Fitzgerald: Matt Leinart = Steve Young

[82CardsGrad]

Actually the freak is right. If this team truly thought that Leinart was "the guy" and ready to take this team where it needs to go then no way they sign Kurt.

I dont care where he took us or what kind of year he had last year. The one constant in the NFL is change. No point in wrangling up 20 million in salary for two years if you got a guy sitting on the bench you believe can be just as effective and put just as many W's on the board. In fact it would be downright silly.

WURD!!!!!!!


And, again... any talk that places Matty and Young in the same sentance is even more "silly"!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mulli]

If Q had said this yall wouldn't be doubting it. Again, Fitz gets no respect.

 

[Shane]

If Q had said this yall wouldn't be doubting it. Again, Fitz gets no respect.

Well of course. Thats a given! But this debate isnt about what the WR's think now. Its about what the message the signing of Warner to a 2 year 20 million dollar deal sends.

 

[82CardsGrad]

If Q had said this yall wouldn't be doubting it. Again, Fitz gets no respect.

Clearly you are talking to Shane!

 

[football karma]

You just can't argue effectively with this. If the Cards were truly following the "Steelers" model and felt Leinart was anywhere near Warner, Kurt would have been let go after last season or offered a smaller one year deal.

yeah -- but there is one key difference

the Steelers have built enough "institutional goodwill" with their fanbase and the media that they could pull a move like that and be given the benefit of the doubt.

The Cardinals have a way to go before they get there. Always remember that the NFL is an entertainment business. Given the large amount of revenues that are sold before a single game is played ( season tix, sponsorships, etc) -- the expectation of a good product is almost as important as the actual delivery of a good product.

Can you imagine what how this board, the local fanbase, and local and national media would have reacted had the Cards let Warner walk (to SF!?!) and went with Leinart?

I promise you -- it would have had an effect on season ticket renewals (in a tough market to begin with) and everything else.

 

[ARZCardinals]

Fitz said 'every time he got in there last year he did great.' Matt didn't take one snap.
I do believe that Matt is the guy...the future...

 

[Mulli]

Well of course. Thats a given! But this debate isnt about what the WR's think now. Its about what the message the signing of Warner to a 2 year 20 million dollar deal sends.

who cares what message it sends?

 

[Shane]

who cares what message it sends?

I do. Im all that matters to me.

Im sure in the long term Leinart does no matter how much of a trooper he is being right now.

 

[Mulli]

debating on the internets is so strange.

 

[Cody]

I've always thought he would be good. I said it before, I wish we didn't resign Warner. I wanted Leinart to get the starting job. But Warner will give us the best chance to win this season.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

yeah -- but there is one key difference

the Steelers have built enough "institutional goodwill" with their fanbase and the media that they could pull a move like that and be given the benefit of the doubt.

The Cardinals have a way to go before they get there. Always remember that the NFL is an entertainment business. Given the large amount of revenues that are sold before a single game is played ( season tix, sponsorships, etc) -- the expectation of a good product is almost as important as the actual delivery of a good product.

Can you imagine what how this board, the local fanbase, and local and national media would have reacted had the Cards let Warner walk (to SF!?!) and went with Leinart?

I promise you -- it would have had an effect on season ticket renewals (in a tough market to begin with) and everything else.

Exactly.

Can you imagine the meltdown both nationally and here if they had just let Warner leave? And that would have been stupid for tons of reasons including putting WAY too much pressure on Matt and showing the team that you are not invested to win the next two years.

I think Matt will be good and the team has faith in that. I don't think he gives us a better chance to win a SB at this point. Hell I think the world of Phillip Rivers, Matt Cassell, and even Jay Cutler. But I don't think they give us a better chance to win then Kurt. And if Kurt was playing in front of them we would never know.

The bottom line is no one really knows what we have in Matt but we have seen enough to know a) Kurt is really good and Matt not starting in front of him is not an indictment and b) the coaching staff and the players must be showing him some kind of conifidence because if they weren't he wouldn't just be sitting here like this. Hes both competitive and confident.

