Leinart's Partying Worries Cards (1 Viewer)

[Couch Potato]

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/45356

Leinart's partying worries Cards

Posted: Wednesday April 02, 2008 07:43AM ET

Matt Leinart's off-the-field activities have been a concern for the Cardinals, who selected him with the 10th overall pick in the 2006 draft. Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said Tuesday he was "disappointed" in Leinart after Internet photos surfaced of Leinart partying at his Chandler-area home over the weekend. One of the photos showed Leinart holding a beer bong while a woman drank from the other end. "Matt called me Monday morning and we spoke for a while," Whisenhunt said in a statement from the NFL owners meetings in Florida. "I reiterated to him the type of behavior that we expect at all times from our players. He understands that as well as the level of scrutiny that he's under because of who he is. It's being handled internally. I was disappointed but at the same time have no doubts about his commitment to this football team or his ability to lead it."

East Valley Tribune

Help me understand this. It's the offseason in March, Leinart is in his own home, and he's partying. He's shown having fun a normal 20-something guy would be having with a completely legal substance. Big deal. Yet the coach reiterates the type of behavior he expects at all times. I'm sorry, but IMO Whisenhunt needs to butt out of what Leinart does legally in his personal life in his own home in the offseason. This is BS. Players work for teams, they aren't owned by them. And they aren't required to live some coach's own personal moral code. If I were Leinart, I'd be pissed.

 

[gman8343]

Should be a non-issue, but if Leinart doesn't progres this season, this could be one example of why he isn't catching on in the league.

 

[Couch Potato]

Here's a Fox article on the same subject, showing the Internet pics. Somehow this is cause for disappointment in Whisenhunt's eyes? C'mon. Maybe Whiz has never lived much, but I'd guess he's in about a 1% minority of NFL players and coaches who haven't had similar fun. It's completely normal.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7978376...13162&ATT=5

 

[Sabertooth]

Young QB from Southern California likes partying with girls. I am shocked.

 

[Orgazmo]

I'm a little disappointed too. If ever they mix in a story about him studying the playbook or game film (internet pics of this would be nice) I'd be okay with the partying.

 

[SayWhat?]

Here's a Fox article on the same subject, showing the Internet pics. Somehow this is cause for disappointment in Whisenhunt's eyes? C'mon. Maybe Whiz has never lived much, but I'd guess he's in about a 1% minority of NFL players and coaches who haven't had similar fun. It's completely normal.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7978376...13162&ATT=5

I completely understand your viewpoint on this CP, but maybe there's more to the story than just this instance? And maybe the Cards are growing tired of it being that they have millions of dollars tied up in Leinart.

 

[AnonymousBob]

The partying in the offseason is not a big deal. IIRC his partying was a bit of a problem during last season...Leinart didn't exactly light the world on fire and to be partying perhaps showed he wasn't as dedicated to becoming a qb as he should have been. Partying in the offseason isn't a big deal but perhaps the Cardinals are concerned it's just the a continuation of the same behavior from last year.

 

[onionsack]

How old are these girls?

 

[Coogar]

What he should do is confiscate all cameras at the door of his little get togethers.

The bigger issue is that Leinart has yet to prove himself over an entire season.

 

[golfguy]

The bigger issue is that Leinart has yet to prove himself over an entire season

correction: leinart hasn't proven anything at the professional level except why he slid to the 10th pick of the draft.with his receivers he should be lighting the world on fire, instead he chooses to continue to be hollywood.and the one comment about him doing what a normal 20-something would be doing. i totally disagree with that statement.he isn't a typical 20-something he is being paid millions of dollars to play football, so all the"typical" stuff is out the window.

 

[Couch Potato]

The bigger issue is that Leinart has yet to prove himself over an entire season

correction: leinart hasn't proven anything at the professional level except why he slid to the 10th pick of the draft.with his receivers he should be lighting the world on fire, instead he chooses to continue to be hollywood.

and the one comment about him doing what a normal 20-something would be doing. i totally disagree with that statement.

he isn't a typical 20-something he is being paid millions of dollars to play football, so all the"typical" stuff is out the window.

I agree with what you and others are saying concerning his performance so far as a QB, but QBs from Roethlisberger and Eli (both shown ####-faced in pics fairly recently) to Stabler and Namath have had big party reputations and all have won Super Bowls. It's a double-standard. If you win, you can party it up. If you don't, you're a bad guy if you party. That's wrong.The implication that's being made by guys, and apparently by Whisenhunt, is that the partying is the reason he's underperforming. If Whiz wants to tackle that issue, he needs to pick better timing. Again, offseason, in his home, is normal and something he has every right to do. If he's doing this the Friday night before a game, that's another matter.

