Leinart Destined to Depart from Arizona

Matt Leinart - Arizona Cardinals

With two rookie quarterbacks, Derek Anderson, and Matt Leinart you would think that the Arizona Cardinals would find an exceptional starting quarterback.  Especially since Leinart has been in the NFL for 4 seasons and mentored by future Hall of Famer Kurt Warner.

Matt Leinart has played 29 games in the NFL since 2006 and has 14 TD and 20 INT.  After playing 12 games his first season, Leinart was benched to playing 17 spread out among 3 seasons.

Derek Anderson has played in 39 games with 46 TD and 45 INT.  While his stats are slightly better, Anderson also has started more games than Leinart has.

Although previous records shouldn’t matter – It should come down to who is doing the better job currently.  In the preseason 2010, Anderson’s passer rating is an average of 84 while Leinart’s is 93.  While Leinart’s is a good percentage higher you would assume he would be the guy for the job, but Arizona doesn’t think so.

The Cardinals are claiming Derek Anderson will be their starting QB for the 2010 regular NFL season.  This leaves us questioning what will happen with Matt Leinart?

Matt Leinart – won the Heisman Trophy in 2004 two years after USC’s Carson Palmer won College Footballs most coveted prize.  While attending USC Leinart’s stats were 10,693 YDS 99 TD 23 INT and a passer rating of 159.5.

While College is completely different than the NFL Lenart’s stats were well above Anderson’s with his passer rating of 125.12.

So what will happen to Matt Leinart?  Well I think it is in Arizona’s best interest to keep him, because it won’t be long before they need a backup to replace Anderson.  I think for Leinart, he should be traded to a franchise that he knows he can start as a QB and prove to the Cardinals that he was always worthy.

What will happen to Leinart?  I’m not sure – but I would say that he is likely to be traded to the Oakland Raiders, Buffalo Bills, or New York Giants as a backup.