ESPN say's Cardinals name starting QB

[PJ1]

I was pretty much on the fence with this issue until seeing last night's game. Matt does not look near ready to take control of this team.

It may set the organization back a bit to delay Leinart starting but I believe more damage would be done if we don't do all we can to win this year.

Matt needs more work. No shame in that.

 

[slanidrac16]

First , let me state that I wa in Leinarts corner. I think the Cards have handled this situation perfectly. They handed the reigns to Leinart and basically said "You're the starter, BUT".
Whiz and his staff knew exactly what they had in Warner so every attempt was made to give Leinart a clean shot at winning the position outright.

Romo sat for years. Rodgers sat for years. Heck, even Farve sat for a while. If Warner is named starter this in no way means Leinart's career is over...unless of course he decides to sit and sulk. I would advise him to keep his head up, keep doing everything possible to make himself better and be ready at any given moment. Not only in case of injury but also in case if Warner suddenly reverts back to his 05/06 form.

The way the defense played yesterday and considering we have 2 of the best wideouts in the game, Warner appears to me to be the best guy for the job. We cannot afford to give away a couple of games in the regular season to finally decide Leinart is not quite ready.

 

[O]

I don't think Whis will announce who his starting QB is until he has to, right before the start of the Niners game.
Why should he?

 

[40yearfan]

I don't think Whis will announce who his starting QB is until he has to, right before the start of the Niners game.
Why should he?

And Whis has already said as much.

 

[black]

If Warner blows it for us, I don't know if I'd laugh or cry. TRUE

 

[CtCardinals78]

First , let me state that I wa in Leinarts corner. I think the Cards have handled this situation perfectly. They handed the reigns to Leinart and basically said "You're the starter, BUT".
Whiz and his staff knew exactly what they had in Warner so every attempt was made to give Leinart a clean shot at winning the position outright.

Romo sat for years. Rodgers sat for years. Heck, even Farve sat for a while. If Warner is named starter this in no way means Leinart's career is over...unless of course he decides to sit and sulk. I would advise him to keep his head up, keep doing everything possible to make himself better and be ready at any given moment. Not only in case of injury but also in case if Warner suddenly reverts back to his 05/06 form.

The way the defense played yesterday and considering we have 2 of the best wideouts in the game, Warner appears to me to be the best guy for the job. We cannot afford to give away a couple of games in the regular season to finally decide Leinart is not quite ready.

Well put!

I just hope the Warner of 2007 shows up and not the Warner of 2006. If '06 Warner shows up we are royally screwed.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Well put!

I just hope the Warner of 2007 shows up and not the Warner of 2006. If '06 Warner shows up we are royally screwed.

I agree, if 06 Warner shows up we're royally screwed, but if 07 Warner shows up, we're royally mediocre. In the big picture, neither matters all that much. That being said, Matt just looks to horrific for Wiz to put him out there and say he "won" the QB race with a straight face. I think he's between a rock and a hard place, knowing there's really no future with Warner and a relatively low ceiling as far as this year is concerned (that is if you hope your ceiling is higher than a first round playoff exit at best), but at the same time, as the coach, you risk having a major credibility problem if you start Matt just to start him and he stinks destroying the whole year in his first couple starts.

 

[Crimson Warrior]

I agree, if 06 Warner shows up we're royally screwed, but if 07 Warner shows up, we're royally mediocre. In the big picture, neither matters all that much. That being said, Matt just looks to horrific for Wiz to put him out there and say he "won" the QB race with a straight face. I think he's between a rock and a hard place, knowing there's really no future with Warner and a relatively low ceiling as far as this year is concerned (that is if you hope your ceiling is higher than a first round playoff exit at best), but at the same time, as the coach, you risk having a major credibility problem if you start Matt just to start him and he stinks destroying the whole year in his first couple starts.

Could you, with a stright face, run matty out there for at least the first half of the niner game?

I really, really don't want to have to search for another QBOF.

Can we start hollywood but just have the quickest hook in the history of professional football waiting to yank him out of there like a bad vaudville act?

