Leinart retakes reins from retired Warner
The Arizona Cardinals have added veteran quarterback Derek Anderson to their roster, but head coach Ken Whisenhunt insists that their former first-round pick, Matt Leinart is odds-on favorite to win the starting gig.
The Cardinals signed Anderson, the former Cleveland Browns quarterback, for assurance purposes and agreed to a two-year contract worth $7.25 million, a source told ESPN.com.
Whisenhunt told ESPN that “he [Leinart] knows he’s the guy. He’s the one everybody is looking at.”
Leinart, who was drafted with the 10th overall pick of the 2006 draft, figured to be the starter in the near-future, but inconsistency on the football field allowed Kurt Warner to take the reins in Arizona and revive his career in the process.
Leinart lost his starting job in 2007 to a gray-bearded Warner and watched the veteran lead the Cardinals into the playoffs in 2008 and 2009.
When Warner retired in January, he took his 208 career touchdown passes, his 32,344 passing yards and various Super Bowl appearances along with him.
Unfulfilled potential
When Leinart first entered the NFL, he came into the league as a Heisman Trophy winner, an annual award given to the most outstanding player in collegiate football, and a lot to learn in the professional rankings.
Now, a more mature Leinart finally gets another crack at starting under centre, entering his fifth season as a quarterback for Arizona.
“I have prepared very hard behind the scenes and just kind of paid my dues and waited for this opportunity to come,” said Leinart. “Now that it is here, I think I have done everything to prepare myself for this opportunity...but I have to keep the foot on the pedal.”
Surely Leinart enters the 2010 season with a lot to prove and the weight of his predecessor’s success over the last two years, which saw Warner lead Arizona to division titles and a Super Bowl appearance, while Leinart sat and played cheerleader on the bench.
“It was hard…having a starter’s mentality and knowing that I can play despite what everyone says, just knowing that once I get the opportunity I can do it,” Leinart said. “So you just kind of have to bite your tongue.”
No question that he is eager to start anew as the number one quarterback and understands what is needed form him for this team to have the same success it did when Warner was at the helm.
“You have to be a great leader, said Leinart. Kurt was more of a leader by example. He definitely voiced his opinion when need be, but he wasn’t a rah-rah guy. He just did his job, and people respected him because of what he accomplished.”
At 27, Leinart will be competing against Warner’s legacy as well as opposing teams on Sundays.
How much leash with Leinart get?
Leinart will be without the services of wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who was traded to the Baltimore Ravens, but still has options in Pro Bowl receiver in Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston.
If Leinart struggles, which may very well be the case, Anderson will be his replacement. But Anderson, who was released from the Browns due to his up-and-down performances, understands that he is plan B.
“It was understood to me that I was going to be the No. 2 and come in and compete and do what I’ve done over my career,” Anderson said. “Obviously, my job will be to push Matt and make him better, too.”
But Lienart’s leash won’t be too short as he has earned the right to be the guy to lead this team moving forward unless he plays himself out of the starting role.
“I can’t stop now. I just have to keep going.”
Tags: