Matt Leinart: One Bad Game Away from Starting Quarterback to Houston Texans Third String QB?

Did Matt Leinart and Ken Wisenhunt Overreact to the Arizona Cardinals Starting Quarterback Job?

Joshua Huffman
Frustrated at the Arizona Cardinal's decision to make Derek Anderson the opening day starting quarterback, Ken Wisenhunt and Matt Leinart parted ways. Now, Matt Leinart is the Texans third string QB while Derek Anderson is the Cardinals only lifeline.

Matt Leinart went public with his disapproval of Derek Anderson becoming the Cardinals starting quarterback last week. After having an efficient preseason, Leinart felt that he won the starting quarterback position and that Ken Wisenhutt had personal issues with him. The Cardinals agreed to release Leinart following the media fiasco during the preseason cuts.

Days after getting his release, Leinart has already resorted to becoming the Houston Texans third quarterback. While he should jump Dan Orlovsky as the #2 quarterback upon getting experience in the system, he'll only get playing time if Matt Schuab, one of the league's most productive young quarterbacks, gets injured.

Had Leinart stayed, he'd have been the Cardinals second quarterback. Anderson may have won the starting quarterback gig, but it wasn't trenched in stone. Excluding his Pro Bowl year, Anderson has been prone to turnovers and couldn't hold a starting job in Cleveland when competing with Brady Quinn. Along with his knowledge and experience in Wisenhunt's system, Leinart had a much better opportunity for playing time in Arizona than Houston.

The Cardinals are now committed to Derek Anderson for any possible success in 2010. Their backup quarterbacks, Max Hall and John Skelton, combine for 0 years experience. A terrible allotment of quarterbacks and a disheartening scenario for a team who relies so heavily on the passing game for their offensive production.

Leinart's temporary outburst could have cost him his best chance of becoming a NFL starting quarterback. The Cardinals must improve upon their suspect defense and rely on Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower to increase their production in the running game.

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REFERENECES:
Chris Mortensen, "Matt Leinart Agrees to Join Texans." ESPN. September 6, 2010. September 6, 2010.

Published by Joshua Huffman - Featured Contributor in Sports

Graduated from Middle Tennessee State as a Marketing major in 2009. Following this, I completed a 20-game Volunteer Position with the '10 USHL Champion Green Bay Gamblers. Currently, I spend my time with fre...   View profile

4 Comments

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  • Phil MacDonald 9/7/2010

    Whisenhunt was NEVER going to start Leinart, NEVER< EVER, EVER. No matter how he played, so him saying one thing or another didn't really matter much.
    Whiz just hates the guy, plain and simple.

  • Randy Inman 9/7/2010

    I think it was good that they parted ways, too much stress on both of em probably.

  • HardHat 9/6/2010

    Joshua, great point. I've watched Arizona closely every year recently, and the irony that you pointed out is entertaining. But it's no surprise. Matt Leinart always came across as a whiny primadonna... and he also seemed to be dumb as a box of rocks.

    Not a very good combination for an NFL quarterback.

  • Mike Spain 9/6/2010

    interesting good analysis

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