As for the part of the above post I've bolded, being paid millions of dollars doesn't mean he suddenly has to live like a monk. Other players, lots of them in all the major sports, get paid millions of dollars and they are allowed a personal life. Leinart shouldn't be singled out here.

 

[Weiner Dog]

How old are these girls?

Herein lies the rub. The girls in the pictures are allegedly under-aged. I would have to assume Leinhart's offseason partying is tolerable (to a degree) by the AZ staff...I just don't think the same could be said with drinking with underage girls.

 

[Mr Capicollo]

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/45356

Leinart's partying worries Cards

Posted: Wednesday April 02, 2008 07:43AM ET

Matt Leinart's off-the-field activities have been a concern for the Cardinals, who selected him with the 10th overall pick in the 2006 draft. Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said Tuesday he was "disappointed" in Leinart after Internet photos surfaced of Leinart partying at his Chandler-area home over the weekend. One of the photos showed Leinart holding a beer bong while a woman drank from the other end. "Matt called me Monday morning and we spoke for a while," Whisenhunt said in a statement from the NFL owners meetings in Florida. "I reiterated to him the type of behavior that we expect at all times from our players. He understands that as well as the level of scrutiny that he's under because of who he is. It's being handled internally. I was disappointed but at the same time have no doubts about his commitment to this football team or his ability to lead it."

East Valley Tribune

Help me understand this. It's the offseason in March, Leinart is in his own home, and he's partying. He's shown having fun a normal 20-something guy would be having with a completely legal substance. Big deal. Yet the coach reiterates the type of behavior he expects at all times. I'm sorry, but IMO Whisenhunt needs to butt out of what Leinart does legally in his personal life in his own home in the offseason. This is BS. Players work for teams, they aren't owned by them. And they aren't required to live some coach's own personal moral code. If I were Leinart, I'd be pissed.

I think this is worrysome precisely because of how strange you said it is. If Leinart has his "stuff" together, you don't hear about a coach saying this. I have a feeling that this, however, isn't just a matter of him doing this one time, but is somehow thought to be indicative of his overall approach to football and life.

 

[Banger]

over-rated.

 

[golfguy]

As for the part of the above post I've bolded, being paid millions of dollars doesn't mean he suddenly has to live like a monk

i am not saying he needs to live like a monk, just not be totally stupid. as others have posted the girls in question are supposedly underage, which is a criminal offense the last time i looked.trust me, i live in pittsburgh and by no accounts ever gave Ben roethlisburger a free pass for his stupidity.

It just seems to me that he isn't doing the things he should be doing. and it seems the cardinals and their staff are feeling the same way as i do.

 

[Weiner Dog]

Nick Lachey & Matt Leinart Party With Underage Girls:

http://ballhype.com/story/nick_lachey_matt...underage_girls/

Supposedly, the girls were aged 19-20. IMO, more power to him. However, I'm sure the Cards do not want another Chris Henry situation on their hands...especially with $50mm invested in Leinart over a 6-year period.

 

[GregR_2]

Perhaps the bigger question is, does Goodell get involved because of the negative publicity hit. In Chris Henry's underage drinking situation, the police were involved in terms of charges, but he wasn't even the one who gave the underaged girls the alcohol, it just took place at a room that was in his name which by Tennessee law makes him the responsible party.

Arizona might not have the same law, I don't know, and/or he may not have charges filed against him. But from a "right or wrong" standpoint, if he's personally giving underage girls booze that would seem a lot worse act for him as an individual than Chris Henry having some of his cousins or whoever giving underage girls booze in his hotel room when he wasn't there (which IIRC was the case, not that Henry wasn't an idiot in his other incidents).

Maybe Goodell will only get involved if the cops get involved, but with his push to clean things up, I have to wonder if he's going to follow through in this case. It's making national news and giving the league a black eye, after all, even if a small one right now.

 

[Couch Potato]

Admittedly, the underage drinking aspect puts it in a different light. Neither article I read and linked above had said anything about that. If they were under 21, then he was putting himself at legal risk and that changes things. If they weren't, I'll stand by my original opinion.

I know one thing. If ol' Couch Potato were suddenly 24 again, a famous QB, single, good looking (wait, I'm good looking ), worth millions, I'd be living the good life too. Screw it. I was a father of 4 at age 27, and looking back at nearly 50 years of life I know now how fast it all goes by. No way I'd be studying my playbook on a Friday night in March if I were Matt!

