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Matt Leinart News & Rumors

Gary Kubiak calls Matt Leinart injury 'difficult'
November 29
Houston Chronicle
 
"Matt Leinart worked hard for a second chance to play quarterback in the NFL. He was 10-of-13 for 57 yards and a touchdown when he suffered a broken collarbone in the 20-13 victory at Jacksonville. "It's just difficult," coach Gary Kubiak said. "He had been to the top of this league from the standpoint of draft status and opportunity (with Arizona). He'd been knocked down in this league. He had been told no. He was making his way back, and you've got to respect that as a person and as a player. He was playing well, and there was no doubt in my mind he was going to do good things with this team. We all hurt for him. He's a young man, 28, and we'll get him healed up, and don't be surprised to"
Backup QB Matt Leinart suffers season-ending injury in Texans' 20-13 victory
November 28
Houston Chronicle
 
"Texans quarterback Matt Leinart is out for the season with a broken left collarbone — the same injury he suffered in 2007, his second season at Arizona — according to people familiar with the injury. Rookie T.J. Yates, a fifth-round pick from North Carolina, will start the rest of the season. And his first start is against Atlanta. He's from suburban Atlanta. The Texans have to find out if Kellen Clemens can be the backup quarterback. They'll have to sign a third quarterback. Last week, when Matt Schaub was placed on injured reserve, the Texans worked out Clemens, Brodie Croyle, Jeff Garcia, Trent Edwards and Chase Clement."
Texans believe lefty Leinart? is right man for the moment
November 25
Houston Chronicle
 
"The equipment managers at Southern Cal stuck a nickname on Matt Leinart early on. They liked to call him "Snake," after Kenny Stabler. With his clean-cut All-American-boy countenance, Leinart hardly bears a physical resemblance to Stabler, whose scruffy silver beard, unruly hair and purported occasional whiskey breath in the huddle became personal trademarks. But like Stabler, Leinart is a lefthander, which is where the Snake thing came from. Now, also like Stabler, he's the starting quarterback for Houston's professional football team. But unlike Stabler, who at 35 took the Oilers' reins in 1980 with his best years in the rearview mirror, Leinart presumably has his prime in front of him."
Schaub frustrated but vows to help Texans, Leinart
November 24
Houston Chronicle
 
"After Matt Schaub undergoes surgery on his right foot next week, Texans coach Gary Kubiak wants the quarterback contributing on the sideline as soon as possible. While he recovers from surgery to repair the Lisfranc injury to his right foot as well as a "couple of other small fractures," Schaub can serve as the team's highest-paid assistant coach and cheerleader. "I'm definitely going to be out there helping. Anything short of having a headset on and calling plays, I'll be out there doing," Schaub said Wednesday after visiting a specialist in North Carolina. Matt Leinart will make his first start at Jacksonville on Sunday. Rookie T.J. Yates will be the backup. Schaub was placed on injured"
Leinart gets his chance to bury his past
November 23
Houston Chronicle
 columnist Richard Justice
"How many people get a true second chance? You're a lucky man, Matt Leinart. He came to the Texans needing to resurrect his career, to show he was capable of working hard and taking care of business. There was some doubt about that after four seasons in Arizona left his NFL career in the ditch. The Texans represented a perfect situation. Far from the pressure that comes with being a first-round franchise savior, he became the backup quarterback on a franchise that prides itself on painting the town beige. Matt Schaub is relentlessly low-key and a workaholic. And let's just say Gary Kubiak won't be the life of your holiday party."
Leinart has already won respect
November 23
Houston Chronicle
 columnist John McClain
"The truth about quarterback Matt Leinart is that no one will know how he's going to play until they see him in action at Jacksonville. In his first start since 2009 and second since 2007, Leinart will have to knock some rust off his left arm. It's almost inconceivable that Leinart will pick up where he left off in 2007, when he began his second season in Arizona with a 3-2 record before breaking his collarbone and opening the door for Kurt Warner's renaissance. Common sense tells us Leinart may struggle against the Jaguars and possibly against Atlanta but that he should improve as he becomes more comfortable in his role as an NFL starter for the second time in his six-year career."
Just another Monday? Not with Leinart in the fold and Johnson back
November 22
Houston Chronicle
 
