Matt Leinart, Albert Haynesworth among players feeling heat of summer
Article By cbrown.tsn on 22nd June, 2010
Summer arrived Monday, and some prominent NFL players are in sticky situations.
Start with Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart, who has the difficult task of succeeding Kurt Warner. This has been a tumultuous offseason for the Cardinals, who have lost four big-name players— Warner, wide receiver Anquan Boldin, linebacker Karlos Dansby and safety Antrel Rolle—through free agency, trade or retirement. No wonder the 49ers have become a trendy pick to win the NFC West.
While Warner was one of the best quarterbacks of his generation, Leinart remains an enigma heading into his fifth NFL season.
Matt Leinart has no excuses left if he doesn't succeed for the Cardinals this year. "The questions I have about him are the same ones I had when he was drafted," said former NFL quarterback Steve Beuerlein, now an analyst for CBS. "Does he have the arm strength and the overall ability? There's really no excuse you can make if he doesn't produce this year. He's gotten a little playing time, and he's had time to learn and watch somebody who has been successful, in a positive situation where he hasn't been under pressure to perform.
"The table is set, but the jury is out. I'm not convinced that he's the guy, but I'm very intrigued to see what he does with the opportunity."
Leinart needs a strong training camp and preseason to build on what reportedly has been a solid offseason. The Cardinals are in transition but hope to keep winning. Steve Breaston and Early Doucet seem poised to fill the void created when Boldin was traded to Baltimore.
Expect the Cardinals to run more this season, using Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower to take pressure off Leinart.
However, this is the season Leinart must show he is ready to be "the guy," a quarterback the Cardinals can win with for the next four or five seasons. If 2010 is not a solid season for Leinart, it might be his...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for NFL
Start with Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart, who has the difficult task of succeeding Kurt Warner. This has been a tumultuous offseason for the Cardinals, who have lost four big-name players— Warner, wide receiver Anquan Boldin, linebacker Karlos Dansby and safety Antrel Rolle—through free agency, trade or retirement. No wonder the 49ers have become a trendy pick to win the NFC West.
While Warner was one of the best quarterbacks of his generation, Leinart remains an enigma heading into his fifth NFL season.
Matt Leinart has no excuses left if he doesn't succeed for the Cardinals this year. "The questions I have about him are the same ones I had when he was drafted," said former NFL quarterback Steve Beuerlein, now an analyst for CBS. "Does he have the arm strength and the overall ability? There's really no excuse you can make if he doesn't produce this year. He's gotten a little playing time, and he's had time to learn and watch somebody who has been successful, in a positive situation where he hasn't been under pressure to perform.
"The table is set, but the jury is out. I'm not convinced that he's the guy, but I'm very intrigued to see what he does with the opportunity."
Leinart needs a strong training camp and preseason to build on what reportedly has been a solid offseason. The Cardinals are in transition but hope to keep winning. Steve Breaston and Early Doucet seem poised to fill the void created when Boldin was traded to Baltimore.
Expect the Cardinals to run more this season, using Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower to take pressure off Leinart.
However, this is the season Leinart must show he is ready to be "the guy," a quarterback the Cardinals can win with for the next four or five seasons. If 2010 is not a solid season for Leinart, it might be his...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for NFL
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