 

[Jason Wood]

How many NFL players don't party in the offseason?

 

[dotman]

Admittedly, the underage drinking aspect puts it in a different light. Neither article I read and linked above had said anything about that. If they were under 21, then he was putting himself at legal risk and that changes things. If they weren't, I'll stand by my original opinion. I know one thing. If ol' Couch Potato were suddenly 24 again, a famous QB, single, good looking (wait, I'm good looking ), worth millions, I'd be living the good life too. Screw it. I was a father of 4 at age 27, and looking back at nearly 50 years of life I know now how fast it all goes by. No way I'd be studying my playbook on a Friday night in March if I were Matt!

Damn straight, that's why you want to be the star QB, to party it up with some hot girls. People need to let him live his life.

 

[Gordon Keith]

Here's a Fox article on the same subject, showing the Internet pics. Somehow this is cause for disappointment in Whisenhunt's eyes? C'mon. Maybe Whiz has never lived much, but I'd guess he's in about a 1% minority of NFL players and coaches who haven't had similar fun. It's completely normal.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7978376...13162&ATT=5

I vote for the blonde on the left. She's hotter than the rest.....not that the others are bad...just sayin..

 

[Young 8]

How many NFL players don't party in the offseason?

EXACTLY.....they're partying during the Season too

 

[vandyt]

How many NFL players don't party in the offseason?

How many of them supply alcohol to underage women at the player's residence?Brutally stupid by Leinart.

 

[Banger]

I don't think it would be that big a deal to AZ brass if he played like Romo but after regressing prior getting hurt last year it opens him up more to criticism. Part of the problem is that like Marshall he's had this reputation in the past and it's not necessarily this particular incident but just an overall issue.

This is a big year for him this year.

 

[Stinkin Ref]

isn't this one of the perks of being a NFL QB.........?

the one on the left in the hot tub is

 

[IndyHavoc]

Admittedly, the underage drinking aspect puts it in a different light. Neither article I read and linked above had said anything about that. If they were under 21, then he was putting himself at legal risk and that changes things. If they weren't, I'll stand by my original opinion. I know one thing. If ol' Couch Potato were suddenly 24 again, a famous QB, single, good looking (wait, I'm good looking ), worth millions, I'd be living the good life too. Screw it. I was a father of 4 at age 27, and looking back at nearly 50 years of life I know now how fast it all goes by. No way I'd be studying my playbook on a Friday night in March if I were Matt!

QFT. Preach it brother.

 

[Sabertooth]

Nick Lachey & Matt Leinart Party With Underage Girls:

http://ballhype.com/story/nick_lachey_matt...underage_girls/

Supposedly, the girls were aged 19-20. IMO, more power to him. However, I'm sure the Cards do not want another Chris Henry situation on their hands...especially with $50mm invested in Leinart over a 6-year period.

Ok, underage to drink. Not underage to have relations with. Big difference.

 

[H.K.]

This is a big year for him this year.

yep. He's #1 on the depth chart for now, right?

 

[Sabertooth]

This is a big year for him this year.

Really? It's not like he's Aaron Rodger being handed the keys to the Porsche here. It's the Cardinals people. The stinking Cardinals. I say good on him. He's not ever going to win anything out there, but he's taking lemons and making lemonade. Make the best of a bad situation I say. When his contract comes up, he can go to a good team and worry about winning then.

 

[Banger]

This is a big year for him this year.

yep. He's #1 on the depth chart for now, right?

maybe they'll QBBC him late in the game like last year....

 

[teamroc]

This is a big year for him this year.

Really? It's not like he's Aaron Rodger being handed the keys to the Porsche here. It's the Cardinals people. The stinking Cardinals. I say good on him. He's not ever going to win anything out there, but he's taking lemons and making lemonade. Make the best of a bad situation I say. When his contract comes up, he can go to a good team and worry about winning then.

That's a great attitude. A crappy teams drafts you, just go through the motions until you can leave in 4 years to a good team. *lol* Good thing LT didn't buy into that. Actually he should be taking some pride in what he does, and trying to get to a level where he can help his team. He's been awful so far in the NFL. And I'd be surprised if he was starting week 1. He's just not very good.

 

[Avery]

Maybe I'm just a little old and see things differently than some, but to me still partying with a "beer bong" at 24 says a lot about his maturity level.

I really have no problem with his going out, having a good time and hooking up with some hot girls but, Jesus, do it like a multi-millionaire 24 year old for God's sake and not like I did as a freshman in college.