"The ball arrived on time, and the route was precise. On most days at Methodist Training Center, such a sequence is routine and forgettable, but it was memorable Monday. Under the watchful eyes of Texans owner Bob McNair and Gary Kubiak – both of whom stood at midfield – freshly anointed starting quarterback Matt Leinart uncorked a tight spiral in route to Andre Johnson, who plucked the ball out of the air and turned upfield all in one motion. "No. 80 is back!" shouted running back Arian Foster. Johnson rejoined his teammates Monday, back at full speed after whatwill likely amount to a six-game layoff from a hamstring injury incurred Oct. 2 against Pittsburgh. The All-Pro wide receiver is"
Texans putting their confidence in Leinart
November 21
Houston Chronicle
 
"Without being designated as the team spokesman, tight end Joel Dreessen may have summed up his teammates' feeling about quarterback Matt Leinart and the challenge that confronts him, as well as them, over the last six games. "We've got all the confidence in the world in him," Dreessen said. "I'm not just saying that, either. He's a professional. He's started games in this league. He's led a team. He's been on teams that have been in the playoffs and gone to the Super Bowl, so I think we're in very good hands with Matt." They better be. For the first time since 2008, the Texans are playing without Matt Schaub at quarterback. He's out with an injury to the Lisfranc tendon in his right foot."
Leinart and his teammates think Texans are in good hands
November 16
Houston Chronicle
 
"The most famous and recent cases are Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger. Before those two, however, Jeff Hostetler with the New York Giants was a prime example. And don't forget about what Kurt Warner did in St. Louis. After all, what list of backup quarterbacks assuming the starting role due to injury and improbably leading their teams deep into the playoffs would be complete without the former grocery store stock boy? The mention of Warner is particularly appropriate, given what has transpired this week. After starring with the Rams, the likely future Hall of Famer extended his career with a couple of outstanding seasons in Arizona — at the expense of an inexperienced but touted young"
Leinart coming into a perfect situation
November 16
Houston Chronicle
 columnist John McClain
"For a backup quarterback replacing the starter on a first-place team, Matt Leinart could not ask for a better situation. Because of the Texans' open date, Leinart has two weeks to prepare for the next game at Jacksonville. When Matt Schaub was so banged up before suffering the injury to the Lisfranc joint in his right foot that may cause him to undergo season-ending surgery, Leinart started getting some practice reps with the first team. Leinart gets back Andre Johnson, the NFL's best receiver who has missed the last six games after undergoing surgery on his hamstring."
Texans QB Leinart is his own biggest critic
August 23
Houston Chronicle
 columnist Jerome Solomon
"Just after the Texans' Monday afternoon practice, after he hung around, dripping with sweat, to pose for pictures with armed forces personnel (even the ones who admitted to being Cowboys fans), Matt Leinart took to Twitter with his assessment of Houston's summer weather pattern. He offered a one-word take on the record-setting streak of 22 days with 100-degree temperatures. "Absurd." The Texans' backup quarterback is blunt. Good thing he can take it as well as dish it out. Heavy criticism has come his way after he completed just eight of 18 passes for 69 yards in relief of Matt Schaub this past Saturday against New Orleans. If you were in line to criticize him for his play, however, you"
Under the gun
August 4
Houston Chronicle
 
"T.J.Yates dropped five steps into the pocket, scanning the field of receivers who cut across the hash marks. Seeing the separation between Terrence Toliver and his defender, Yates adjusted his shoulders and released a crisp pass toward the sideline. The football, however, was underthrown, allowing cornerback Sherrick McManis to recover and make the interception. On the next play, Yates fumbled a routine handoff to the running back. The rookie quarterback gathered himself and strung together a series of consecutive completions. "T.J. has shown some very good signs of short-term memory out there," said quarterbacks coach Greg Knapp. "In this business, every quarterback is going to have some"
Leinart agrees to $5.5 million deal with Texans
July 28
Houston Chronicle
 