He has the record for most passing yards in a game, he played well in every spot he got to last season other then the OAK preseason game, and has led us to wins against good teams. But hes not established. Especially not like Kurt is at this point.

Anyone who thinks the Cardinals would let Kurt walk no matter if they thought ML was Jesus Christ reincarnated is kidding themselves. That would be just too much pressure to succeed on Matt and Wiz and putting them both ina bad situation should something go wrong.

The cards did the smart thing in paying Kurt short term and giving Matt another chance to get in their at some point on a natural basis (injury or ineffectiveness by Kurt) and show what he is got.

Forcing him into the role and letting Kurt leave after all the good will you just built up no matter how good you think ML is the stupid play. Period.

Am I really going out on a limb with that? I would think thats common sense.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Fitz said 'every time he got in there last year he did great.' Matt didn't take one snap.
I do believe that Matt is the guy...the future...

What team were you watching? he played in the SEA game and the NE game. In fact he threw a 70 yard bomb TD in that game.

And he DID play well in the preseason save that stink bomb against Oakland. Unfortunately thats all anyone chooses to remember even though that was one game opposed to three.

 

[cardsfanmd]

This whole thing is ridiculous. I am not a Leinart guy, but he is catching way too much grief on here IMO. I couldn't wait for Warner to get his shot to prove peopole wrong and loved it when he did. Now I cant wait for Matty to do the same.

 

[AsUpRoDiGy]

Fitz said 'every time he got in there last year he did great.' Matt didn't take one snap.
I do believe that Matt is the guy...the future...

Correction: Matt threw for over 250 yards last year and a TD to boot. Ppl dont realize that for rookie's and young QB's to be successful, they need a run game, and they need a good o-line. Leinart didn't have either of these when he came into the league, and it was a polar shift from what he was used to at USC. What did Matt Ryan and Flacco have in common last year?? A 70/30 run first offense, they rarely ever had to win games for the team, they just had to 'manage the game'. Leinart came in with the worst rushing attack in the league, and a make shift offensive line, how can you call him a 'bust' for a situation NO rookie QB would succeed in. And for the record, Warner would play ahead of 90% of the QB's in the league, especially the way he's playing now, so to say that Leinart isn't good enough, well then i guess 90% of the QB's in the NFL arent good enough then....

 

[Shane]

This whole thing is ridiculous. I am not a Leinart guy, but he is catching way too much grief on here IMO. I couldn't wait for Warner to get his shot to prove peopole wrong and loved it when he did. Now I cant wait for Matty to do the same.

He's getting well deserved grief.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

This whole thing is ridiculous. I am not a Leinart guy, but he is catching way too much grief on here IMO. I couldn't wait for Warner to get his shot to prove peopole wrong and loved it when he did. Now I cant wait for Matty to do the same.

No doubt.

I have always thought highly of Matt but this level of skepticism he generates within this teams own fan base just drives me nuts and causes me to want to back him more and more.

Its one thing to be a myopic Kool aid drinker who thinks he can do no wrong and will end up in the HOF.

Its another thing to almost not WANT to see him to suceed and just bash him when there is so much good to look at and think its possible that he he ends up being really good.

I expect 9er fans and the like to try and bash Leinart and come up with reasons for him not to be good. But as a Cardinal fan IMHO he has shown enough for even the biggest skeptic to at least see some twinkles of hope and hang on that. I am not saying you have to buy in 100% or anything but you would think every fan on here would be just DYING for a QBOF. And Matt is the best shot we have EVER had at that bar none.

I consider myself a realist. Yes I like Matt and think he will be good. And yes I am excited by what I have seen up until this point. He has question marks but most young QB's do. And we haven't really seen enough to say definitely one way or the other.

But how you could not at least be hoping for that as a fan of this team is beyond me.

