Injuries hitting Cardinals hard in the preseason

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Injuries hitting Cardinals hard in the preseason

FLAGSTAFF (AP) — Free safety Antrel Rolle and tight end Ben Patrick will miss Saturday’s game at Oakland because of high ankle sprains, Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said Monday.

Rolle was initially diagnosed early last week with a mild sprain, but an MRI later in the week confirmed the injury was more severe.

Patrick hurt his ankle during Saturday’s 27-17 win at Kansas City. The second-year player out of Delaware had one catch for 6 yards.

All Pro defensive end Darnell Dockett missed the Kansas City game with a strained pectoral muscle.

“His recovery had moved along more quickly than we thought,” Whisenhunt said. “We still have to make sure that we protect him as far as not putting him at risk, but he’s doing well. His strength is back and he feels good, so we’re going to see how that goes,” Whisenhunt said.

Also rookie wide receiver Early Doucet and veteran linebacker Monty Beisel are expected to get more involved in team practices.

Doucet missed a large part of training camp with an injured hamstring. Beisel has been out with a back injury. Advertisement

“I think (Doucet will) do a little bit more in practice than he did last week,” Whisenhunt said.

“I think he’ll be a little bit limited on some of the deep stuff, so we’ll have to control his reps a little bit, but hopefully he’ll work his way back like Anquan (Boldin) did and he’ll be ready to go this week.”

Boldin, who had 71 catches for 853 yards and a career-best nine touchdowns for the Cardinals last season, missed the first two weeks of training camp with a hamstring injury.


The Daily Dispatch

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Time for Leinart to show he can lead Cardinals
Mike Tulumello, Tribune


It’s his time. It’s his team. At least it had better be. As Matt Leinart, the former Heisman Trophy winner and “King of L.A”, enters his third season, there still are questions. Can he lead a team to the playoffs? Were the Cardinals really as lucky as people thought at the time when he unexpectedly fell to them at No. 10 in the 2006 draft?

In other words, is he “the guy?”

A player’s third year in the NFL is generally considered critical.

This is especially true for Leinart, who got off to a solid start as a rookie then — after having trouble picking up new coach Ken Whisenhunt’s offense — struggled in Year Two.

But if this year is critical for Leinart, the same isn’t as true for the Cardinals as originally thought.

The conventional wisdom had been: “If Leinart turns out to be a mistake, the Cardinals — having made a six-year commitment to him — are doomed.”

But then the old pro Kurt Warner played well the last half of 2007 after Leinart went down with a collarbone injury.

So now, the Cardinals might be set either way.

The bottom line: The heat is more on Leinart to produce than on the Cardinals to get him to be “the guy.”

KEEP ’EM OFF BALANCE

Coach Ken Whisenhunt seems to believe that Leinart plays best when prodded.

So, after the quarterback saga settled down after Leinart played well in the team’s preseason opener, Whisenhunt stirred it up a little bit.

He started Warner in the second game, then coyly hinted that he might not even announce the identity of his opening-day quarterback, the better to keep the opponent — the San Francisco 49ers — guessing.

Whisenhunt thinks the strategy has paid off as both quarterbacks have played well.

“As far as competition … it’s really made both of those guys play at a high level,” he said. “As far all the positions, quarterback has been one of the best positions for us in this (training) camp.”

Leinart makes the case that he’s not been distracted, that he believes he’s the starter. Yet he talks in two directions on Whisenhunt’s ploy.

On the one hand, he said, “I keep going off what he’s told me in the past and what he continues to tell me. I can’t worry about all the other stuff, what he’s thinking, what you guys (reporters) are all saying.”

On the other hand, he said, “But it is motivating. I feel like it motivates me and drives me to be better. That’s just how I handle it.”

So is he looking over his shoulder?

“There is competition. I have to keep competing and keep working hard to be the guy,” he said. “That’s what I’ve been doing every day.”

Whisenhunt clearly doesn’t see this as a negative.

“Some of the best players I’ve been around were always looking over their shoulders, even guys who were Pro Bowlers,” he said.

LEARNING THE GAME

Leinart let his hair down recently about his struggles last season.

Speaking of Whisenhunt’s offense, he said, “I know at this point last year, I had no clue. A little bit, but really had no clue what was going on.

