Concerns about Matt Leinert (1 Viewer)

[Bob Sacamano]

I'm going to throw something out here about Matt Leinart.

I don't know him personally nor have I ever talked to him - but I'm going to see how this plays out.

I'm thinking that there is the makings of a "Ryan Leaf Syndrome" playing out before our eyes.

Consider the following:

Speaking of SoCal, he has been sheltered at USC by the Trojans and the university (and likely Pete Carroll). He rarely faced adversity - winning a National Championship in 2005 and playing for it again in 2006. When he lost for the first time in 2 years to Texas, rather than "man up" and take the minor setback, he throws most of his team under the bus and disrespects Texas.

Yeah, it would REALLY suck to have a QB on your team who played in big games with NFL-calibre players. I can see the reason for concern. While I agree his reaction to the Texas loss wasn't ideal, how did he throw most of HIS team under the bus?

He now has slipped from #1 overall in the Draft in 2005 to #10 in 2006. Rather than suck it up and seem anxious to "prove his worth" at the next level, he doesn't seem in that much of a hurry to learn the Cardinals' offense and be ready when (not if) Warner gets hurt.

By all accounts, Leinart came into minicamp well prepared and worked hard to shorten his learning curve. According to his QB coach, he was learning most concepts at a much faster rate than anticipated.

It is highly likely that he is driving the heel-dragging to get into camp. Jay Cutler went at #11, so slotting his salary shouldn't be that hard - unless he wants a lot more. There's your likely problem.
Some now question if he was the best overall QB talent to come out in this class. Vince Young, Leinart, and Cutler were all compared. Again, he seems in no hurry to prove anyone wrong.

Except that it isn't as simple as we the fans would like to make it. Reports in the local media seem to indicate the hangups in the negotiation center largely around the length of the contract (A 5th year vs. a 6th year) and the escalator clauses included. If Leinart were your client, you knew the plan was for him to sit behind Warner in year 1, and the Cardinals included a clause that indicated Matt had to take 50% of the team's snaps THIS YEAR to make future year escalations in salary kick in, would you sign it? Welcome to negotiations with the Bidwells.

 

[John Mamula]

...

Speaking of SoCal, he has been sheltered at USC by the Trojans and the university (and likely Pete Carroll). He rarely faced adversity - winning a National Championship in 2005 and playing for it again in 2006. When he lost for the first time in 2 years to Texas, rather than "man up" and take the minor setback, he throws most of his team under the bus and disrespects Texas. ...

Could you elaborate on Leinart throwing most of his team under the bus? The only bus-throwing-under that I recall happening involving USC would have had Lendale White being the thrower and Leinart being the one thrown.

The statement was made from memory.I do recall this immediately after the game:

Leinart

Not really giving Texas quite their due.

I thought there was more afterward, but cannot find it.

he was right.

Well, duh.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

when leinart flips out on a reporter like mel gibson on a bad, nick nolte, garey busey-esque bender and has to be physically restrained by karlos dansby in the locker room, than i will begin to see the parallels...

It would help if he was in the same zip code as his team.....

 

[John Mamula]

when leinart flips out on a reporter like mel gibson on a bad, nick nolte, garey busey-esque bender and has to be physically restrained by karlos dansby in the locker room, than i will begin to see the parallels...

It would help if he was in the same zip code as his team.....

so the cardinals hold no responsibility in leinart holding out?the locals here in az know who is at fault here. it is the cheap owner who has demonstrated over the past 13+ years of not getting a 1st round draft pick into camp on time.

 

[Bob_Magaw]

yo bob you gonna enlighten us on that breaking of the impasse or not?

what BBT said... clayton reported something to this effect as well, heard it, sorry, no link...

 

[Bob_Magaw]

...isn't it a double standard to not question roy williams desire to play the game for staying his senior season when he didn't have to?

No. Leinart had more groupies, fame, etc., than most NFL players ever will. He basically was already living the glorious NFL lifestyle. That is why I, for one, question his hunger - he's already had just about anything the NFL could offer him.That is very rarely the case for college players, and it certainly wasn't for Roy Williams.

that wasn't my point... leinart was taken to task for not going pro when he could have (where he would have gone is debateable)... roy also could have gone pro but didn't...if your theory was right, roy should have turned pro because he wasn't having as much fun as leinart... less incentive to stay... yet he did...also, what pro athlete doesn't have groupies... since when is having groupies a death blow to a QBs career... joe montana had a pretty hot girl friend before she became his wife... i guess joe wasn't really that good...i'm only going to draft QBs that are monks & celibate in the future...* i'm trying to get this straight... if he was a lesser talent, he wouldn't have been famous & he wouldn't have a bright NFL future...but if he is talented & famous, than he has no desire to play in NFL & will be a bust...is there any means by your way of looking at things where success would be granted a possibility?** i don't understand why it is so hard to consider that maybe he thought shoulder problem would have dropped him in 2005 draft & he could recoup it in 2006... whether he was subsequently right or not is incidental to his motive at that time...another example was deangelo williams, who wanted to turn pro last season but broke his leg in a bowl game... he might have dropped in 2005 draft but hoped to go higher in 2006... he probably hoped to go higher than he did this year, but he ended up in mid-twenties to CAR... did deangelo not have the desire to go pro?one advantage to the shoulder theory is it fits what he said & it is plausible in a straightforward way... unless you are certain there was no possible way his shoulder issue could have dropped him & cost him money in the 2005 draft (i'm not)... above reason doesn't need to attribute nebulous motives we have no way of knowing...

Bob,I think one point you are missing is that Leinart had two National Championships to Roy's none (hence more of an incentive for Roy to stay when they are so close) when the decision came to leave early. Personally, I think the main resaon that Leinart stayed in school is because he did not want to play for San Fran...and I really think there is no way they would have passed on him for Alex Smith (unless signability came into play).

fair enough, SL...& i hope others don't get the wrong idea... i can understand why some might have reservations on leinart... i just don't agree with them... i do agree with you that not wanting to go to SF could easily have been the primary impetus for not going pro (and along with needed off-season shoulder surgery before 05 draft one of more plausible reasons), and better as an explanation as it doesn't need to resort to armchair psycho-analysis...