"The Texans are not guaranteeing quarterback Matt Leinart $3.75 million to be the third-team quarterback for the second consecutive season. By getting Leinart to agree to a two-year contract worth $5.5 million, the Texans have shown they are planning to use him as the backup quarterback behind Matt Schaub. Dan Orlovsky, who has backed up Schaub the last two years, could be the odd man out. The Texans will keep three quarterbacks. T.J. Yates, a fifth-round pick, is expected to be the third-team quarterback if he performs well in camp and preseason. Leinart didn't throw a pass in his one season with the Texans. He signed a one-year deal after Arizona waived him. The Texans' coaches saw enough"
5 Reasons Why Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart Could Reunite
June 20
Bleacher Report
 
"On almost every 2006 NFL Mock Draft, Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush were predicted to go in the top three and most had them going number one and two to Houston and New Orleans respectively. Reggie Bush went second to New Orleans and Leinart went 10th to the Cardinals. Leinart was considered by some to be the biggest steal of the draft. The NFL careers for these two looked extremely bright and prosperous. Fast forward five years. It is now 2011, Leinart has been released from the Arizona Cardinals and in 2010 was a back-up for the Houston Texans where he took zero snaps. Reggie Bush's contract is massive and burdensome for the Saints. Bush currently is not the starter and may not even be the"
Leinart to the Seahawks? Slow your roll
May 13
Seattle Times
 
"It's just one sentence. Seventeen little words that don't even identify who with the Seahawks talked to quarterback Matt Leinart. Nor does it specify when that may have occurred -- something the NFL presumably could be quite interested in. It's not the first time that Leinart has been linked to the Seahawks nor will it be the last given all the uncertainty at the position and the history with that specific player. Leinart played for coach Pete Carroll at USC, won a Heisman Trophy for him in fact, so it's not a stretch to think that both sides might be interested to see if a reunion might rekindle some magic. Two things to note, though: 1) NFL teams can't have contacted free agents"
Leinart passes physical, signs 1-year deal with Texans
September 8
Houston Chronicle
 
"Quarterback Matt Leinart passed his physical with the Texans and signed a one-year contract Tuesday with a base salary of $630,000. Leinart's contract has a maximum value of $1 million. If he's part of the 45-man roster, meaning the backup quarterback and not the third quarterback designation, he can earn $23,125 per game or a maximum of $370,000."
Kubiak's job is to develop adept No. 2
September 7
Houston Chronicle
 columnist Jerome Solomon
"Before the 2006 NFL draft, Gary Kubiak said Matt Leinart was "definitely a franchise quarterback and one of the best players in this draft." The Texans coach didn't imagine that 4½ years later his team would sign the washout lefthander with the meager desire that he be better than Dan Orlovsky. Heck, at the time, Kubiak had just signed off on David Carr being a Super Bowl-caliber, franchise signal-caller, with the right talent around him. (The 1975 Steelers perhaps? Because the '85 Bears wouldn't have been good enough.) Still, Kubiak is one of the best at developing players at the most important position in football. Of course, it takes only a couple of successes to move into the top tier."
A 'new start' for Leinart
September 7
Houston Chronicle
 
"One of the reasons quarterback Matt Leinart signed with the Texans is because he wants to be coached by Gary Kubiak. While Texans general manager Rick Smith and agent Tom Condon were agreeing on a one-year contract Monday, Leinart was being wooed long distance by Kubiak. "I'm excited for this opportunity," Leinart said after arriving in Houston on Monday night. "I'm looking for a new start. Obviously, things didn't go the way I wanted (at Arizona), but it's time to move on. "The Texans are a great organization, and I'm really looking forward to working with coach Kubiak." Kubiak, a backup during his nine-year career with Denver, likes working with quarterbacks. He called Leinart and talked"
Texans sign QB Leinart to one-year deal
September 6
Houston Chronicle
 
