20 Under Pressure : Article

[Gee!]

I cant believe he said this.. They are just blatanly making **** up now about Matt.. He's more mentally fragile than Vince Young? The same Vince Young that was rolling around with a gun to shoot himself? The same Vince Young that started a brawl in the back of a strip club because someone said the Longhorns sucked? Or even Cutler and his pouting on the bench or pouting his way out of Denver because they mentioned his name in a trade rumor? Really? Unbelievable..

14. Arizona Cardinals QB Matt Leinart

Here’s something really troubling to consider: All three of the quarterbacks taken in the top 11 picks of the 2006 draft are on this list. That means that four years into their respective careers, none has firmly established himself. Leinart, the guy many thought was the most prepared, has done the least to cement his future. In fact, there are plenty of people who think he’s the most mentally fragile of the group, lacking in toughness and leadership. This is a huge year for Leinart because his contract takes a major turn north after this season. If he’s not at least a Pro Bowl alternate, he’s going to be on the street after this season. Bank on it.

And heres some Antrel Rolle on the list..

6. New York Giants FS Antrel Rolle

After a season of awful play from the secondary, the Giants gave Rolle a reported five-year, $37 million contract, including $15 million guaranteed. That makes him one of the highest paid safeties in the game, depending on how you calculate the numbers. The problem is Rolle is not really in the class of Troy Polamalu(notes) or Ed Reed(notes), but his contract and the New York market may create outlandish expectation, particularly with a championship still fresh in people’s minds. The test is how fast Rolle and the rest of the secondary can get on page with new defensive coordinator Perry Fewell.

Heres the rest of the list: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AiBgz29M0IS5v3UEVAHrCNs5nYcB?slug=jc-campscrutiny072310

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Wait hold the phone. Is that hack Jason Cole yet AGAIN editorializing his own delusional opinions on someones psyche and making borderline slanderous comments all to get a few more comments and clicks on his article???

No way. I can't believe it.

Honestly Gee do yourself a favor and just NEVER click on anything Jason Cole related again.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Did someone in the Cardinals organization smack his grandmother or something? Jeeezus this guy never quits with his nonsense... freaking idiot...ten bucks he never played a lick of sports in his life...

 

[Unsterblich856]

Wait hold the phone. Is that hack Jason Cole yet AGAIN editorializing his own delusional opinions on someones psyche and making borderline slanderous comments all to get a few more comments and clicks on his article???

No way. I can't believe it.

Honestly Gee do yourself a favor and just NEVER click on anything Jason Cole related again.

Jason Cole gives me hope that one day I can write about the NFL.

 

[kerouac9]

What parts of Cole's report were untrue? I mean, is there any question that Matt Leinart is under pressure to perform early and well next season?

 

[Tyler]

If he’s not at least a Pro Bowl alternate, he’s going to be on the street after this season. Bank on it.

I would say that is off base. He also fails to mention the fact that Matt didnt prove anything because he has sitting behind a future HoFer and the only QB to take the Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl.

 

[DoTheDew]

What parts of Cole's report were untrue? I mean, is there any question that Matt Leinart is under pressure to perform early and well next season?

I think the only part that's questionable is that Leinart is more mentally fragile than Vince Young and Jay Cutler. Hardly something to be up in arms about but still an unfounded statement.

 

[TJ]

I think the only part that's questionable is that Leinart is more mentally fragile than Vince Young and Jay Cutler. Hardly something to be up in arms about but still an unfounded statement.

I agree with you.

All three have had their demons, but when compared, you can tell that Leinart has had less mental deficiencies. VY had severe depression, and suicidal ideations in the past. He also attacked someone in a club this offseason. Bipolar disorder????

As for Cutler, dude is the biggest drama queen and has a short fuse.

As it stands, all Leinart has done was make a poor decision off the field which for some reason is perceived as more profound than what VY and Cutler have done. Leinart has done a good job staying out of trouble since then.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

I dont consider a 20 something year old man partying in a hot tub at a party as a bad choice...

The media blew it way out of proportion...

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

What parts of Cole's report were untrue? I mean, is there any question that Matt Leinart is under pressure to perform early and well next season?

