Is Matt Leinart Really the QB in Waiting?

Matt Leinart was drafted in 2006 with the 10 th selection overall. In 2006 the Cardinals started off with Kurt Warner as their quarterback. But after a 1-3 start to the season the Matt Leinart era began. In Leinart’s first start he threw for 253 yards 2 touchdowns and an interception in a Cardinals loss. It took Leinart six games to finally get his first win in the NFL. Matt Leinart’s best game passing wise was against the Vikings where he threw for over 400 yards, but threw 2 picks in a losing effort. He then sprained his shoulder in the second to last game and missed the final game due to that injury. In the 2007 season he began the year as the starter, but played very poorly and started to rotate with Kurt Warner. Then in a game against the St. Louis Rams, Leinart fracture his collarbone on a hit by Will Witherspoon. That was the last game that Leinart would start for the Cardinals.

Leinart has had a lackluster career so far in the NFL, which leaves the question “Are the Cardinals comfortable with him at quarterback once Warner retires?” He has a career completion percentage of 55%, more interceptions than touchdowns, and a losing record. The Cardinals are coming off their biggest season as a franchise making it all the way to the superbowl, but could they return there with Leinart at the helm? I’m thinking the answer is no. With the team battling its players that want more money they are bound to lose some of them and Leinart will need all the good players he can get. To coin a phrase from Bill Parcells Matt Leinart is a “satellite player.” He works well with other great players surrounding him like at USC.

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He is determined to make himself better physically which is why he has started to train in MMA. Training in MMA will make his footwork, concentration, strength, and conditioning better so he’ll be able to last an entire NFL season. Hopefully Leinart has learned the information given to him by Kurt Warner so that when Warner is long gone, Matt will be able to make his NFL career a successful one.

By A.J. Lundgaard
ProFootball-fans.com Arizona Cardinals Correspondent