"Matt Leinart will come to Houston today to sign a one-year contract to be the third quarterback behind Matt Schaub and Dan Orlovsky. General manager Rick Smith and agent Tom Condon reached an agreement early this morning. Leinart, placed on waivers by Arizona last week, will practice with his new teammates for the first time Wednesday when they continue preparations for Sunday’s opener against Indianapolis at Reliant Stadium. Smith and coach Gary Kubiak elected to pursue Leinart rather than sign quarterback John David Booty to the practice squad. Until Leinart became available, the Texans intended to add Booty to the practice squad and go with two quarterbacks on the regular roster. Booty"
Matt Leinart still unsigned, team adds 3 players
September 6
Arizona Republic
 
"Former Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart remained without an employer Sunday, and his former team was awarded waiver claims on two defensive players. The Cardinals added outside linebacker Cyril Obiozor, who was waived by the Green Bay Packers this week, and cornerback Brandon McDonald, who was released by the Cleveland Browns. The Cardinals also claimed fullback Jerome Johnson, cut this week by the New York Giants. The 25-year-old was cut last year by the St. Louis Rams and signed with the Giants in January. He is 6 feet 1 and 265 pounds, and he played at Nevada. It's unknown what moves the Cardinals made to create room on the roster for the three new players, but according to an"
Bengals making a run at Leinart
September 6
Cincinnati Enquirer
 
"The tinkering with the roster is far from done, especially when it comes to looking at backup quarterbacks. Per multiple league sources, the Bengals are one of five teams who are in the running for former Arizona QB Matt Leinart. The others who have expressed interest are others that have some backup problems as well — Houston, Buffalo, New Orleans and Jacksonville. For those thinking that Seattle was a logical landing spot, Clark Judge of CBSsports.com is reporting that the Seahawks do not have any interest."
Texans express interest in free agent QB Matt Leinart
September 6
Houston Chronicle
 
"The Texans are one of the teams interested in Matt Leinart and could end up signing him if reports are true that Seattle isn't interested in the former Arizona quarterback, who was placed on waivers Friday. On a day in which they made three roster moves and signed seven players to their practice squad, the Texans decided they are interested in Leinart, 27, according to NFL people familiar with the situation. The lefthanded Leinart (6-5, 232) is free to negotiate with any team. If the Texans sign him, he will join a team that has Matt Schaub as the starter and Dan Orlovsky as the backup. On Sunday, the Texans didn't re-sign quarterback John David Booty to the regular roster or sign him to"
Arizona Cardinals release Matt Leinart
September 5
Arizona Republic
 
"When the Cardinals drafted Matt Leinart in 2006, coach Dennis Green called him "a gift from heaven." Just more than four years later, the Cardinals re-gifted. The divorce between Leinart and the Cardinals became official Saturday morning, and only time will judge if it's the best thing for both sides, as they believe. The Cardinals move on with Derek Anderson as their starter, rookie Max Hall as the backup and rookie John Skelton as No. 3. Leinart moves on to parts unknown. A free agent, he can sign with any team, and there is considerable speculation, but no evidence, that he will sign with the Seahawks and his former college coach, Pete Carroll. "In fairness to Matt, I think it would be"
Matt Leinart awaiting fate with Arizona Cardinals
September 4
Arizona Republic
 