I'd say the part about his supposed mental state...

 

[SunsTzu]

I think the only part that's questionable is that Leinart is more mentally fragile than Vince Young and Jay Cutler. Hardly something to be up in arms about but still an unfounded statement.

That was my biggest gripe. Didn't VY go missing and have people close to him think he was suicidal a couple years ago? I don't really think mental toughness when I think of Cutler either.

Leinart may fail, but I don't think it will be because he's mentally fragile.

 

[kerouac9]

Did someone in the Cardinals organization smack his grandmother or something? Jeeezus this guy never quits with his nonsense... freaking idiot...ten bucks he never played a lick of sports in his life...

So this response is over 5 words in an otherwise agreeable item?

 

[Arizona's Finest]

So this response is over 5 words in an otherwise agreeable item?

K9 you seem to pick and choose what you respond to. You asked a question earlier on in this thread, it was addressed (correctly I may add) and then you went in a different direction.

If you have a reason why you think Jason Cole is credible or a good writer please state so. I have a long history of reading his hack jobs and can actually point to something to why I feel the way I do.

Can you?

 

[JeffGollin]

What parts of Cole's report were untrue? I mean, is there any question that Matt Leinart is under pressure to perform early and well next season?

I wouldn't frame parts of Cole's report as "true" or "untrue" but rather "speculation" vs. "evidence."

What Cole said was: "In fact, there are plenty of people who think he’s the most mentally fragile of the group, lacking in toughness and leadership."

"..,plenty of people?" Name them!

"...think he's the most mentally fragile?" Opinion not fact.

To put the shoe on the other foot, I could post the following statement about Cole, and it would have the same amount of credibility:

"Here’s something really troubling to consider: Several upcoming sportswriters are on my list. So far, none has firmly established himself. Cole - who many thought was the most newsroom-ready - has done the least to cement his future. In fact, there are plenty of people who think he’s the most shaky of the group, lacking in credibility and discipline. This is a huge year for Cole. If he doesn't at least qualify for a Pulitzer, he’s going to be on the street. Bank on it."

 

[kerouac9]

Jeff, it's a column, not a report. Jason Cole is stating an opinion, because it's an opinion piece. If this is the first that you've heard that Matt Leinart might be mentally fragile, then you haven't been listening very hard.

There was a multi-page thread here at the beginning of the offseason from fans bemoaning the fact that Matt can't/won't compete for the starting job, and that if he faces any pressure, he's too busy looking over his shoulder than looking downfield.

I agree that both Vince-anity and Jay Cutler are head-cases, but when they step on the field, they've shown that they give their teams a better chance to win than our guy. That's not an opinion; that's just the fact of the matter. Matt Leinart hasn't shown that he can win or keep a starting job.

Yet.

So there's really no question that he's one of 20 players under pressure heading into camp this season, is there?

 

[dogpoo32]

I dont consider a 20 something year old man partying in a hot tub at a party as a bad choice...

The media blew it way out of proportion...

Sports media is like an avalanche of crap. One dude goes out on a limb and states something about a player, then every other idiot mimics what they heard until it becomes a "well known fact."

As far as I can tell, Matt did what most would do in his situation. I can assure you I would have.

 

[Gee!]

Matt Leinart hasn't shown that he can win or keep a starting job.

For cripes sake.. When was Vince or Jay competeing with a HoFer? Matt did win the starting job in Whis' first year, but then he got injured.. Then Kurt decided to go all out training the next offseason and won it back.. Then when we did see Matt he was playing in a system built for Kurt Warner.. He didnt do poorly.. Just didnt have the snaps and it really wasnt a system he was comfortable with.. We will see a system built for Matt this year.. And Beanie should help Matt feel more comfortable as thats when Matt is at his best.. With a RB taking snaps to set up his pass.. Kurts offense was checking out of runs and the passing was all timing ... I dont see how any of this is hard to see..

 

[TJ]

Jeff, it's a column, not a report. Jason Cole is stating an opinion, because it's an opinion piece. If this is the first that you've heard that Matt Leinart might be mentally fragile, then you haven't been listening very hard.