“This year, I feel like I do. I have a command of the offense. A lot is thrown at us. You have to keep studying and working.”

Whisenhunt noticed a change after the early October injury. In effect, he got an extra assistant coach as Leinart spent long hours breaking down game tape.

“He really sees the field a lot better. He’s comfortable with his reads,” Whisenhunt said. “He knows where he wants to go with the ball when he’s passing it.”

In addition, he’s better at improvising. All this, “because of the work he did, in-season, after he got hurt.”

The result: “It’s a different Matt because he is a lot more comfortable and there’s a lot more confidence in what he’s doing.”

PARTY-BOY IMAGE

When Leinart struggles, though, there’s a subtext in the public’s mind — that he’d rather be a “player” off the field than on it.

This is something he denies strongly, though he has suggested that the custody battle over his out-of-wedlock child hurt his concentration last year.

Leinart suggests rumors can start simply by a trip to a restaurant. So, he’s learning to keep a low public profile.

“That’s the way it’s kind of become. Which is fine,” he said. “Those are the sacrifices you have to make, I guess. That’s fine with me. …

“People can think whatever want. But the most important thing … is what my family sees and knows and my team and my coaches know.

“They know I work my butt off.”

The party-boy image started in Los Angeles, where Leinart led USC to the status of college football’s most dominant — and most glamorous — team.

“Being in L.A., what we went through, so to speak being kings of L.A. … It was kind of like that. We had a good time,” he said. “I think that was kind of the consequence coming in. That whole thing has kind of been with me since.”

Life was so good that Leinart — confounding conventional wisdom — returned to college for his fifth and final year even after winning the Heisman Trophy and leading the Trojans to the national title.

Then came the custody battle and settlement with the mother of his child.

In addition, he probably didn’t help himself by freely answering questions about his Hollywood friends.

Early this year, his agent Chuck Price vowed, “It’s all about football.”

Then, a few weeks later, a photo surfaced on the Internet in which Leinart is drinking beer and having a swell time with several young ladies.

“After the incident this spring, it was devastating to him,” Whisenhunt said. “He’d worked so hard … not to put himself in situations where those things come up.”

Of course, “He’s well aware if he plays well, that’s not going to be an issue. But I think he wants to be viewed as a hard-working professional that can win.”

Leinart said, “I’ve learned a lot in the last couple of years. You grow up. You become a father.”

Now, he enters Year Three wiser — one assumes — on and off the field.

Last year, when Whisenhunt shuttled Warner in to replace Leinart in certain situations, “It was a natural thing to look over and say, 'What’s going on?’ ” Leinart said. “This year, I have full confidence in what I’m doing.

“I find myself more motivated to get the job done and just compete.”

Time for Leinart to show he can lead Cardinals | Cardinals / NFL | eastvalleytribune.com

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Leinart's hold on starting job slips
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


OAKLAND, Calif. — JaMarcus Russell's starting job is assured even after an inconsistent preseason performance. That might not be the case with Matt Leinart.
Leinart threw three interceptions in less than two quarters before the Cardinals offense opened things up in the second half of a 24-0 victory over the Raiders on Saturday night.
Leinart entered the game with the lead over Kurt Warner in the competition for the Cardinals starting job. Coach Ken Whisenhunt may have to rethink that following this performance by Leinart.
Leinart's first pass of the night was a deep one to Larry Fitzgerald that floated up long enough for safety Michael Huff to pick it off.
The performance did not get much better after that. Leinart led the Cardinals on a field goal drive midway through the first quarter, but that was it as far as positives go.
On a rollout in the second quarter, Leinart stared right at cornerback Stanford Routt and then threw it his way for the second interception. His final pass was a floater to Anquan Boldin that backup Rashad Baker intercepted.
Leinart finished the game with only one more completion to his receivers than he had to Raiders defenders, going 4 for 12 for 24 yards.
The Cardinals offense got going in the second half, scoring on a 14-yard run by rookie Tim Hightower and a 67-yard run by J.J. Arrington on the first two possessions of the third quarter. Brian St. Pierre added an 18-yard touchdown pass to Leonard Pope in the fourth quarter.

Leinart's hold on starting job slips | www.azstarnet.com ®

[(sportman)]

raiders didn't score....