"The Cardinals made 19 roster moves Friday but the biggest one is likely to come Saturday by 3 p.m., when NFL teams have to reach the 53-player limit. The Cardinals have three spots to clear, and it will be a surprise if Matt Leinart is not among them. The Cardinals are continuing efforts to trade Leinart and saw no reason to part with him Friday, a day before the roster deadline. It's possible, but unlikely, the Cardinals could keep four quarterbacks. If they can't trade Leinart, he likely will be released. When talking about Leinart on Thursday, coach Ken Whisenhunt chose his words carefully, saying he had a meeting with Leinart earlier in the day but preferred to keep the details"
Kurt Warner leaves Arizona Cardinals' Matt Leinart a final lesson
September 3
Arizona Republic
 columnist Dan Bickley
"Kurt Warner is off dancing with the stars. After six hours of inaugural training, he was free of blisters but headed straight for the ice tub. Clearly, the quarterback dilemma in Arizona is somebody else's problem. But he feels for his former teammate. And on his way to conquering Hollywood, the best quarterback in Cardinals history has one final lesson for Matt Leinart, the sullen protege: "The one thing I hope Matt takes from my situation, if we talk through this, is that, hey, it happened to me, and it happened more than once," Warner said. "The only thing I knew how to do was to fight, prepare and work. And every time, I came out on top." It's true. Warner lost his job in St. Louis,"
Report: New York Giants one of three teams to talk to Cardinals about disgruntled QB Matt Leinart
September 2
New York Daily News
 
"The Giants are one of three teams to have contacted the Arizona Cardinals about a possible trade for disgruntled quarterback Matt Leinart, according to a report from ESPN. Leinart, 27, a former first round NFL draft pick and Heisman Trophy winner at USC, has declared no interest in being a backup in the NFL. If he were to start, it would not seem to be with the Cardinals as Derek Anderson, who was released in the offseason by the Browns, has been designated to top the depth chart in the pre-season finale. Buffalo and Oakland have also been in touch with Arizona. Leinart's base salary is for more than $10 million the next two seasons. He started the first 11 games of his rookie season in"
Leinart's Available, But Buyers Are Scarce
September 2
New York Times
 columnist Judy Battista
"The Arizona Cardinals have begun calling teams with quarterback needs to gauge interest in Matt Leinart, the former first-round pick and Heisman Trophy winner at Southern California who has repeatedly failed to seize the Cardinals' starting job. Leinart appears to have been supplanted by Derek Anderson, who was released by the Cleveland Browns in the off-season. Among the teams the Cardinals called were the Giants, who need an experienced backup for Eli Manning after putting Jim Sorgi on season-ending injured reserve Tuesday. Talks with the Giants did not go far, though, according to a person with knowledge of the talks. The Giants have no real interest in Leinart, who has made clear in"
Arizona Cardinals open to trading Matt Leinart, Reggie Wells
September 2
Arizona Republic
 
"It has been a week since Ken Whisenhunt benched quarterback Matt Leinart, prompting the same questions to spin like the seams of a football thrown far downfield. What do the Cardinals do with Leinart? Keep him as a backup? Try to trade him? Release him by Saturday, when teams have to trim rosters from 75 to 53? The Cardinals are considering all three options, according to NFL sources, who confirmed a Foxsports.com report that the Cardinals have called other clubs to gauge trade interest in Leinart. The Cardinals might provide a hint of their intentions Thursday night in Glendale when they play the Washington Redskins in the final preseason game. If Leinart doesn't play, that could indicate"
Cardinals open to trading Matt Leinart, Reggie Wells
September 1
Arizona Republic
 
"It's been a week since Ken Whisenhunt benched quarterback Matt Leinart, prompting the same questions to spin like the seams of a football thrown far downfield. What do the Arizona Cardinals do with Leinart? Keep him as a backup? Try to trade him? Release him by Saturday, when teams have to trim rosters from 75 to 53? The Cardinals are considering all three options, according to NFL sources, who confirmed a Foxsports.com report that Cardinals have called other clubs to gauge trade interest in Leinart. The Cardinals might provide a hint of their intentions Thursday night in Glendale when they play the Washington Redskins in the final preseason game. If Leinart doesn't play, that could"
Leinart to Giants? Forget it
September 1
New York Post
 
