ARIZONA CARDINALS

ESPN: Matt Leinart one of top-25 athletes with unfulfilled potential

May 3, 2016, 10:38 AM | Updated: 5:56 pm

Follow @theAdamGreenPresented By...

Just one time since they moved to Arizona in 1988 have the Cardinals spent a first-round draft pick on a quarterback, and it’s fair to say the selection of Matt Leinart 10th overall in 2006 did not work out.

The former Heisman Trophy winner was described as a “gift from Heaven” by then-coach Dennis Green, but instead of becoming the team’s franchise QB and leader for the next decade, Leinart became one of the most controversial players in Cardinals history.

The gap between expectations and results was pretty significant, and it’s why a panel of more than 60 ESPN experts ranked Leinart 25th on their list of Could-Have-Beens, or players who were supposed to be stars and ended up being anything but.

Why was he supposed to be good?

A three-year starter at USC, Leinart ranks No. 3 on the Trojans’ career passing list. He won the 2004 Heisman Trophy as a junior and was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2006 draft by the Arizona Cardinals.

Leinart was a star in college, and in three seasons threw for 99 touchdowns and just 23 interceptions. He was viewed as a great leader and, while maybe a bit Hollywood, a player who would steady the most important position on the field for a team that had consistently struggled to find consistency.

Yet, for a variety of reasons — injuries, attitude issues, clashing with head coach Ken Whisenhunt, the resurgence of Kurt Warner — Leinart never really got going in Arizona. While Leinart may have had great potential, the reality was nothing to write home about.

Leinart went 4-7 as a starter his rookie year and was 3-2 in 2007 before suffering a broken collarbone. He was never a No. 1 NFL quarterback again and was released by the Cardinals prior to the 2010 season after getting beat out by Derek Anderson. He also served as a backup for the Houston Texans and Oakland Raiders and was out of the NFL after six seasons, 15 touchdown passes and 21 interceptions.

Making matters worse in Arizona was that between the time when Arizona cut Leinart and when the team landed Carson Palmer, the Cardinals went through a QB carousel that included Anderson, Max Hall, John Skelton, Richard Bartel, Kevin Kolb, Ryan Lindley and Brian Hoyer, and as the losses mounted fans would wonder if Leinart, had he been given a better opportunity, would have been a better option.

At any rate, no matter who or what deserves blame for Leinart’s struggles in the NFL, there is no denying his career was a letdown for the Cardinals and anyone who felt like he would be an elite passer coming out of college.

 

Presented By
Western Governors University

Comments

Comment guidelines: No name-calling, personal attacks, profanity, or insults. Please keep the conversation civil and help us moderate comments by reporting abuse.
comments powered by Disqus

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

1 day ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

1 day ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

ESPN: Matt Leinart one of top-25 athletes with unfulfilled potential