Oh my...

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What an ugly mess..........LOL

[Bostongambler]

Looks like there won't be much parity this year.

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Bordow: Letting Warner start Cards’ only choice

Scott Bordow, Tribune

If Ken Whisenhunt is a man of his word — and I believe he is — Kurt Warner will be the Cardinals’ starting quarterback when they open the regular season in 13 days.

What choice does Whisenhunt have?

Report: Warner named Cards starting QB

He said before training camp that Warner would have an opportunity to win the job from Matt Leinart.

He told Warner the same thing.

Given those promises, there’s no way Whisenhunt can stick with Leinart after his horrid three-interception performance against the Oakland Raiders on Saturday.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported Sunday that Warner is “expected” to be named the starter, and that the Cardinals have concerns about Leinart’s arm strength and consistency.

I don’t know who Mortensen’s source is, but I do know he’s not the type to make things up.

Warner likely will be named the starter. What we don’t know is when Whisenhunt will make the announcement or how Leinart will respond.

I’ve argued vociferously that Leinart should be the starter because the organization needs to find out whether he can be an elite NFL quarterback.

But I can understand Whisenhunt’s decision to go with Warner.

First, he has been the better quarterback throughout training camp.

Second, if Whisenhunt sticks with Leinart, there could be serious repercussions in the locker room.

Some players will wonder if they can trust anything their head coach says, given his oft-repeated quote, “I think we’ve shown we will play the best players.”

Others will perceive him, fairly or unfairly, as a management stooge.

Either way, that’s a deep pile of trouble Whisenhunt would be stepping into.

The bigger story, however, is not who will be the starter on Sept. 7 in San Francisco. It’s whether Leinart has what it takes to play in the NFL.

His uneven performance last year before he broke his collarbone was somewhat understandable. He had little experience and he was playing in a new system. It would have been a surprise if he didn’t struggle.

But there’s no excuse for the way Leinart played Saturday. He knows the offense. He’s healthy. The Cardinals aren’t asking him to be Tom Brady.

And he has a 2.8 passer rating?

Yikes.

Was Leinart a product of all the talent around him at USC? Good question.

An average quarterback is going to look good when he has a massive offensive line to protect him, a slew of talented receivers to throw to and Reggie Bush and LenDale White in the backfield.

Leinart could have assuaged those suspicions had he played well this year. All he’s done now is confirm them.

The Leinart bashers — and there are plenty of them — will no doubt bring up his nocturnal habits. But the Cardinals have raved about Leinart’s work ethic and discipline. Unless they’ve been lying, this isn’t about unflattering photos on the Internet.

Leinart may — gulp — just not be good enough.

Think about that. Think about what it means if it’s true.

The Cardinals will have wasted another high first-round pick. And their quarterback of the future will be the 37-year-old Warner, who will be a free agent after the season.

(This might not be a bad time for Warner’s agent to re-open contract negotiations.)

It’s not the most comforting of situations, and all because Leinart couldn’t hold onto a job he didn’t earn in the first place.

I still think Leinart has what it takes to succeed on Sundays.

But I have to admit, my belief is waning.


Bordow: Letting Warner start Cards’ only choice | Cardinals / NFL | eastvalleytribune.com

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Leinart Has Not Officially Lost His Job ... Yet
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Posted By Chris Mottram 1:45 PM


Chris Mortenson is a hot topic in Arizona right now after reporting on Sunday that Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt had already decided on Kurt Warner as the team’s starting quarterback. Yesterday, Whisenhunt refuted Mort’s report (which we are shocked – shocked! – by, seeing as Mortenson and his anonymous sources are right at least 30% of the time):
"Do we have a quarterback? ... It seems like Chris Mortensen is making the decision on our quarterback for our football team. ... But nothing has changed," Whisenhunt said.
Alright, so for now, the job is still Matt Leinart’s to lose, which we are confident he will. Although deep down, we really, really hope he keeps the starting role just so Mortenson will look foolish.
Speaking of Leinart, he had some words for Mort, as well, after yesterday’s practice:

As Leinart walked off the practice field, he threw his helmet on the ground and practically baited the media with his eyes. Go on, ask.
"I could care less what he says or anybody else says," Leinart said. "Obviously, he's not around here. He doesn't know what's going on, and I don't listen to that stuff."