"Tom Coughlin will jump in a hot tub with Tiki Barber before Matt Leinart comes to the Giants to serve as backup quarterback to Eli Manning. Ignore reports that the Giants have discussed with the Cardinals trading for Leinart. Not happening. Sure, the Giants are searching for a veteran quarterback to possibly sign to serve as Manning's caddy now that Jim Sorgi is gone for the season with a shoulder injury, leaving only Rhett Bomar in reserve. But Leinart, according to those in the know, is not a consideration for the Giants. Leinart had suddenly become available and the Cardinals want to drum up interest for him, which will be difficult to do, given the bloated salary ($2.5 million)"
Giants Interested in Leinart
September 1
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting that the New York Giants are among three teams talking with the Arizona Cardinals about Matt Leinart. For more information about what is causing the Cardinals to shop Leinart, ESPN's NFC West Blogger Mike Sando has a has a good article about the situation. I am not surprised by this development at all. I figured that Reese would look into Leinart. I would not be opposed to them picking Leinart up as long as it doesn't cost more than a late round draft pick. However, if the Cardinal's are looking for a mid to low round pick I would pass on Leinart."
Bills, Raiders and Giants have discussed trading for Matt Leinart
September 1
ESPN.com
 
"The Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders and New York Giants have had discussions about trading for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart, league sources tell ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Leinart and the Cardinals are tiring of each other and as each day passes, many believe a trade of Leinart, who is unhappy that he's not starting, is more and more likely with roster moves coming this weekend, sources said. And an executive for an unidentified team told ESPN.com's Mike Sando that the Cardinals were calling around, trying to gauge the market for Leinart. Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt has decided to start Derek Anderson instead of Leinart in Thursday's preseason finale -- the second"
Cardinals shopping Leinart
September 1
Foxsports.com
 
"Matt Leinart's days in Arizona may be numbered. The Arizona Cardinals have been calling around the league trying to trade their former first-round draft pick, FOXSports.com has learned. Several teams have confirmed that they have received calls and e-mails from the Cardinals regarding his services, but it is not yet clear what sort of compensation that Arizona is seeking. Leinart lost his starting quarterback job this preseason to Derek Anderson. After his demotion to the second string, Leinart said, "I think this goes beyond the football field. "I've done everything they've asked of me and more – outplayed the competition in training camp and preseason." "Obviously there's something"
Cardinals QB Derek Anderson picked to start vs. Redskins
September 1
Arizona Republic
 
"Derek Anderson will remain the Cardinals' starting quarterback. And it could last well beyond the team's fourth and final preseason game Thursday night against the visiting Washington Redskins. Head coach Ken Whisenhunt said Anderson will start that game, with Matt Leinart coming in at some point to replace him, just like last week's game in Chicago against the Bears. "It worked for us then, so we'll see if it continues to work for us," Whisenhunt said Tuesday. Neither quarterback is expected to see extended playing time, however. Rookies Max Hall and John Skelton will take most of the snaps. As for Leinart, whose demotion has become national news, Whisenhunt confirmed he met with the"
Matt Leinart questions reasons for demotion
August 31
Arizona Republic
 
"Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart exercised some diplomacy last week when talking about being made a former starter. On Monday, however, Leinart didn't hold back, saying he must have lost his job to Derek Anderson for reasons other than performance "I feel like I've outplayed the competition, training camp, preseason," he said. "I think my play speaks about that. For me, this goes beyond the football field. "The philosophy is you want the best 11 guys to play. I feel like I've proved that with my performance. I don't really know what else I could possibly do, so it probably goes beyond football. For me, I just really want an explanation, and I haven't been given one." Leinart said just"
Arizona Cardinals' Matt Leinart vs. Derek Anderson: Valley gets another QB controversy
August 30
Arizona Republic
 
"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"
Arizona Cardinals players stay out of Derek Anderson - Matt Leinart debate
August 29
Arizona Republic
 
"The Cardinals players voice a clear preference for which quarterback they want to start the regular season: the guy coach Ken Whisenhunt chooses. Players declined to weigh in on the Derek Anderson vs. Matt Leinart debate, repeating the same message enough that it almost sounded like they were reading from a script. "I'm not going to comment on that; that's a no-win situation for me to be in," said receiver Larry Fitzgerald. "We all trust in Coach Whisenhunt's philosophy and expertise. He's led us to two straight playoff seasons . . . so why wouldn't we believe in what he's going to do?" Fitzgerald said he has not given his input into the matter. "I'm just a hired hand, man," he said. "I'm"
Cardinals bench Matt Leinart, will start Derek Anderson at QB Saturday
August 28
Detroit News
 
