SI from a few weeks ago: Toast has swagger, AW behind him ...but...

[D-Dogg]

Saw this article from SI from earlier in camp.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/jim_trotter/08/04/cardinals.postcard/index.html

This has some interesting stuff with the whole "chemistry" issue going on, the backing of the team, and swagger/leader type comments. However, it also has a line that throws some logs on the "Larry might not want Toast" fire.

Discuss.

2. QB Matt Leinart is in no danger of losing the starting job to newcomer Derek Anderson. There has been a lot of handwringing among Cardinals fans about how Leinart will fare following the retirement of Kurt Warner, but the 2006 first-round pick has outperformed Anderson and will have to fall on his face to be pulled from the lineup. That's not going to happen. Coaches and teammates say Leinart had a good offseason and has picked up where he left off.

"To be honest with you, Matt has really jumped out at me," said Wilson. "He's been a much more vocal leader. He wasn't like that in the past. The quarterback position is the head position; everybody looks up to it. Matt wasn't just thrown in that spot, he had to wait a while. I think he's really matured and it's showing. If he misses on a ball, he knows it's his fault and not the receiver's fault. That's just something he has really grown into."

Leinart is even showing some of his Heisman-like swagger. During practice Monday he threw a skinny post to Larry Fitzgerald that left the receiver exposed to a potentially devastating hit from Wilson, who was the deep safety. Wilson pulled off and allowed Fitzgerald to make the catch and proceed downfield. When the offense and defense changed sides of the field after the drill was over, Leinart stopped Wilson and said: "I know you could have killed him. But I've been dropping bombs on y'alls ass all day."

"To me that says that he's competing and wants to get better and he wants to win," said Wilson, chuckling. "He's definitely confident in his ability, and we're behind him. That's one thing he really needs to understand. We're behind him 100 percent."

I read all that and thought it really cleared everything up for me...clear as mud.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

All I can say is that Whisenhunt is walking a very fine line with this one. If he swings and misses here, it could really hurt his credibility.

 

[dogpoo32]

It's all about what's happening behind closed doors.
Which points to

a.) that Whis just doesn't like him and
b.) it's an upcoming money issue.