Well, obviously Leinart doesn’t know that Mort might not physically be around there, but he has sources, dammit! His sources are everywhere and nowhere at the same time. They’re both real and make-believe. They exist, but only in the dark shadows of your subconscious! His sources are basically a large network of ninjas, is what I’m trying to say here. And not only are they in Arizona, reporting back to Master Mortenson, but they’re also in Cincy, where they’ve been informed that the team wants to trade Rudi Johnson for a “real receiver,” and in New England, where they’ve discovered that Tom Brady has a “deep bone bruise.”

SportingNews.com - The Sporting Blog - Leinart Has Not Officially Lost His Job ... Yet

[Uncle B]

I like the way they did it last year...Sort of a Spurrier thing, switching the QB's from series to series, etc....But, not sure thats the way to head into a season...Would be nice to have one reliable QB going in, knowing he is 'the man'....Looks and sounds like that man is Warner right now.


Hell, i don't care really...When Warner is on his game, he is still fun to watch.

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Shoot UNC. Im reading this next story posted and thinking "how long before we see Leinart?

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Whisenhunt tabs Warner for start
by Kent Somers - Aug. 27, 2008 07:07 PM
The Arizona Republic
Kurt Warner will start at quarterback in the Cardinals final game of the preseason Friday night, but coach Ken Whisenhunt isn't saying who will hold the job after that.

Coaches are going with Warner against the Broncos because he's taken fewer snaps this preseason than Matt Leinart has, Whisenhunt said. Warner has played 30 snaps to Leinart's 57, and coaches want to take a longer look at Warner with the starting unit.

"Hopefully we'll get enough snaps in there with our first (offensive) line that we will be able to play both those guys," Whisenhunt said.
Leinart could play a brief time with the backup offensive line, Whisenhunt said.

"I just wanted to give Kurt a chance with the timing with the 'ones' with this game, much like with Kansas City," Whisenhunt said.

Warner started against the Chiefs in the second game of the preseason, and Leinart started the first and third games.

Leinart is coming off a terrible performance in Oakland last Saturday. He had three passes intercepted in the first half, before giving way to Warner. Earlier this week, Whisenhunt denied an ESPN report that he was expected to name Warner the starter for the season opener Sept. 7 in San Francisco. That decision has yet to be made, the coach said.

In three preseason games, Leinart has completed 18 of 31 passes (58.1 percent) for 177 yards and one touchdown. Warner is 8 of 13 (61.5 percent) and has no touchdowns or interceptions.

Whisenhunt tabs Warner for start

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Leinart bounces back vs. Broncos
53 commentsby Kent Somers - Aug. 29, 2008 11:55 PM
The Arizona Republic
Maybe Matt Leinart reinserted himself in the Cardinals quarterback competition Friday night. Or maybe he was never out of it.

Whatever the case, Leinart was as sharp against Denver on Friday night as he was dull against Oakland last week. He guided the Cardinals on two touchdown drives, completing 10 of 14 passes for 177 yards and a touchdown.

The Cardinals lost 28-14 in their fourth and final preseason game, but that outcome was determined long after Leinart left the game.
Leinart either complicated coach Ken Whisenhunt's decision about which quarterback to start - Leinart or Kurt Warner - or simplified it. Maybe Whisenhunt was leaning toward Warner. Maybe it's been Leinart all along. Or maybe he went into the game undecided.

Whisenhunt said the decision hasn't been made.

"We've got to go back and evaluate all the information we've compiled over the last six months," he said. "It's going to be a tough decision."

Whisenhunt declined to say when a decision might be announced.

Whisenhunt called Leinart very "businesslike" on Friday and said he played with "maybe a little bit of a chip on his shoulder."

That's not a bad thing, the coach said. "We've said before, a lot of times when Matt doesn't play well, he seems to respond."

For the second consecutive week, Leinart had left the locker room by the time reporters entered.

Last week, the coach denied reports that he had decided to start Warner, saying nothing had changed: Leinart was still No. 1, and Warner was the backup.

Whisenhunt started Warner against the Broncos because he had taken fewer snaps than Leinart this preseason. And the veteran was sharp, completing all four of his attempts for 48 yards.