 

[Cheesebeef]

Could you, with a stright face, run matty out there for at least the first half of the niner game?

i don't think so. I REALLY don't envy the position Wiz is in. I've always been a "Matt's gotta play" guy because I do truly believe that any team who's got any future needs a QBOF leading them, but he just doesn't look like an NFL QB. On the other hand, I think Wiz knows the best his team can possibly be is 9-7 with Warner and Wiz doesn't strike me as a guy happy with that no matter who's on his club.

I really, really don't want to have to search for another QBOF.

believe you me, Crimson I don't either.

Can we start hollywood but just have the quickest hook in the history of professional football waiting to yank him out of there like a bad vaudville act?

I don't know man. You know I'm usually pretty damn opinionated on what the Cards should and should not do, but I'm pretty stumped with the QB situation this year, especially seeing how utterly horrendous Matt looked last night. Mediocre QBs trying to win a job just can't afford to have been a) as bad as Matt was last year b) be seen as a guy who doesn't take football seriously in the off-season (for right or wrong) and c) look like complete crap for the most part once he does start getting time. I mean, if he stays in there for a full game last night, Matt might have rivaled Supa Tupa's (who ended up being a punter) six pack against the Eagles back in 1989 in a 17-5 disgust-fest. I've never seen a QB look as atrocious all the way around as Matt did last night.

like I said, I don't envy Wiz's decision at all and will, for once probably, decide that whatever he wants is probably the best decision.

 

[CtCardinals78]

i don't think so. I REALLY don't envy the position Wiz is in. I've always been a "Matt's gotta play" guy because I do truly believe that any team who's got any future needs a QBOF leading them, but he just doesn't look like an NFL QB. On the other hand, I think Wiz knows the best his team can possibly be is 9-7 with Warner and Wiz doesn't strike me as a guy happy with that no matter who's on his club.



believe you me, Crimson I don't either.



I don't know man. You know I'm usually pretty damn opinionated on what the Cards should and should not do, but I'm pretty stumped with the QB situation this year, especially seeing how utterly horrendous Matt looked last night. Mediocre QBs trying to win a job just can't afford to have been a) as bad as Matt was last year b) be seen as a guy who doesn't take football seriously in the off-season (for right or wrong) and c) look like complete crap for the most part once he does start getting time. I mean, if he stays in there for a full game last night, Matt might have rivaled Supa Tupa's (who ended up being a punter) six pack against the Eagles back in 1989 in a 17-5 disgust-fest. I've never seen a QB look as atrocious all the way around as Matt did last night.

like I said, I don't envy Wiz's decision at all and will, for once probably, decide that whatever he wants is probably the best decision.

Matt hasn't looked the same since his injury in SF in 2006. I wonder if there is more we just don't know. The fact he hurt the same should again last year scares me. I wonder if he just doesn't have "it" anymore and is trying to re-invent his style of play. That's what it looks like to me anyway. It's hard to fathom how someone who looked like they had so much promise went to looking like someone that will be a career backup in a season and a half. It's tough though, but I have every confidence that Wiz will correct this kid and he will be good to go later this season if needed or in '09. He seems to have it mentally this year, but just not physically. That first pick was underthrown pretty badly. He did look good that first game though. Who knows maybe last night was a hiccup.

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

I agree, if 06 Warner shows up we're royally screwed, but if 07 Warner shows up, we're royally mediocre. In the big picture, neither matters all that much. That being said, Matt just looks to horrific for Wiz to put him out there and say he "won" the QB race with a straight face. I think he's between a rock and a hard place, knowing there's really no future with Warner and a relatively low ceiling as far as this year is concerned (that is if you hope your ceiling is higher than a first round playoff exit at best), but at the same time, as the coach, you risk having a major credibility problem if you start Matt just to start him and he stinks destroying the whole year in his first couple starts.

I agree. And the rock-and-hard-place decision was only averted last year due to Matt's injury. I really felt that Wiz blew a sigh of relief when Matt went down.

With the current makeup of this team, if Matt fails to become the QBOF, then I'd say the Cardinals have to make a run at a FA QB at the end of this season. There are some things in place (depth, front 7, wr's, ) that make it important to win now. Trying to see if another draft pick can be the QBOF, will take too long right now.

