I had to laugh at the title of the article. Now lets see if we can break .500.
Matt Leinart. You remember him. Heisman Trophy winner, wears a national championship ring, always gets the girl. Yeah, that guy. He would have been the first pick in the 2005 draft, but decided to stick around for another season at USC to see if he could bypass the NFL and go straight to the Hall of Fame.
But there he sat, as the 10th pick rolled around Saturday afternoon, without a team to call his own. And then the phone rang. Instead of showing his disappointment, Leinart smiled for the cameras a few minutes later and proclaimed, "I'm just happy to be a member of the Arizona Cardinals."
League historians still are on the case, but Leinart is believed to be the first player ever to utter those words. The Cardinals? Most players would rather drive a station wagon than play for the Cardinals. Either that or be fingered as the guy who put Abba's Greatest Hits in the weight-room C.D. player.
At least that's the way it used to be. The Cardinals have been so bad for so long, everyone who saw them when they were any good is too old to remember. For the record, they've made the playoffs once since the '70s and three times since the AFL-NFL merger, which dates back to the Nixon administration.
I only mention this stuff because the Cardinals' ship finally has come in. They aren't going to be lousy for much longer. Like maybe a month or two, or however long it takes Leinart to learn the playbook.
Not that it was just Leinart. The Cardinals have made so many good moves, they've been selected AOL's official paper champions of the NFL offseason. Next stop: Miami, site of Super Bowl XLI.
Oh, all right, so that's probably a tad or two optimistic. But make no doubt, the Cardinals are nobody's road kill any more. They've got more potential than one of their running backs, Obafemi Ayanbadejo, has syllables. They've got new unis, a new stadium, a new core of players and a new outlook on life. Next thing you know, penurious owner Bill Bidwill will break down and get cable.
Before adding Leinart, the Cardinals signed tailback Edgerrin James, one of the crown jewels of the free-agent class of '06. There are those who say Edge isn't the player he was in his younger years. Trouble is, he's still in his younger years. For all the success he has had in the NFL, he doesn't turn 28 until August.
Then you've got wideouts Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, who combined for 205 catches in 2005. Add two other draft picks, guard Deuce Lutui and tight end Leonard Pope, to the mix and you've got the makings of the NFC's best offense.
I know what you're saying. You’re saying defense wins championships. Not! It may have back in the day, but this is the 21st century, when the rules are rigged to promote passing and scoring.
You think I'm wrong? Then Bill Cowher is wrong, too. He traded up to select Ohio State wideout Santonio Holmes, making it three straight years in which the Super Bowl champion Steelers had gone for an offensive playmaker in the first round.
The Cardinals aren't the only NFC team to experience a resurgence this offseason. In case you haven't noticed, the junior-varsity conference, a loser in five of the past six Super Bowls, has made some big strides in recent months. Take the draft, for instance.
Two AFC teams, the Texans and Titans, had the first and third picks and came away with North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams and Texas quarterback Vince Young. Sorry, but I'd rather have the Boys of Troy, former Southern Cal Trojans Reggie Bush and Leinart, each of whom went to an NFC team.
This notion that the balance of power has swung heavily in favor of the AFC? There’s no denying it, what with the league’s top three quarterbacks - Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Carson Palmer - each calling the AFC home. There’s also no denying that the NFC has closed the gap this offseason. Or maybe you haven’t noticed the migration of big-name talent to the NFC.
Names? You want names? Try Drew Brees, Antwaan Randle El, Sam Madison and Mike Vanderjagt, who could be all the Cowboys need to make it to the Super Bowl. If they don’t make it, the Redskins or Giants could. Dallas has added Terrell Owens to the mix and the 'Skins had the league's top free-agent class in Adam Archuleta, Andre Carter and Randle El. The Giants, meanwhile, have added Madison and LaVar Arrington to play behind one of the league's best defensive lines.
But enough already with all this talk about defense. The Cardinals are the ones who've figured it out. In today's NFL, you score touchdowns first and ask questions later.
