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Matt Leinart #7 | Quarterback | Arizona Cardinals
Height: 6-5    Weight: 224    Born: May 11, 1983, Santa Ana, CA

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Newsbreakers
September 1, 2008
Matt Leinart is working hard after losing to Kurt Warner for the starting job at quarterback, according to the AP. Leinart said, "It was tough to take because we’re all competitors and we all want to play. But it did push me. It did make me a better quarterback and I’m going to keep on getting better. I know my opportunity will come sooner or later."

Our View:Warner won the starting gig but is 37-year's old and has not played a full 16-game slate since 2001 (with St. Louis), and it is only a matter of time before Leinart is back under center for the Cardinals.
August 30, 2008
It appeared the decision was made, but after putting an impressive performance on the table in the Cardinals' final preseason game of the year, quarterback Matt Leinart has regained consideration for the job, according to the Associated Press. Leinart was 10-of-14 in throwing for 177 yards and a touchdown during the second quarter of the team's 28-14 loss to Denver.

Our View:Following the game, coach Ken Whisenhunt said a final decision has not been made and that task of determining who was the arm for the starting job in Week 1 would be difficult. All indications point to veteran Kurt Warner, but it seems Whisenhunt might be carrying a short leash for the man that does get the job. Leinart's struggles have been well documented and the noteworthy lack of progress since being drafted has many marking 2008 as his make-or-break opportunity. He may have made the case to continue his trial into the regular season. We'll keep you posted as news comes forth.
August 26, 2008
Coach Ken Whisenhunt has yet to decide whether Matt Leinart or Kurt Warner will start Friday's preseason finale, according to the Arizona Republic. The starters are expected to play only two series, so the No. 2 quarterback on Friday will play some behind the backup offensive line.

Our View:It's a fairly safe bet at this point that Warner is the likely starter. Of course, if Leinart has a nice game Friday, that could change. Stay tuned.
August 25, 2008
Matt Leinart has held on to the starting quarterback job for the time being, despite reports to the contrary, according to the Arizona Republic.

Our View:Head coach Ken Whisenhunt says that he is still evaluating things, but had a meeting with Leinart to ensure him he never proclaimed Warner the starter.
August 24, 2008
Matt Leinart had a horrid night Saturday in the Cardinals' third preseason game, completing just 4-of-12 passes for 24 yards while getting picked up three times by the Raiders.

Our View:We wouldn't be surprised at all if at this point coach Ken Whisenhunt shifts gears and goes with Kurt Warner as his starting quarterback.
August 17, 2008
While the Cardinals progress through the preseason standing by Matt Leinart as their likely starting quarterback, the competition of last year is starting to come to fruition once again as veteran Kurt Warner is starting to garner support from members of the team as the man who should be starting behind center, according to AZCentral.com.

Our View:Coach Ken Whisenhunt awarded the start in the team's second preseason game to Warner, indicating the competition to start is wide open. It is hard to imagine the Cards would ask Leinart to carry the clipboard once again, but thus far the young option has not given too many indications that he is up to the challenge, struggling in his preseason work and reportedly fighting to find comfort on the field. Until Week 1 is here, the question is likely to remain open. We'll keep you posted.
August 12, 2008
Matt Leinart is expected to stay in games when the Cardinals are in the red zone this season, according to the East Valley Tribune. Coach Ken Whisenhunt said Leinart is "much better this year" in terms of changing plays at the line.

Our View:Last year Kurt Warner, even when he was backing up Leinart, came in when the Cardinals had a goal-line situation. This year, indications are that Leinart will be in the game no matter where the offense has the ball.
August 7, 2008
Matt Leinart completed seven of his eight pass attempts for 91 yards as Arizona lost to the New Orleans Saints.