 

[Couch Potato]

Maybe I'm just a little old and see things differently than some, but to me still partying with a "beer bong" at 24 says a lot about his maturity level.

I remember reading an article about him at about the time he won the Heisman at the University of Spoiled Children. He was pudgy and not so tall for his age as a younger teen and apparently didn't do all that well with the girls until later when he grew in height and started developing mad skills as a passer. So it doesn't really surprise me that he's still catching up in the maturity department. He's still catching up in the girls department. And once again, he DID attend the University of Spoiled Children after all. Hello LenDale White, Mike Williams, Dominique Byrd, Dwayne Jarrett... and Reggie Bush too with his $$$ scandal. The football program there hasn't exactly been a maturity-maker lately.

 

[massraider]

This incident, by itself, isn't that big a deal. If the girls were too young to drink, that makes it a bit more serious, but from a football standpoint, doesn't change things much, in my mind.

However, if Leinart continues to struggle, this'll be brought up again and again. Fair or not.

The big concern to me is that Leinart hasn't progressed much, considering the party line was that he was the most NFL-ready QB since.....well, in a long time. If the poor play continues, and he can't keep Warner on the bench, then his preparation and commitment will continue to be questioned.

 

[rumblinbumblinstumbler]

This story is ridiculous.

He is partying in his own home instead of being out and drinking and driving.

He isn't out frequenting strip clubs or being named in prostitutes handbooks.

He is a multi millionaire 2 years out of college.

It is the freakin' offseason.

I'd be more worried about him if he wasn't partying with coeds.

Whisenhunt needs to get a life.

 

[Sebowski]

Lienart needs to shape up. He needs to go to the local Super Cuts, gets a buzz cut, and drink some hardy apple juice. Playing QB in the No Fun League is a year-round gig.

And he better hope the clothes he was wearing those pics were all Reebok or he is in real trouble.

 

[Jason Wood]

People really don't think this is unusual behavior for a 20-something single millionaire, do they? SERIOUSLY?

 

[Avery]

People really don't think this is unusual behavior for a 20-something single millionaire, do they? SERIOUSLY?

Drinking and partying with girls? No."Beer Bongs" with underage girls? God, I hope so. If not, my image of the "big life" that millions can buy you just took a big hit.

 

[massraider]

People really don't think this is unusual behavior for a 20-something single millionaire, do they? SERIOUSLY?

If I was a millionaire two years out of college, yeah, I'd like to think I'd have moved on from the beer bong.Perhaps a Cristal ice luge, or something.

 

[Banger]

This would all be a non-story if he were a better QB IMO.

 

[Couch Potato]

Wait! Wait! Why are the news stories assuming that's a beer bong?

Maybe it's a Beluga caviar bong. Then he's partying like a good millionaire should.

(It's really sad that I'm enjoying this thread so much. I realize it's because I'm living vicariously through Matt Leinart. )

 

[trader jake]

This incident, by itself, isn't that big a deal. If the girls were too young to drink, that makes it a bit more serious, but from a football standpoint, doesn't change things much, in my mind.However, if Leinart continues to struggle, this'll be brought up again and again. Fair or not.The big concern to me is that Leinart hasn't progressed much, considering the party line was that he was the most NFL-ready QB since.....well, in a long time. If the poor play continues, and he can't keep Warner on the bench, then his preparation and commitment will continue to be questioned.

Yep. He's giving football people reason to question him. His lifestyle (which I'm personally fine with) was a main reason why he dropped to #10 in the draft three years ago. Are those questions still legit? If he's not getting his work in - yes. If he occasionally blows off some steam - no. Difficult to know the real answer to that question but if I were in the Cardinals front office I wouldn't be pleased with this story.

 

[fatness]

People really don't think this is unusual behavior for a 20-something single millionaire, do they? SERIOUSLY?

Welcome to Grandmother World.

 

[Sabertooth]

This is a big year for him this year.

Really? It's not like he's Aaron Rodger being handed the keys to the Porsche here. It's the Cardinals people. The stinking Cardinals. I say good on him. He's not ever going to win anything out there, but he's taking lemons and making lemonade. Make the best of a bad situation I say. When his contract comes up, he can go to a good team and worry about winning then.

That's a great attitude. A crappy teams drafts you, just go through the motions until you can leave in 4 years to a good team. *lol* Good thing LT didn't buy into that. Actually he should be taking some pride in what he does, and trying to get to a level where he can help his team. He's been awful so far in the NFL. And I'd be surprised if he was starting week 1. He's just not very good.