 

[CtCardinals78]

I agree. And the rock-and-hard-place decision was only averted last year due to Matt's injury. I really felt that Wiz blew a sigh of relief when Matt went down.

With the current makeup of this team, if Matt fails to become the QBOF, then I'd say the Cardinals have to make a run at a FA QB at the end of this season. There are some things in place (depth, front 7, wr's, ) that make it important to win now. Trying to see if another draft pick can be the QBOF, will take too long right now.

Two interesting names for next year if that is the case J.P Lossman and Chris Simms.

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

Two interesting names for next year if that is the case J.P Lossman and Chris Simms.

I think you have to make a big time run at Derek Anderson. He is on a one year contract with the Browns and they are ithcing to get Quinn in the game.

I know it is too far out to speculate right now, but just saying...

 

[CtCardinals78]

I think you have to make a big time run at Derek Anderson. He is on a one year contract with the Browns and they are ithcing to get Quinn in the game.

I know it is too far out to speculate right now, but just saying...

LV speculation is 3/4 the fun of being a Cards fan!

Good observation on Quinn. A Boldin to Browns for Quinn and a pick or two would be a good move if the Brownies want to stick with Anderson too.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I agree. And the rock-and-hard-place decision was only averted last year due to Matt's injury. I really felt that Wiz blew a sigh of relief when Matt went down.

not sure if I totally agree with this as we were 3-2 last year when Matt went down. Now considering that Matt wasn't his pick and it was his first year, I think Wiz was probably pretty okay with seeing where Matt was because there was no pressure on him to win immediately. However, if he had been able to see where he was and he still stunk at the end of the season, I think... eh, I don't know. You didn't bring this up, but someone probably will about the Giants sticking with Eli who struggled his first couple years, but Matt had nowhere near the success Eli did in his second year (24 tds/20 turnovers) while leading the G-Men to a pretty decent offense and being at the helm of a 10-6 team... I'm rambling. Bottom line, I think last year was a throwaway year for Wiz to see what he did and didn't have and Matt getting hurt put a big crick in those plans, as again, Wiz is saddled with two QBs, neither of which he's probably all that happy he has to go to war with.

With the current makeup of this team, if Matt fails to become the QBOF, then I'd say the Cardinals have to make a run at a FA QB at the end of this season. There are some things in place (depth, front 7, wr's, ) that make it important to win now. Trying to see if another draft pick can be the QBOF, will take too long right now.

agreed wholeheartedly on this.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I think you have to make a big time run at Derek Anderson. He is on a one year contract with the Browns and they are ithcing to get Quinn in the game.

I know it is too far out to speculate right now, but just saying...

I thought Anderson re-signed for several years?

http://www.footballsfuture.com/freeagents.html

Not much out there next season but I do agree with you on the Qb situation. It's pretty disturbing that at this point the jury's still out on our future at the three most important positions on the field (LT, QB, RB).

 

[Stout]

Could you, with a stright face, run matty out there for at least the first half of the niner game?

I really, really don't want to have to search for another QBOF.

Can we start hollywood but just have the quickest hook in the history of professional football waiting to yank him out of there like a bad vaudville act?

Too bad, because if Matt is indeed benched, that's exactly what we'll have to do. Warner doesn't have many years left. If Matt isn't it, then who IS the QBOF???

 

[clif]

Man I just think it is way too early to call this thing a wrap. Matt just needs reps period. No one learns from the bench.

 

[black]

Man I just think it is way too early to call this thing a wrap. Matt just needs reps period. No one learns from the bench.

you forget quickly that Matt isn't allowed mistakes.

 

[Hog'sWad271]

Yeah, really. Only Leinart's interceptions count. Only Warner's touchdown passes count. It's kind of like handicapping a pickup game.

The only sure method to keep Warner healthy and available to play is to use him in a relief role. I am not sure why the Warner fans want him to start game one and each game after that, because that simply assures us that he will get hurt, possibly for the year. Then Leinart is coming in cold without the confidence of being named the starter to begin with.

The only bright spot in that scenario is that Leinart might loosen up and let the game come to him without trying to force throws and impress the coaches.