Warner is happy the competition is reaching its end.

"You're just glad you're not the one having to make the decision," he said. "I think it's very important this week, for whoever the starter is, to get in there and play and get the majority of the reps (in practice).

"I hope for our sake that decision is made sooner, rather than later."

Leinart looked nothing like the guy who had three passes intercepted in the first half against Oakland last week. He threw with conviction, and his passes hit their targets.

He guided the Cardinals on a 90-yard touchdown drive, completing all four pass attempts for 87 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown to tight end Leonard Pope.

Leinart's only mistake came on the next series when he was twisted by a defender and threw backward to running back J.J. Arrington in the flat. But the Broncos offense went nowhere, and Leinart bounced back.

"That was an important thing," Whisenhunt said.

Leinart hit receiver Lance Long for two key first downs, moving the Cardinals to the Denver 26.

With the field spread with receivers, Arrington took a draw play 26 yards for the score, giving the Cardinals a 14-10 lead at halftime.

With that, Leinart's night was done. Now his fate rests in Whisenhunt's hands.

Leinart has been the starter since Whisenhunt gave him the job the day after the 2007 season ended, so taking it from him won't be an easy call for the second-year coach.

But Warner, who passed for 27 scores last year, has played well this preseason, too, and a strong argument could be made that he gives the Cardinals their best chance to win in the regular-season opener Sept. 7 in San Francisco.

Whisenhunt could announce his decision as early as this afternoon, when he meets with the media.

Leinart bounces back vs. Broncos

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I guess it wasnt good enough UNC.

Warner will get injured and catch a finger scrambling or something and we'll see Lineart.

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Cards name Warner starter

The Arizona Republic

Eight months passed. A few thousand of passes were thrown. Nearly as many questions were asked. And, still, picking the Cardinals starting quarterback came down to this:

Coach Ken Whisenhunt staying up most of Friday night and into Saturday morning to evaluate the performance of Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner.

In the end, the central question was this: Who gives the Cardinals the best chance to win the season opener in San Francisco next Sunday?
Whisenhunt picked Warner, who had spent every day of those eight months as Leinart's backup.

"There was a lot of opinions, from all different sources," Whisenhunt said. "I know our staff, and I know I didn't buy into it. There was a process that started a long time ago, a lot of information to be evaluated, and it really wasn't one thing more than another. To the credit of both of the quarterbacks, it was close."

Leinart wasn't happy, which Whisenhunt viewed as a positive thing.

"He's upset," Whisenhunt said. "And that's what you want to see. I saw the competitiveness of Matt come out. And I have no doubts that when it's his turn this year to play, that he'll respond in the same way."

Leinart wasn't available for comment Saturday, but it had to be crushing news. Whisenhunt tabbed him as the starter soon after the 2007 season ended, and Leinart held that job until it counted, the week before the opening game.

Whisenhunt didn't detail the reasons for picking Warner. It was more of a culmination of the past eight months than just a specific thing or two, he said. Leinart didn't help himself by throwing three interceptions in Oakland a week ago, but he certainly didn't hurt himself by playing well in Friday's loss to Denver.

"I know no matter which way we went with this decision, somebody was going to be upset," Whisenhunt said. "He (Leinart) is disappointed because he felt like he had made progress, and he has made progress."

Warner called the decision bittersweet. He knows a 37-year-old quarterback nearing the end of his career doesn't often beat out a 25-year-old former 10th-overall pick in the draft.

"I was obviously excited for me and the opportunity," Warner said of hearing the news, "but I'm also disappointed for Matt and know the position he's in and how difficult that is."

Warner resurrected his career in 2007, passing for 27 touchdowns and leading the Cardinals offensive surge down the stretch. When Whisenhunt named Leinart the starter in January, he made a point of saying that Warner would have a chance to win the job.

The competition was close, Whisenhunt said. Each started two preseason games, but Leinart played significantly more snaps. He completed 28 of 45 passes (62.2 percent) for 354 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Warner completed 12 of 17 (70.6) for 142 yards and no touchdowns or interceptions.

"I knew it was going to have the whole preseason to play out," Whisenhunt said. "I knew there were a lot of things that were going to happen between when we started this process back in January and where we are right now."