What makes you think he doesn't work hard? Brett Favre partied his ### off. He also worked hard and became the best player of his era. Word hard play hard I say.Vince Lombardi's dad had tattoos across his fingers that read - "work" and "play"You need balance in life. Leinart appears to be playing here. No big deal.

 

[Banger]

This is a big year for him this year.

Really? It's not like he's Aaron Rodger being handed the keys to the Porsche here. It's the Cardinals people. The stinking Cardinals. I say good on him. He's not ever going to win anything out there, but he's taking lemons and making lemonade. Make the best of a bad situation I say. When his contract comes up, he can go to a good team and worry about winning then.

That's a great attitude. A crappy teams drafts you, just go through the motions until you can leave in 4 years to a good team. *lol* Good thing LT didn't buy into that. Actually he should be taking some pride in what he does, and trying to get to a level where he can help his team. He's been awful so far in the NFL. And I'd be surprised if he was starting week 1. He's just not very good.

What makes you think he doesn't work hard? Brett Favre partied his ### off. He also worked hard and became the best player of his era. Word hard play hard I say.Vince Lombardi's dad had tattoos across his fingers that read - "work" and "play"You need balance in life. Leinart appears to be playing here. No big deal.

it's the working part that he apparently has a problem with.

 

[Sabertooth]

Maybe I'm just a little old and see things differently than some, but to me still partying with a "beer bong" at 24 says a lot about his maturity level. I really have no problem with his going out, having a good time and hooking up with some hot girls but, Jesus, do it like a multi-millionaire 24 year old for God's sake and not like I did as a freshman in college.

You'd rather him do coke off some French model's hip bones? Or make it rain in the Gentlemen's clubs? Weird.

 

[Sabertooth]

This is a big year for him this year.

Really? It's not like he's Aaron Rodger being handed the keys to the Porsche here. It's the Cardinals people. The stinking Cardinals. I say good on him. He's not ever going to win anything out there, but he's taking lemons and making lemonade. Make the best of a bad situation I say. When his contract comes up, he can go to a good team and worry about winning then.

That's a great attitude. A crappy teams drafts you, just go through the motions until you can leave in 4 years to a good team. *lol* Good thing LT didn't buy into that. Actually he should be taking some pride in what he does, and trying to get to a level where he can help his team. He's been awful so far in the NFL. And I'd be surprised if he was starting week 1. He's just not very good.

What makes you think he doesn't work hard? Brett Favre partied his ### off. He also worked hard and became the best player of his era. Word hard play hard I say.Vince Lombardi's dad had tattoos across his fingers that read - "work" and "play"You need balance in life. Leinart appears to be playing here. No big deal.

it's the working part that he apparently has a problem with.

How so? Maybe I am out of the loop, but I don't ever recall him being lazy as a knock.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

(It's really sad that I'm enjoying this thread so much. I realize it's because I'm living vicariously through Matt Leinart. )

Does that mean you're vicariously spooning with Nick Lachey too? Swear those two are connected at the hip.

 

[Banger]

This is a big year for him this year.

Really? It's not like he's Aaron Rodger being handed the keys to the Porsche here. It's the Cardinals people. The stinking Cardinals. I say good on him. He's not ever going to win anything out there, but he's taking lemons and making lemonade. Make the best of a bad situation I say. When his contract comes up, he can go to a good team and worry about winning then.

That's a great attitude. A crappy teams drafts you, just go through the motions until you can leave in 4 years to a good team. *lol* Good thing LT didn't buy into that. Actually he should be taking some pride in what he does, and trying to get to a level where he can help his team. He's been awful so far in the NFL. And I'd be surprised if he was starting week 1. He's just not very good.

What makes you think he doesn't work hard? Brett Favre partied his ### off. He also worked hard and became the best player of his era. Word hard play hard I say.Vince Lombardi's dad had tattoos across his fingers that read - "work" and "play"You need balance in life. Leinart appears to be playing here. No big deal.

it's the working part that he apparently has a problem with.

How so? Maybe I am out of the loop, but I don't ever recall him being lazy as a knock.

I seem to remember rumblings of him not doing enough film study and the like last year. Also, read the party stuff as well. I don't think it was anything concrete but usually where there's smoke there's fire.

 

[moderated]

I could see the problem if the girls were ugly or something, but as far as i could tell they were all pretty good looking. It isn't like he's partying with hogs or anything. Whise needs to mind his own business.