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Hope he has been working on trying to throw a pass with zip & not a duck with a bum wing.
I'd like to see him succeed though. As long as he plays indoors & in stadiums with little to no wind he'll be OK.
Leinart finally comes to terms with Cardinals
By BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer
August 15, 2006
AP - Aug 14, 10:34 pm EDT
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FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) -- Even though Matt Leinart may have lost millions when he returned to Southern California for his senior season a year ago, he's still plenty rich now.
He also has some serious catching up to do with the Arizona Cardinals.
The 2004 Heisman Trophy winner ended a two-week holdout late Monday night and signed a six-year contract that guarantees him $14 million. It could also bring the rookie quarterback up to $51 million.
He was the last of this year's first-round picks to sign.
Announcement of the deal came hours after Cardinals coach Dennis Green sharply criticized Leinart and his representatives for turning down "a more than generous" offer.
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Leinart was to join the Cardinals three days before the team ends its camp at Northern Arizona University and moves workouts to its practice facility in Tempe. Arizona plays at New England on Saturday.
The left-handed quarterback who directed USC to two national les and a 37-2 record might have been the No. 1 pick in the draft last year. But he decided to remain with the Trojans for his senior season and unexpectedly fell to the Cardinals at the No. 10 spot in this year's draft, a tumble that cost him millions.
He was the first quarterback chosen in the opening round by the Cardinals in 19 years. That quarterback, Kelly Stouffer, never played for Arizona.
That wasn't going to happen this time, with the Cardinals riding a wave of fan support following the signing of free-agent running back Edgerrin James, the drafting of Leinart and the opening of their $455 million stadium.
Leinart was the second quarterback chosen in the draft, behind Vince Young of Texas, who went to Tennessee with the No. 3 pick overall. Quarterback Jay Cutler of Vanderbilt went to Denver at No. 11, one spot after Leinart.
Young signed a six-year contract worth up to $58 million, with $25.7 million guaranteed. Cutler signed a six-year deal worth as much as $48 million, with $11 million guaranteed.
Leinart's contract includes escalator clauses that boost his pay the more he plays.
He participated in all of the Cardinals' summer workouts so he's familiar with the offense. He'll still have to make up for crucial lost time if he expects to beat out John Navarre for the backup spot behind starter Kurt Warner.
"I think everybody knows that the more days you miss, the more games you miss, the farther and farther you fall behind and the harder it is to catch up," Warner said.
Green's criticism focused on what the coach said was far more than a 10th pick normally would receive. A grumpy Green was upset with the perception that Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill was being cheap.
"I've been here two years," Green said. "All I know is when we set out a strategy, whether it be signing Bertrand Berry or drafting Larry Fitzgerald, Bill Bidwill has helped us get that player."
He said the signing of James was the best example.
"Edgerrin James is as big as they come," Green said. "We had our powder dry and we got a guy who's been the most significant back in the National Football League over the last seven years."
Leinart's absence was magnified when Navarre threw two interceptions in Saturday's preseason opener against Pittsburgh.
Warner, speaking before the deal with Leinart was announced, said he understood Green's frustrations.
"Coach wants guys to help us win and Matt's one of those guys that's going to make our team better," Warner said. "That sometimes can get frustrating as players, as a coach, because so much of that is out of your control."
Hope he has been working on trying to throw a pass with zip & not a duck with a bum wing.
I'd like to see him succeed though. As long as he plays indoors & in stadiums with little to no wind he'll be OK.
Man, for the sake of all the Cardinals, I hope they don't see 115* again anytime soon. Imagine that ! Our weather sucks...imagine theirs.
And Phoenix isn't even the worst spot in the state. Yuma and Bullhead City are worse. For the weeks Phoenix is battling 115 degrees, Yuma and BHC are battling 120. There was as solid week about a month ago where Yuma was around 122/123 for its high and 95/100 for its low.
ducks can attest...
The Cards new stadium is awesome. That roll out natural grass field is too cool.
Cardinals Stadium features a unique rollout natural-grass playing field, contained in a single tray measuring 234 feet wide by 403 feet long and weighing a hefty 18.9 million pounds. The first completely retractable field in North America, it will be positioned inside the stadium on game days to offer the preferred natural-grass playing surface for football and outside the stadium the remaining 350+ days of the year to receive the needed sunlight and water to grow. A total of 462 steel wheels riding on 13 parallel steel rails are used to slide the field tray in and out of the facility.
Is that what that is?
I saw that pic on another site & thought the AZ practice field was right outside the stadium!
lake havesty is hotter I think
spring break they have the babes though
Never made it out to Lake Havasu in the 6yrs I lived in SoCal.
Cardinals Stadium features a unique rollout natural-grass playing field, contained in a single tray measuring 234 feet wide by 403 feet long and weighing a hefty 18.9 million pounds. The first completely retractable field in North America, it will be positioned inside the stadium on game days to offer the preferred natural-grass playing surface for football and outside the stadium the remaining 350+ days of the year to receive the needed sunlight and water to grow. A total of 462 steel wheels riding on 13 parallel steel rails are used to slide the field tray in and out of the facility.
its pretty insane.
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