Matt Leinart. You remember him. Heisman Trophy winner, wears a national championship ring, always gets the girl. Yeah, that guy. He would have been the first pick in the 2005 draft, but decided to stick around for another season at USC to see if he could bypass the NFL and go straight to the Hall of Fame.
But there he sat, as the 10th pick rolled around Saturday afternoon, without a team to call his own. And then the phone rang. Instead of showing his disappointment, Leinart smiled for the cameras a few minutes later and proclaimed, "I'm just happy to be a member of the Arizona Cardinals."
League historians still are on the case, but Leinart is believed to be the first player ever to utter those words. The Cardinals? Most players would rather drive a station wagon than play for the Cardinals. Either that or be fingered as the guy who put Abba's Greatest Hits in the weight-room C.D. player.
At least that's the way it used to be. The Cardinals have been so bad for so long, everyone who saw them when they were any good is too old to remember. For the record, they've made the playoffs once since the '70s and three times since the AFL-NFL merger, which dates back to the Nixon administration.
I only mention this stuff because the Cardinals' ship finally has come in. They aren't going to be lousy for much longer. Like maybe a month or two, or however long it takes Leinart to learn the playbook.
Not that it was just Leinart. The Cardinals have made so many good moves, they've been selected AOL's official paper champions of the NFL offseason. Next stop: Miami, site of Super Bowl XLI.
Oh, all right, so that's probably a tad or two optimistic. But make no doubt, the Cardinals are nobody's road kill any more. They've got more potential than one of their running backs, Obafemi Ayanbadejo, has syllables. They've got new unis, a new stadium, a new core of players and a new outlook on life. Next thing you know, penurious owner Bill Bidwill will break down and get cable.
Before adding Leinart, the Cardinals signed tailback Edgerrin James, one of the crown jewels of the free-agent class of '06. There are those who say Edge isn't the player he was in his younger years. Trouble is, he's still in his younger years. For all the success he has had in the NFL, he doesn't turn 28 until August.
Then you've got wideouts Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, who combined for 205 catches in 2005. Add two other draft picks, guard Deuce Lutui and tight end Leonard Pope, to the mix and you've got the makings of the NFC's best offense.
I know what you're saying. You’re saying defense wins championships. Not! It may have back in the day, but this is the 21st century, when the rules are rigged to promote passing and scoring.
You think I'm wrong? Then Bill Cowher is wrong, too. He traded up to select Ohio State wideout Santonio Holmes, making it three straight years in which the Super Bowl champion Steelers had gone for an offensive playmaker in the first round.
The Cardinals aren't the only NFC team to experience a resurgence this offseason. In case you haven't noticed, the junior-varsity conference, a loser in five of the past six Super Bowls, has made some big strides in recent months. Take the draft, for instance.
Two AFC teams, the Texans and Titans, had the first and third picks and came away with North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams and Texas quarterback Vince Young. Sorry, but I'd rather have the Boys of Troy, former Southern Cal Trojans Reggie Bush and Leinart, each of whom went to an NFC team.
This notion that the balance of power has swung heavily in favor of the AFC? There’s no denying it, what with the league’s top three quarterbacks - Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Carson Palmer - each calling the AFC home. There’s also no denying that the NFC has closed the gap this offseason. Or maybe you haven’t noticed the migration of big-name talent to the NFC.
Names? You want names? Try Drew Brees, Antwaan Randle El, Sam Madison and Mike Vanderjagt, who could be all the Cowboys need to make it to the Super Bowl. If they don’t make it, the Redskins or Giants could. Dallas has added Terrell Owens to the mix and the 'Skins had the league's top free-agent class in Adam Archuleta, Andre Carter and Randle El. The Giants, meanwhile, have added Madison and LaVar Arrington to play behind one of the league's best defensive lines.
But enough already with all this talk about defense. The Cardinals are the ones who've figured it out. In today's NFL, you score touchdowns first and ask questions later.
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