Leinart doesn't like where he is right now - the backup - but Whisenhunt anticipates Leinart playing at some point this season, because few starters remain healthy for an entire season.

Cards name Warner starter

[Uncle B]

Originally Posted by stevo

I guess it wasnt good enough UNC.

Warner will get injured and catch a finger scrambling or something and we'll see Lineart.

Yeah, i expect to see both playing pretty frequently this season.....It's probably gonna be week to week, till one of them goes down with an injury.

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Bordow: Angry Leinart running out of chances

Scott Bordow, Tribune Columnist

Matt Leinart always thought he'd be here, standing under a tree at the Cardinals training facility, answering questions on the Monday before the regular season.



It's a weekly ritual for the Cardinals starting quarterback. As players trudge into the locker room, their jerseys stained with sweat, the quarterback steps up on a podium and takes care of his media responsibilities.

It's usually a painless exercise, the questions - and answers - routine and practiced.

But on Monday, two quarterbacks took their turn.

Leinart was first. Kurt Warner was second.

Leinart, as you might imagine, didn't appreciate the irony. Oh, he said all the right things. He supports Warner. He's going to work hard. The Cardinals are in it together.

But make no mistake.

Leinart is angry. He thought he would be named the starter and have the chance to prove he's an elite NFL quarterback.

Instead, he has again been relegated to the shadows, only to emerge in case of an injury.

That's hard on a man's pride.

"Obviously I'm disappointed but you know you can't get down," Leinart said. "You've just got to keep working. That's my whole mindset."

But it's not that simple. Already there is talk, both locally and nationally, that Leinart is a bust. Someone affiliated with the Cardinals told ESPN's Chris Mortensen the organization questions Leinart's arm strength and consistency.

Leinart knows what's being said about him. And he knows he can't prove his critics wrong while he's standing on the sideline.

That too hurts.

"I know I'm criticized for a lot of stuff that I do, every single day, every snap," he said. "... A lot of people are saying all these things, but I'm still very young in this league, you know. I've got a long career ahead of me.

"I've said it all along. People can say what they want. It's all opinion. I think I kind of use it to my advantage, use it as motivation. But you've also got to let it go, too. I mean, those things are so ridiculous sometimes you don't pay much attention to them."

Leinart, however, can not ignore the fact coach Ken Whisenhunt chose Warner as his starting quarterback. That's a direct shot, his head coach telling him he's not good enough yet.

"I know my opportunity will come," Leinart said.

When that time comes, and it likely will come this season, Leinart better not fail.

He's no longer the next big thing, the quarterback who would rescue the Cardinals from their miserable existence. Now there are more questions than exclamation points, more cynics than believers. If he has another game like he did against the Oakland Raiders in the preseason - when he finished with a 2.8 quarterback rating - he will be written off for good here.

But there is also an opportunity for redemption.

New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning threw 19 touchdowns and 19 interceptions through the first 15 games of the 2007 season, his fourth year in the league.

Few people thought he was a competent NFL quarterback, much less a second helping of the Manning family.

But in the final week of the regular season and the Giants' four postseason games, Manning threw 10 touchdowns and two interceptions, and he was named the most valuable player of the Super Bowl.

Leinart likes to point out that he's only started 16 games in two years. He's also played in two different offensive systems.

OK, we'll grant him that. But he has to understand something, too.

Whenever that 17th start comes, there won't be any more excuses.

Bordow: Angry Leinart running out of chances | Voices | eastvalleytribune.com

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Maybe this would of worked for him UNC! From The Onion:

Matt Leinart Demands Cardinals Hold Training Camp At His House


PHOENIX—Arizona Cardinals first-round draft pick Matt Leinart has stunned the team by not only holding out on signing his rookie contract but demanding that training camp be moved to the more convenient location of his house. "I don't see why we have to go to all the way up to Flagstaff for camp. What do we need? A pool? Because I've got a pool. And some weights, and a 72-inch plasma television for, like, film study," the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback told coach Dennis Green Wednesday. "And, oh, I just got this huge dining-room table that'd be great for drawing up plays, or even just, you know, chowing down." Football experts consider it unlikely that Cardinals management will accommodate Leinart, especially after strongly considering but ultimately rejecting his previous suggestion that the team play all its home games in Los Angeles.