time, not to mention a top-10 draft pick, on the guy. It's time for the payoff.

• Hey, just because a guy has a shady, playboy past and hasn't accomplished anything since college doesn't mean he can't be successful with the proper backing. Just ask Ben Quayle."