"Derek Anderson, it's your turn. For how long remains to be determined. The Cardinals quarterback situation is up in the air after coach Ken Whisenhunt decided to shake up a struggling offense and start Anderson over Matt Leinart in the third exhibition, against the Bears tonight. "I realize we're not game planning," Whisenhunt said. "We're not doing a lot so you're going to have some of those situations more so than we'd like to have, but still that would be something we'd look to improve on this week." It's not clear if the move is permanent. Leinart defended himself in an interview with The Arizona Republic on Friday. "I've done everything to this point that they've asked me to and"
Arizona Cardinals' Derek Anderson is new No. 1 QB
August 28
Arizona Republic
 
"The bars around the Cardinals' downtown hotel here are full of musicians playing country songs about lives altered by the decisions of others. Quarterbacks Matt Leinart and Derek Anderson know something about the issue, too, especially after Thursday, when coach Ken Whisenhunt announced that Anderson was replacing Leinart as the starter in Saturday's preseason game against the Bears in Chicago. "I don't think we've performed the way we've needed to perform on offense in the preseason," Whisenhunt said after practice at Vanderbilt University. "And we're just looking at different players at different spots, trying to find a little groove. It's a great opportunity to look at combinations of"
Arizona Cardinals' Matt Leinart 'frustrated, disappointed'
August 28
Arizona Republic
 
"Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt's decision to switch starting quarterbacks for Saturday night's game against the Chicago Bears is designed to ignite a starting offensive unit desperately in need of an accelerant. Maybe starting Derek Anderson will provide the spark. Or maybe the demotion puts a flame to Matt Leinart's pilot light, which critics believe tends to flicker. Leinart certainly sounded motivated Friday morning in his first public comments since learning of the demotion a day earlier. "I'm frustrated and disappointed," said Leinart, who is on the verge of losing the started job twice in four seasons under Whisenhunt. "I've been efficient. I've been accurate. I haven't"
Cardinals' Ken Whisenhunt set to see how changes unfold
August 27
Arizona Republic
 
"There will be some new names among the Cardinals' starting units on Saturday in Chicago, but coach Ken Whisenhunt isn't saying how long the starters will play in the third preseason game. "We're mixing some new guys in," he said. "We're going to see how we play. Obviously, there are a lot of things we're still looking to find out about our team, from a personnel standpoint, from scheme. We'll see how the game unfolds." There will be at least three changes in the starting lineup. Derek Anderson will start instead of Matt Leinart at quarterback. Greg Toler will replace Trumaine McBride at left cornerback, and Daryl Washington will start at inside linebacker instead of Pago Togafau."
Derek Anderson to start against Chicago Bears
August 26
Arizona Republic
 
"Derek Anderson will start at quarterback on Saturday night in Chicago. Coach Ken Whisenhunt said he was disappointed in the offensive production in the first two preseason games. "I don't think we performed the way we want to perform on offense this preseason and we're going to look at a number of different players in different spots," Whisenhunt said. Matt Leinart, who had been the starter, will play the second quarter and start the second half."
Matt Leinart blowing his big chance
August 25
Arizona Republic
 
"Matt Leinart is lost. Not coincidentally, so are the Cardinals. The No. 7 on his jersey represents a number he never produces. He has thrown only one touchdown pass since October 2007, and that came in garbage time against New England, with the Cardinals trailing 47-0. Evidence is piling up that he's not tough enough to handle the position at the NFL level, particularly between the ears. Teammates are losing faith in his ability to effectively replace Kurt Warner. And if things don't improve quickly, the No. 7 also will be the over/under for Cardinals victories in 2010. "I'm a little disappointed in Matt Leinart because, if you think (about it), the club went out five years ago and made"
Young, Leinart set to cross once again on common path
August 20
Nashville City Paper
 
