azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Paola Boivin
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 25, 2007 12:00 AM
The scene inside the Cardinals locker room Monday was telling.
As Kurt Warner answered questions from a dozen reporters in front of his cubicle, Matt Leinart, a towel draped over his head, walked to his space next door, snatched his playbook and disappeared.
It was an incognito day for Leinart, who woke up after Sunday's loss to Baltimore to find that many Cardinals fans had turned on him.
Let's put this to rest now: There is no quarterback controversy and there should be no quarterback controversy, because knee-jerk reactions will not help this franchise. Leinart is not the bum you think he is today, nor is Warner the savior you're making him. If that's a concept that's hard to grasp just remember how much you were booing Warner a year ago Monday when he had three passes intercepted by St. Louis and fumbled a snap that would have set up the game-winning field goal.
"We all know," Warner said, "that the backup quarterback is often the most loved person in the city."
Coach Ken Whisenhunt is right to remain committed to Leinart, but the young quarterback should engage in some serious soul-searching this week. He has arrived at an important crossroads. He can be bitter about the public slight and find solace in a world of celebrity friends and pool parties, or he can dust himself off, work harder than he has before and limit the outside distractions, even if it means saying no to an innocent Friday night at Skybar.
Leinart must understand that he has officially entered that world where fans are looking for reasons to attack him. It's the curse of celebrity, that societal glitch that makes us feel better when they trip. He's in a no-win world. He was criticized for not spending enough time with his young son and then criticized for leaving Phoenix every Tuesday to visit his young son. Huh?
It doesn't mean he's stuck at this place.
It's sick how much Leinart has going for him. A large part of the reason USC was 37-2 under him is because he is a gifted 6-foot-5 dropback quarterback who knows how to read defenses and win games.
He was well-liked by his teammates and USC administrators because he has that "decent guy" gene that is sometimes missing from the pampered and athletically gifted. Maybe it's because Leinart grew up overweight and cross-eyed and was grateful when success came to him.
Even Warner, his backup, is close to Leinart and helped celebrate the young quarterback's birthday by attending a club, something that the God-fearing Warner is not prone to do.
"I'm sure he feels like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders," Warner said.
He can fix it. He can work hard and master the offense that Whisenhunt has suggested at times is still a lot to grasp for the player.
"Go look around the league," Warner said in Leinart's defense, "and see if you can find a starting quarterback his age that has played the number of games he has that doesn't struggle."
He can fix it. He can win games and limit the off-the-field misjudgments, like agreeing to co-host a Super Bowl party with John Travolta in Phoenix during Super Bowl week. Some fans took that as Leinart saying he knew he wouldn't be busy preparing for the Super Bowl. He probably wouldn't but still . . .
He doesn't have to be a choirboy - nor should he be asked to be - but he does need to be sensitive to the fact that fans will use it against him. I've attended enough of Leinart's charity events to know there is great value in his high-profile nature. He's a magnet for stars who have lots of money, and many groups in need will benefit from it. He should be recognized for that.
Right now, he's in a can't-win mode. Some have wondered why he wasn't wearing a headset while Warner was in Sunday so that he could benefit from the experience, but as Warner explained, he was in a no-huddle offense. There was nothing for Leinart to hear.
"But see how it is?" Warner said. "People will assume the worst."
That's nothing a few victories and a little sound judgment won't cure.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/columns/articles/0925boivin0925.html
The Arizona Republic
Sept. 25, 2007 12:00 AM
The scene inside the Cardinals locker room Monday was telling.
As Kurt Warner answered questions from a dozen reporters in front of his cubicle, Matt Leinart, a towel draped over his head, walked to his space next door, snatched his playbook and disappeared.
It was an incognito day for Leinart, who woke up after Sunday's loss to Baltimore to find that many Cardinals fans had turned on him.
Let's put this to rest now: There is no quarterback controversy and there should be no quarterback controversy, because knee-jerk reactions will not help this franchise. Leinart is not the bum you think he is today, nor is Warner the savior you're making him. If that's a concept that's hard to grasp just remember how much you were booing Warner a year ago Monday when he had three passes intercepted by St. Louis and fumbled a snap that would have set up the game-winning field goal.
"We all know," Warner said, "that the backup quarterback is often the most loved person in the city."
Coach Ken Whisenhunt is right to remain committed to Leinart, but the young quarterback should engage in some serious soul-searching this week. He has arrived at an important crossroads. He can be bitter about the public slight and find solace in a world of celebrity friends and pool parties, or he can dust himself off, work harder than he has before and limit the outside distractions, even if it means saying no to an innocent Friday night at Skybar.
Leinart must understand that he has officially entered that world where fans are looking for reasons to attack him. It's the curse of celebrity, that societal glitch that makes us feel better when they trip. He's in a no-win world. He was criticized for not spending enough time with his young son and then criticized for leaving Phoenix every Tuesday to visit his young son. Huh?
It doesn't mean he's stuck at this place.
It's sick how much Leinart has going for him. A large part of the reason USC was 37-2 under him is because he is a gifted 6-foot-5 dropback quarterback who knows how to read defenses and win games.
He was well-liked by his teammates and USC administrators because he has that "decent guy" gene that is sometimes missing from the pampered and athletically gifted. Maybe it's because Leinart grew up overweight and cross-eyed and was grateful when success came to him.
Even Warner, his backup, is close to Leinart and helped celebrate the young quarterback's birthday by attending a club, something that the God-fearing Warner is not prone to do.
"I'm sure he feels like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders," Warner said.
He can fix it. He can work hard and master the offense that Whisenhunt has suggested at times is still a lot to grasp for the player.
"Go look around the league," Warner said in Leinart's defense, "and see if you can find a starting quarterback his age that has played the number of games he has that doesn't struggle."
He can fix it. He can win games and limit the off-the-field misjudgments, like agreeing to co-host a Super Bowl party with John Travolta in Phoenix during Super Bowl week. Some fans took that as Leinart saying he knew he wouldn't be busy preparing for the Super Bowl. He probably wouldn't but still . . .
He doesn't have to be a choirboy - nor should he be asked to be - but he does need to be sensitive to the fact that fans will use it against him. I've attended enough of Leinart's charity events to know there is great value in his high-profile nature. He's a magnet for stars who have lots of money, and many groups in need will benefit from it. He should be recognized for that.
Right now, he's in a can't-win mode. Some have wondered why he wasn't wearing a headset while Warner was in Sunday so that he could benefit from the experience, but as Warner explained, he was in a no-huddle offense. There was nothing for Leinart to hear.
"But see how it is?" Warner said. "People will assume the worst."
That's nothing a few victories and a little sound judgment won't cure.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/columns/articles/0925boivin0925.html
