Cardinals Matt Leinart subject of trade rumors

[Auggie]

September 1, 2010 / espn.com

The Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders and New York Giants have had discussions about trading for Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart, league sources tell ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Leinart and the Cardinals are tiring of each other and as each day passes, many believe a trade of Leinart, who is unhappy that he's not starting, is more likely with roster moves coming this weekend, sources said.

And one executive told ESPN.com's Mike Sando that the Cardinals were calling around, trying to gauge the market for Leinart.

Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt has decided to start Derek Anderson instead of Leinart in Thursday's preseason finale -- the second straight game Whisenhunt has tabbed Anderson as the starter instead of Leinart, who was widely expected to claim the job following Kurt Warner's retirement.

That decision followed a meeting between Leinart and Whisenhunt Monday afternoon, after the former Heisman Trophy winner told reporters that he had outplayed Anderson in training camp and preseason, and that his problem with his coach "probably goes beyond football."

MORE: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5518740

[JonLP24]

1. I'm hoping this is a case

of Derek Anderson being better than I thought.

I imagine it is something more behind the scenes than we are seeing because Leinart has been fine this pre-season without a lot of help IMO. He was 10/13 before getting benched for the 3rd game. First game against the Texans, on the first series the Cards new o-line allowed a sack which put him in a whole right away. He also completed a pass to Fitzgerald with a defender all over him. Meanwhile Derek Anderson on his first possession threw a pick but recovered to play well the rest of the game. He did throw another interception in that game but I'm not sure if that was his fault. The ball did touch the receivers' hands but it was still a difficult catch to make.

The second game against the Titans is where I think hurt him. First possession he completes a pass with a defender all over the receiver to go to a 3rd & 1. He throws a pass to Stephen Williams who I believe ran the wrong route because the ball wasn't near him and Leinart had a surprise look on his face and Williams is an undrafted free agent(who is playing very well BTW). Anyways they were 4th & 1 at their own 40--I understand you don't make this call in the regular season--they should of went for it. Help Leinart out and give him some confidence. No they punt and Leinart goes 3 & out 2 more times. They throw Derek Anderson in there and he throws a first down on his first pass. Somehow I was surprised when DA was named for the starter against Chicago. I was because Leinart was 10/13 with no mistakes made such as fumbles or interceptions but no touchdowns either.

In Chicago I though both quarterbacks played well. Anderson was 7/12 and 1 touchdown but get this.

Leinart was 9/10 and threw a touchdown as well. So Leinart is 19/23 and 1 touchdown this pre-season but he is constantly bashed by the media and possibly facing a trade and not starting this regular season. Taking this at face value I think he is getting screwed.

However, Anderson does have a stronger arm and Whisenhut does seem to know how to manage QBs the short time he has been here. With that said it is important to point out in '07, Whisenhut went with Leinart as the starter over Kurt Warner and it wasn't until Matt was hurt that Warner took over in the second half of '07. Also the coach had another QB competition where Warner wasn't named a starter until the 4th week of pre-season which was also the same year he lead them to a Super Bowl.

[joeybee12]

2. Derek Anderson????????

Ok, I ain't been paying attention to pre-season, but come on, the guy stunk it up in Cleveland...decent a half of one season, then totally awful...they'll be cellar-dwellers with him at the helm.

[Auggie]

4. Cleveland screwed up many QBs

A lot of players too -- several went on to other teams and performed better

[joeybee12]

5. Maybe, but isn't the guy kind of old?

I'm not a Leinart fan, but you go with youth if you want to go long-term. We'll see what happens.

[Auggie]

6. I agree... and I'm just as baffled

[Twillig]

7. They're both 27.

Leinart being about a month older.

The most impartial thing I can say as an OSU (Oregon State, that is) fan is that this is make or break for DA.
He's got a top gun in Fitzgerald, and if the other guys are just good enough there'll be no excuse.

[joeybee12]

8. Seems like Anderson has been around forever!!!

Time will tell if he makes it here.

[charlie and algernon]

3. This wouldn't be the first time a decent player was traded because he didn't fit the system

At least that's what this looks like. He may be better than Anderson, but they could have just as much problems if Leinart just doesn't fit in Wisenhunt's system.