There is plenty of tangible evidence for Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt and his staff to consult as they pick a quarterback to start the regular season.
Since May, every second of every practice and game has been recorded on video. Passes have been charted, knowledge of the offense tested, footwork dissected.
Yet, it's the intangibles that have the biggest impact on Whisenhunt's decision to pick Derek Anderson or Matt Leinart. Command of the huddle. Team chemistry. Leadership. The trust of his teammates.
There are no columns for those on the statistics sheets.
Whisenhunt didn't name a starter after the 14-9 victory over the Bears on Saturday night in Chicago, nor did he provide a timeline for doing so.
"The starting quarterback evaluation covers more than just this game, Whisenhunt said. "We've had a lot of practices, and there are a lot of things that will be taken into account in making this decision."
The decision is most likely already made, and signs point to Anderson being the choice. Why else would Whisenhunt risk benching Leinart, who has been the starter since the day Kurt Warner announced his retirement?
It's not a move a head coach makes if he's convinced the other players have implicit trust in Leinart.
Saturday night was the first access reporters had to players since Whisenhunt announced the change on Thursday. The Cardinals travelled from Nashville to Chicago on Friday, and players were off limits.
Not that it mattered much. The party line from players would have been the same Thursday as it was Saturday: We like whomever Whisenhunt chooses.
One of Whisenhunt's strengths as a coach has been keeping a constant, accurate read on his team's emotions and vital signs. Teammates have all said positive things about Leinart the past few months, but when did you ever hear or read one of them say Leinart absolutely could take them to the heights Warner did?
Maybe the tepid endorsements had something to do Whisenhunt's approach with Leinart. The coach never went all in with him, so why would the players.
The Cardinals spent the off-season looking for other options at quarterback. They tried to trade for San Diego's Charlie Whitehurst in the off-season. Some inside the organization felt the team should have made a stronger push to sign former Rams starter Marc Bulger. Neither would have been brought here solely to fill the backup's job.
The Cardinals weren't sure about Leinart and wanted alternatives.
Meanwhile, Leinart did all he could do hang on to the job. His work ethic was beyond reproach all off-season, so he was stunned Thursday morning when Whisenhunt told him the job was no longer his.
In evaluating both quarterbacks, coaches and fans can see what they want to see.
Leinart is an efficient, accurate passer who has completed 82 percent of his passes in the preseason. Or, he is skittish, checks down too soon and has a high completion percentage because he rarely throws downfield.
Anderson is a strong-armed, strong-willed quarterback with a great upside. Or, he is given to wild inaccuracy that will cause fans to bless him and curse him within the same set of downs.
Whatever the decision, it likely already has been made, just not announced. There is little to learn of the two quarterbacks this week.
The Cardinals have only two full practices between now and Thursday, when they play the Redskins in the final preseason game. Starters usually play only a series or two in this game, and Redskins coach Mike Shanahan typically doesn't play his at all.
The biggest question to be answered this week is either how Leinart will react if he gets his old job back, or what the Cardinals do with him if he has lost it again.
It might be difficult for Leinart to reassume the role of the jilted, but understanding suitor again.
It's likely the Cardinals would try to obtain something in a trade instead of releasing him. A new team probably would want to restructure a contract that pays Leinart $2.45 million this year and calls for him to make an additional $10.5 million in 2011.
Parting with Leinart would leave the Cardinals without an experienced backup. Coaches have made no secret of their love of undrafted rookie Max Hall, but is he ready to become the backup behind Anderson, who has struggled since making the Pro Bowl with the Browns in 2007?
Those are tough questions, and Whisenhunt's gut will provide answers, not the video from practice sessions.
Did I miss the start of the season?!
Funny...if Leinart doesn't start and doesn't throw for 3k this year that will make a grand total of 1 time I've been wrong about the team I root for, here on FBG. You however have been wrong numerous times, all topped off with calling Dan Bickley an insider.See you at the stadium, be sure to stop by the tailgate and say hi! 
Funny...if Leinart doesn't start and doesn't throw for 3k this year that will make a grand total of 1 time I've been wrong about the team I root for, here on FBG. You however have been wrong numerous times, all topped off with calling Dan Bickley an insider.See you at the stadium, be sure to stop by the tailgate and say hi! 
Sort of Clemens-esque actually. 
$2.485 M is not much for a QB in a year without a salary cap. I think several teams should be interested. If he sucks, simply cut him prior to 2011.