Our View:Leinart looked sharp, and did nothing to dispel the notion he would be the starter in Week 1. Fantasy owners may want to take a gamble on him, because it could pay big dividends if he establishes a rapport with his talented receiving corps.
August 7, 2008
Matt Leinart is going to start tonight's preseason game against the Saints, according to the East Valley Tribune. He is likely to see 15-20 plays, along with the rest of the first-team offense. Ken Whisenhunt said (regarding the starters), "Hopefully, we’ll get some good work out of them and have a couple good drives, and we can start looking at the younger guys." He added, "If we do well, move the ball and decide to keep the line in there just a little bit longer, then Kurt Warner will play. It’s really going to be dictated by how the game goes."

Our View:Leinart hasn't played since the fifth game of last season, and Whisenhunt wants to make sure he gets a good number of plays. The competition at quarternack between Leinart and Warner remains very close.
August 3, 2008
With one week in the books, the Cardinals quarterback competition is "close", according to the Arizona Republic.

Our View:Kent Summers, the source of this report and a trusted name in NFL circles, says that both Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner have had their ups and downs early on with neither signal caller distancing himself from the other. Leinart appears to be the slight favorite, but Warner would likely produce better numbers.
July 30, 2008
Recent praise for Arizona passer Matt Leinart came from coach Ken Whisenhunt during OTAs, and Leinart now reports he feels he is improving as well, according to the East Valley Tribune. The Trib quotes Leinart, when asked about his progress, as stating, "I know at this point last year, I had no clue. A little bit, but really had no clue what was going on. This year, I feel like I do. I have a command of the offense.”

Our View:Fantasy owners hope this to be true, for Leinart was nothing short of disappointing as a rookie. The hope (especially for those in keeper leagues) is to see this translate to the regular season, so keep an eye on Leinart as he hits the field in preseason action. The team has already named him as the starter for Game #1, so you'll get an early chance for review.
June 26, 2008
Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt praised the offseason work of Matt Leinart, according to azcardinals.com. The second-year coach was pleased with Leinart's physical and mental progress, saying, "The thing I really like is you see confidence in him on the field because he is more comfortable with the system and when he steps into the huddle and calls the plays there is a different presence about him now."

Our View:Leinart has yet to prove he can be a quality starter in the NFL, so his third year in the league is an important one.
June 20, 2008
Coach Ken Whisenhunt has noted that Matt Leinart needs to improve his footwork, according to USA Today. Whisenhunt said, "What he was doing last year was crossing over his first step and not getting away from the center, and that creates situations on a five-step drop where he is not nine yards deep, or he is not far enough behind the line of scrimmage. He wasn't getting far enough from the line of scrimmage, which makes it difficult protection-wise, makes it difficult for timing of routes."

Our View:Leinart is the starter heading into training camp, and Leinart noted that it is time to prove himself. Whisenhunt has him pointed in the right direction, and has no doubt that Leinart wants to be among the best quarterbacks in the league.
June 12, 2008
Head coach Ken Whisenhunt was asked if there is a plan to resurrect the dual-quarterback scheme from last year. And while he didn’t totally rule it out, he did comment that quarterback Matt Leinart is much more comfortable in the two-minute drill, no huddle and goal line packages this offseason, according to the Arizona Republic.

Our View:Whisenhunt has consistently stated that Leinart will be his starter this season, but after last years rotating quarterback scenario there is always room for some doubt. We consider Leinart a fantasy backup this year, but he certainly possesses upside potential considering the quality targets in the Cardinals receiver corps.
June 1, 2008
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic is reporting that Matt Leinart is the starter in name, but his hold on the job is tenuous. The report notes that in the Cardinals voluntary practice last Thursday Kurt Warner took most of the snaps with the first-team offense while Leinart guided the second unit.

Our View:Somers obviously has nothing to write about. According to Rototimes sources head coach Ken Whisenhunt said that Leinart remains the starter and that if OTA's determined depth chart status then rookies and first year players would dominate the veterans that rarely attend, voluntary or not. Warner has durability issues, his arm strength is not what it once was, and he isn't the future in Arizona... he's the backup.
May 4, 2008
Coach Ken Whisenhunt says Matt Leinart handled the offense well and looked confident during the weekend minicamp, the team's official web site reports. Leinart has already been named the starter for 2008, and he is coming off a broken left collarbone.