There was a multi-page thread here at the beginning of the offseason from fans bemoaning the fact that Matt can't/won't compete for the starting job, and that if he faces any pressure, he's too busy looking over his shoulder than looking downfield.

I agree that both Vince-anity and Jay Cutler are head-cases, but when they step on the field, they've shown that they give their teams a better chance to win than our guy. That's not an opinion; that's just the fact of the matter. Matt Leinart hasn't shown that he can win or keep a starting job.

Yet.

So there's really no question that he's one of 20 players under pressure heading into camp this season, is there?

Jeff, it's a column, not a report. Jason Cole is stating an opinion, because it's an opinion piece. If this is the first that you've heard that Matt Leinart might be mentally fragile, then you haven't been listening very hard.

There was a multi-page thread here at the beginning of the offseason from fans bemoaning the fact that Matt can't/won't compete for the starting job, and that if he faces any pressure, he's too busy looking over his shoulder than looking downfield.

I agree that both Vince-anity and Jay Cutler are head-cases, but when they step on the field, they've shown that they give their teams a better chance to win than our guy. That's not an opinion; that's just the fact of the matter. Matt Leinart hasn't shown that he can win or keep a starting job.

Yet.

So there's really no question that he's one of 20 players under pressure heading into camp this season, is there?

I think the general consensus among us ASFNers is that Matty is one of the players in the NFL who has a ton of pressure on him. The issue is what's being reported.

The way some of these pundits analyze him, especially guys like Florio and Cole, are spewing puke and vitriol; as if he pissed in their cheerios. Some of the facts that are conveniently overlooked are the following:

• He holds the record for most passing yards in a game by a rookie (405 against Minny: a good defense).
• He played well in his first start and his second start was against the best defense in the league that season: the Bears
• He played for Denny Green....'nuff said
• While he did lose his job, there is no shame in losing it to Warner; a future HoFer. There is shame in losing it to Shaun Hill a la Alex Smith. Additionally, he lost his job because of one preseason game. The competition between Kurt and Matt was neck-and-neck in 2008.
• In 12 games as a rookie, he threw for over 2500 yards and averaged 6.8 yards per pass

While it does pale in comparison to other QBs in the league, this is a building block for his future. What we are hearing is that he is more dedicated and mentally focused than before. He also has matured since the beer bong incident and takes nothing for granted.

The most recent reports I have read were that he has trained with USC alum QBs in L.A. Those being Carson Palmer and Matt Cassel, both starters in this league. He has also worked with Tome Brady in the past and Fitzgerald on routes.

I dont know about you, but these factors make me feel much more confident in his abilities.

 

[kerouac9]

TJ, I'm more confident in Matt's succeeding this season than anyone on the board. I just don't understand why people have to get all up in arms about a totally reasonable report.

There's not a lot that's controversial there. There are facts that go one way, there are facts that go another. I'm not sure why people are all over Jason Cole. Chill out; hopefully Leinart will be there to make him eat his words.

But don't act like there's reason to be suspicious about Matt's success. There are plenty of people--including on this board--who think that he'll fail. And there are reasons for that, as well. Reasons that have nothing to do with hot tubs.

 

[TJ]

TJ, I'm more confident in Matt's succeeding this season than anyone on the board. I just don't understand why people have to get all up in arms about a totally reasonable report.

There's not a lot that's controversial there. There are facts that go one way, there are facts that go another. I'm not sure why people are all over Jason Cole. Chill out; hopefully Leinart will be there to make him eat his words.

But don't act like there's reason to be suspicious about Matt's success. There are plenty of people--including on this board--who think that he'll fail. And there are reasons for that, as well. Reasons that have nothing to do with hot tubs.

I've become numb to these reports as they have been beaten into our heads like a drum. Like I said, the facts should be considered along with their assessment.

Additionally, I acknowledge the reasons for fans and pundits to be concerned. My only unresolved concern w/ Matty is his ability to finish out a season w/o sustaining serious injury.

Don't be mistaken, I am on your side in this debate. 110%. Matty will succeed IMO. No need to contradict my assessment.