We have the BEST QB situation in the league. We have the NFC Pro Bowl starter, a high potential highly drafted youngin with two years in the system and even the legend that is BSP at #3.

What more do you want Cardinal fan?

 

[Mulli]

This whole thing is ridiculous. I am not a Leinart guy, but he is catching way too much grief on here IMO. I couldn't wait for Warner to get his shot to prove peopole wrong and loved it when he did. Now I cant wait for Matty to do the same.

You should start a thread apologizing to Matty for the grief he takes on here. I would read it.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

He's getting well deserved grief.

Your judging that on a mediocre 5 game start to the 2006 season before he got injured and one half of a freaking preseason game. Give me a break.

Everything before that he was "the next big thing". Whatever.

Now I know what your avatar and accompanying signature are going to be when I win that Beanie bet.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Correction: Matt threw for over 250 yards last year and a TD to boot. Ppl dont realize that for rookie's and young QB's to be successful, they need a run game, and they need a good o-line. Leinart didn't have either of these when he came into the league, and it was a polar shift from what he was used to at USC. What did Matt Ryan and Flacco have in common last year?? A 70/30 run first offense, they rarely ever had to win games for the team, they just had to 'manage the game'. Leinart came in with the worst rushing attack in the league, and a make shift offensive line, how can you call him a 'bust' for a situation NO rookie QB would succeed in. And for the record, Warner would play ahead of 90% of the QB's in the league, especially the way he's playing now, so to say that Leinart isn't good enough, well then i guess 90% of the QB's in the NFL arent good enough then....

With this you get my best new poster award. Runner up is that Doug guy.

Good takes from both of you.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

The hate for Leinart on this board is way too thick...

 

[lauraw]

Fitz should be the team Captain, he sure acts like it...

 

[Shane]

Your judging that on a mediocre 5 game start to the 2006 season before he got injured and one half of a freaking preseason game. Give me a break.

Everything before that he was "the next big thing". Whatever.

Now I know what your avatar and accompanying signature are going to be when I win that Beanie bet.

Im judging that based on his body of work in 3 years in the NFL. In the time he has played in meaningful games he has a QB rating barely above the 60's, More Int's than TD's, More losses than wins as the starting QB. Heck when he had the job given to him on a silver platter he went out and all by his lonesome lost it in a Quarter and a half of football in a meaningless pre-season game against a terrible Raiders team by throwing 3 picks in 1.25 Qtrs and should have been 4 picks thanks to a DB with the dropsies. He has a had a couple of really good games and moments. But so did Josh McCown. So that doesnt say much to me to be quite honest.

Im judging him based on the fact that that he was a top 10 pick coming out in the draft and was considered by MOST to be the most NFL ready QB in decades. Yet 4 season in he still will not be starting and we already have to start thinking about renegotiating the kid to a another contract due to escalators by the end of this coming year and we still likely wont have a clue if he has improved any.

A guy who was that highly touted and supposedly NFL ready should not be riding the pine at year 4 even at the QB position. PERIOD! He is already entering bust territory IMO. That certainly could change. But I'm not all that optimistic. IMO the coaching staff isnt all that high on him either considering they chose to sign the 38 year old QB to a new 2 year deal with starter money for both years. I dont care what Kurt did last year. If you have a QB who you think is good enough to get you to where you need to be you dont resign Kurt regardless of PR.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

I am also left-handed. Yay me!

Me too. And I once had a dream that the Cards won the Super Bowl and the QB was a south paw.

 

[Mulli]

If Leinart was McCown, why would he still be on the team? They would have had to start the wheels on rolling on someone else by now, in my opinion anyway.

Don't say BSP.

 

[Shane]

If Leinart was McCown, why would he still be on the team? They would have had to start the wheels on rolling on someone else by now, in my opinion anyway.

Don't say BSP.

Who said he was McCown? Just making an analogy that a few good games dont amount to a hill of beans.