I think on Saturday, once the first throw was picked off, Leinart panicked somewhat -- not "ooh the Raiders are gonna get me" panic, but "If we don't score points on this drive, I'll be benched for the season opener" panic. Leinart played a near-perfect game the week before and the fans STILL criticized him and drummed up more controversy. It has to affect you mentally to constantly feel like you're one play/series away from being benched and publically flogged.

Should a player always be able to rise above that type of pressure? Maybe so, but a lot of established QB's never have to go through that during preseason & most of them certainly feel more trusted by their coaching staff, which allows them to relax. Leinart went through a whole camp listening to sideline onlookers side with Warner over him. The media has him on the bench already before the coaches have even hinted about it. I'd be one beer-bonging indignant SOB in his shoes.

Warner forced passes like CRAZY against STL in week 17 last year & accounted for most of the 19 points the Rams "scored" in that game by throwing picks, because he knew it was an audition for the starting job and wanted to dazzle the coaches. When players at other positions press too hard and get away from the game plan/get burned, we call it a bad day & let them try to rebound the next week. When it happens to a QB, people freak out, pull their kids out of school and act like they just found out Santa Claus is fake. Very hysterical overreaction to a preseason game...but I suppose the fans aren't doing anything the writers aren't.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

When players at other positions press too hard and get away from the game plan/get burned, we call it a bad day & let them try to rebound the next week. When it happens to a QB, people freak out, pull their kids out of school and act like they just found out Santa Claus is fake. Very hysterical overreaction to a preseason game...but I suppose the fans aren't doing anything the writers aren't.

Agreed.

 

[WisconsinCard]

It is what it is and I knew Matt had to have a good game for this controversy to be quelled. Bigger picture it's not a big deal because some of the best have struggled in a half like that before. Its more unsetteling that he didn't step up and seize this opportunity.

Looks like my dreams of 10 years of dominance are laid to waste but I am a Cards fan first so I will be ready to go for Warner and the boys Sept 7th. I hope he is all someof you think he is.

Timing seems kind of funny and even if the decision has been made I bet Wiz is pissed and going to find out who the "source" is....this cant have been the way he wanted this to go down.

I'm still excited for this season but I all think deep down we wanted Matt to come out guns ablazing....(sigh) but I can't help but be disappointed. This has same ol Cardinals written ALL OVER IT.
We have to make the playoffs now or this was all for naught and we are right back at square one next year.

Warner fans who have been waiting for this.....be careful what you wish for.

Last week when you thought ML was going to be the starter, you said something to the effect of "I trust in coach". Now that it appears that ML isn't starting you say same ole cards...LOL

I was hoping that ML would come out and seize the job and run with it. QBOF the future maybe in doubt now, but many a QB were later bloomers. In Fact KW didnt make an NFL squad until he was like 27.

There is still hope for ML and his career isn't over because he could beat out KW. I believe that ML doesn't have the arm strength to be an NFL QB. I was worried about last year and said that if he doesn't develop the Joe Montana ability to read the defense quickly, and let the ball go early we are in trouble.

 

[Mitch]

Last week when you thought ML was going to be the starter, you said something to the effect of "I trust in coach". Now that it appears that ML isn't starting you say same ole cards...LOL

I was hoping that ML would come out and seize the job and run with it. QBOF the future maybe in doubt now, but many a QB were later bloomers. In Fact KW didnt make an NFL squad until he was like 27.

There is still hope for ML and his career isn't over because he could beat out KW. I believe that ML doesn't have the arm strength to be an NFL QB. I was worried about last year and said that if he doesn't develop the Joe Montana ability to read the defense quickly, and let the ball go early we are in trouble.

Good post, WisconsinCard. Well put.

 

[wierwolf]

Hey in the draft next year, there is always Tim Tebow....

 

[Carddan]

Looks like the future is now

What doesnt make sense is that the game was 12 hours ago and Whis has already made this decision after sticking up for his player?? Either the source is inaccurate or Whis is indeed a total jackass, as Q says he is

Q did not say that, no need to inflame an issue. I also do not think naming #13 the starter 12 hours after standing up for #7 would make him a jackass. He said there is a process and evaluation is ongoing. I doubt there will be any official statement from the Coach or team today. The report sounded like speculation to me, if it is fact, the so be it. I trust the Coach and think he is anything BUT a jackass.