Our View:We already knew Leinart's shoulder felt good enough to party, but throwing footballs is a different thing. We're still waiting to see how he looks when taking hits. This is a good start, though.
April 2, 2008
Ken Whisenhunt said he was “disappointed” in quarterback Matt Leinart after Internet photos surfaced of the quarterback partying at his Chandler-area home over the weekend, according to the East Valley Tribune. One of the photos showed Leinart holding a beer bong while a woman drank from the other end. “Matt called me Monday morning and we spoke for a while,” Whisenhunt said in a statement from the NFL owners meetings in Florida. “I reiterated to him the type of behavior that we expect at all times from our players. He understands that as well as the level of scrutiny that he’s under because of who he is. I was disappointed but at the same time have no doubts about his commitment to this football team or his ability to lead it.” Leinart’s off-the-field activities have been a concern for the Cardinals, who selected him with the 10th overall pick in the 2006 draft. Nevertheless, Whisenhunt named Leinart the starting quarterback for the 2008 season even though he missed much of last year with a broken collarbone.
March 26, 2008
A lump of bone is still noticeable near quarterback Matt Leinart’s neck, the remnants of the quarterback’s broken collarbone suffered last season, but he showed up this week for the beginning of the Arizona Cardinals offseason strength and conditioning program, according to AZCardinals.com. Leinart said he would definitely participate in all of the team’s offseason work. “I wouldn’t say I am 100 percent but I feel great,” Leinart said. “I have been throwing 100 percent. “I think with the bone still mending and healing, it will probably take all summer, but I am good to go. I don’t have to take a hit until August so I still have four months to keep getting stronger.” The Cardinals still only have two quarterbacks on the roster with Leinart and Kurt Warner. The team may bring back Tim Hasselbeck; it is unlikely they will try to re-sign Tim Rattay. There is a possibility the Cards take a quarterback in the draft, although it likely wouldn’t be until the later rounds.
March 24, 2008
Matt Leinart has stepped up his throwing regimen, and it appears he'll be ready to participate in mini-camps beginning in May, according to USA Today. Leinart, who has been throwing a few days a week with receiver Larry Fitzgerald, is happy with the rehab of his fractured left collarbone and anticipates being able to fully participate in offseason camps and workouts.
February 6, 2008
While there was a report last week that Matt Leinart was going to meet with Dr. James Andrews about a knee problem, sources tell the Arizona Republic that Leinart is healthy and has no knee problems. Leinart is also happy with the rehab of his fractured left collarbone and anticipates being able to fully participate in offseason camps and workouts. Leinart enters training camp as the Cardinals' starting quarterback and still has plenty of upside, but there are those that believe the team would be better off with veteran Kurt Warner under center. Time will tell.
February 4, 2008
The Arizona Republic reports that Matt Leinart is going to consult with renowned Dr. James Andrews of Birmingham, Ala., about some soreness in his knee. An MRI revealed no structural problems but Andrews is going to take a look. Trips to see Andrews are rarely a good thing, but even if Leinart has a problem he's got plenty of time to heal up before training camp starts in July. He'll enter camp as the Cardinals' starting quarterback, but the resurgent Kurt Warner will be ready and waiting at the first sign of trouble.
January 2, 2008
Matt Leinart is considered the Cardinals starting QB entering the offseason, according to the Arizona Republic. Leinart had a messy second year, compiling a 61.9 rating over 112 pass attempts, then landing on injured reserve in early October. Meanwhile, the Arizona offense was far more electric with Kurt Warner at the controls. No matter what the team declares on this position battle right now, we have to assume both players will get a chance to make a run at next year's starting spot. Keep in mind Ken Whisenhunt isn't afraid to use both players in the same game, something he did a lot in the first quarter of 2007.

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