Jttsaz
#40 Never Forget
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/cards/2006-09-08-matt-leinart_x.htm
Leinart ready to learn on Cards bench
By Greg Boeck, USA TODAY
TEMPE, Ariz. — At the University of Southern California, Matt Leinart learned all about winning. Nearly forgotten but perhaps no less significant: He learned all about sitting and waiting his turn there, too.
He played that role for two years behind Carson Palmer at USC. Now, as the top draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals, he's not only reprising the role behind Kurt Warner but embracing it.
"Having a guy like Kurt, he's someone I can learn from," Leinart said as he prepared to launch his NFL career on the Cardinals bench Sunday vs. the San Francisco 49ers. "He's proven, he's won and been around the league. He's someone I can sit behind for however long and grasp everything from him. Then, when the time does come, I can be playing at that level.
"It's not difficult. It's easy for me, the perfect situation not to be thrown in the fire right away. I can sit and have a chance to learn."
The quarterback with two national championships, a Heisman Trophy and 37-2 record at USC in his hip pocket has already proven a quick learner. Although he was the last first-rounder to sign and missed two weeks of training camp, Leinart turned heads with the poise he showed against the New England Patriots five days after reporting to camp and the numbers he amassed against the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos.
He completed 29 of 47 passes for 314 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and rushed seven times for 42 yards — not bad for a 22-year-old who played in the first NFL game he ever attended.
"I saw a young kid who came in and had tremendous poise under the circumstances," Warner said. "He had a great presence in there. You never saw him panic. That's a great early sign. To be able to handle the situations, handle the games, to move the chains, stay poised and confident, that was very impressive for the amount of time he has been in."
Leinart and Warner couldn't be more different. Leinart is young, single, one of People magazine's "most beautiful people" and at ease moving among the Hollywood set. Warner, a product of Northern Iowa, is 35, married with seven children and a steeled veteran with two MVP trophies and a Super Bowl title under his belt.
They do share one thing in common, however. Both came into the league with something to prove. Warner slam-dunked all his critics, but not until after spending three seasons in the Arena Football League and one in NFL Europe.
Leinart acknowledges that he comes into the league with a chip on his shoulder after slipping to 10th in the first round with questions raised about his arm strength. "I have some motivation, obviously," said Leinart, who passed up potential No. 1 pick money and returned for his senior season last year. "But I'm a believer things happen for a reason. I came to a team where the coaches wanted me. I fit perfectly with the team. All those teams that passed on me, it's their choice, not mine."
Cardinals coach Dennis Green was ecstatic when Leinart lasted until Arizona's pick. "A huge pick," he called it on draft day, describing it as a "gift from heaven."
For now, though, Leinart is in football purgatory, a quarterback in limbo. In preseason, Green left no doubt this is Kurt Warner's job and his football team.
Leinart understands that and is soaking up everything he can from Warner. They've become close.
"It's a great situation for Matt," Warner said. "He's a young guy, he's got plenty of time and he'll do a great job of learning from me about the position of quarterback and how to play the game. So when the time comes, whenever that is, he's going to be poised and ready."
Off the field, Leinart has also adjusted comfortably in the desert. He's been seen at swanky Scottsdale nightclubs but insists he's not a Hollywood guy. "Definitely, I'm not," he said. "Never have been. I enjoyed myself there. Shoot, I'm just a normal kid going to college in a city where that's where it was. But I'm from Orange County, which is a lot like this — more laid-back."
He knows his turn will come — on the field.
Posted 9/8/2006 2:17 AM ET
Leinart ready to learn on Cards bench
By Greg Boeck, USA TODAY
TEMPE, Ariz. — At the University of Southern California, Matt Leinart learned all about winning. Nearly forgotten but perhaps no less significant: He learned all about sitting and waiting his turn there, too.
He played that role for two years behind Carson Palmer at USC. Now, as the top draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals, he's not only reprising the role behind Kurt Warner but embracing it.
"Having a guy like Kurt, he's someone I can learn from," Leinart said as he prepared to launch his NFL career on the Cardinals bench Sunday vs. the San Francisco 49ers. "He's proven, he's won and been around the league. He's someone I can sit behind for however long and grasp everything from him. Then, when the time does come, I can be playing at that level.
"It's not difficult. It's easy for me, the perfect situation not to be thrown in the fire right away. I can sit and have a chance to learn."
The quarterback with two national championships, a Heisman Trophy and 37-2 record at USC in his hip pocket has already proven a quick learner. Although he was the last first-rounder to sign and missed two weeks of training camp, Leinart turned heads with the poise he showed against the New England Patriots five days after reporting to camp and the numbers he amassed against the Chicago Bears and Denver Broncos.
He completed 29 of 47 passes for 314 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and rushed seven times for 42 yards — not bad for a 22-year-old who played in the first NFL game he ever attended.
"I saw a young kid who came in and had tremendous poise under the circumstances," Warner said. "He had a great presence in there. You never saw him panic. That's a great early sign. To be able to handle the situations, handle the games, to move the chains, stay poised and confident, that was very impressive for the amount of time he has been in."
Leinart and Warner couldn't be more different. Leinart is young, single, one of People magazine's "most beautiful people" and at ease moving among the Hollywood set. Warner, a product of Northern Iowa, is 35, married with seven children and a steeled veteran with two MVP trophies and a Super Bowl title under his belt.
They do share one thing in common, however. Both came into the league with something to prove. Warner slam-dunked all his critics, but not until after spending three seasons in the Arena Football League and one in NFL Europe.
Leinart acknowledges that he comes into the league with a chip on his shoulder after slipping to 10th in the first round with questions raised about his arm strength. "I have some motivation, obviously," said Leinart, who passed up potential No. 1 pick money and returned for his senior season last year. "But I'm a believer things happen for a reason. I came to a team where the coaches wanted me. I fit perfectly with the team. All those teams that passed on me, it's their choice, not mine."
Cardinals coach Dennis Green was ecstatic when Leinart lasted until Arizona's pick. "A huge pick," he called it on draft day, describing it as a "gift from heaven."
For now, though, Leinart is in football purgatory, a quarterback in limbo. In preseason, Green left no doubt this is Kurt Warner's job and his football team.
Leinart understands that and is soaking up everything he can from Warner. They've become close.
"It's a great situation for Matt," Warner said. "He's a young guy, he's got plenty of time and he'll do a great job of learning from me about the position of quarterback and how to play the game. So when the time comes, whenever that is, he's going to be poised and ready."
Off the field, Leinart has also adjusted comfortably in the desert. He's been seen at swanky Scottsdale nightclubs but insists he's not a Hollywood guy. "Definitely, I'm not," he said. "Never have been. I enjoyed myself there. Shoot, I'm just a normal kid going to college in a city where that's where it was. But I'm from Orange County, which is a lot like this — more laid-back."
He knows his turn will come — on the field.
Posted 9/8/2006 2:17 AM ET