"Forget the notion that there's any sort of rivalry between quarterbacks Vince Young and Matt Leinart. The more appropriate word is empathy. Neither one of the top two signal callers drafted in 2006 made a seamless transition to the NFL. Each was thrown into the fire for a time as rookies only to be put on ice in the seasons that followed. Monday night, though, they will be the starting quarterbacks when the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals meet in a prime-time game at LP Field. "I'm excited for him," Young said Thursday. "It's his turn. He's been waiting and I know how he feels." Young (the third overall selection in 2006) helped ignite the Titans' run to respectability in 2006"
Time to let Arizona Cardinals' Matt Leinart live in the present
August 1
Arizona Republic
 
"It's time for everyone - fans, teammates and even the Cardinals quarterback himself - to let Matt Leinart live in the present. He has served his penance, awaited his chance in a purgatory defined by a metal sideline bench. The sooner this mutual acceptance takes shape, the better his chances of leading the Cardinals to a third consecutive NFC West title. This is a different team. While Leinart was taking snaps on the Northern Arizona campus Saturday afternoon, it was nighttime in Italy, where a vacationing Kurt Warner was likely sawing tronchi in an Italian pensione. Gone, too, are Anquan Boldin, Karlos Dansby and Antrel Rolle. "I'm just excited to play," Leinart said. "It's been a long"
Wait is over for Matt Leinart, but is he ready to be Cards' No. 1?
July 23
USA Today
 
"For Matt Leinart, the wait is over. "It is just fun. I am excited. It has been a long time," Leinart, entering his fifth season as a quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, said after an offseason practice. When Kurt Warner retired in January, he took his 208 career touchdown passes, 32,344 passing yards and various Super Bowl passing records with him. Enter Leinart, who figured to be entrenched as the team's starter by now after being drafted with the 10th overall pick of the 2006 draft. He came into the NFL as a Heisman Trophy winner from Southern California, with all the glitz and glamour that entails. But now Leinart has to prove himself in the NFL, just as Warner did when he was"
Matt Leinart is Arizona Cardinals' best bet at quarterback
June 8
Arizona Republic
 
"From Bidwills to ball boys, everyone connected with the Cardinals has heard the same question thousands of times this off-season: Is quarterback Matt Leinart any good? Opinions vary about Leinart, perhaps the most-polarizing figure in Arizona sports. Those who dislike him point to a "Hollywood" lifestyle, beer-bong photos and poor performances as Kurt Warner's backup last year. Those who like Leinart point to his improvement in 2007 before suffering an injury, his maturation off the field, and that the Cardinals should have beaten Tennessee in Leinart's only start last season. The real answer is that no one knows yet, for sure, whether Leinart can play. If the Cardinals did, they long ago"
Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart deserves fresh eye
April 1
Arizona Republic
 
"There are five months until the Cardinals' season opener and Matt Leinart is calling from the hot tub. Relax. This visit is about muscular therapy, about treating a body that is pushing the limits to prepare for the role of NFL starting quarterback. Leinart's voice reveals a contentment that speaks of both confidence and presence, a reminder that it is time for all of us to look at Leinart with a fresh eye. We know now - after Kurt Warner's late-career revival - that there is no shame in losing your job to a future Hall of Fame quarterback. At the time it seemed much worse, especially because the story line was muddled by tangible evidence that suggested Leinart lacked the singular focus"
Arizona Cardinals vs. Tennessee Titans highlights NFL preseason schedule
April 1
Arizona Republic
 
"The intertwining careers of Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart and Titans quarterback Vince Young apparently still form an intriguing story line, at least by NFL preseason standards. A Monday night game between the Cardinals and Titans highlights the Cardinals preseason schedule, announced Wednesday. It's a rematch of a game last year, in which Young directed a 99-yard scoring drive that won the game in the final minutes. It was Leinart's only start of the year for the Cardinals and his most impressive performance of the season. Leinart has had a difficult time beating Young. Southern California, led by Leinart, lost the national championship game to Texas in the 2006 Rose Bowl. A few"