Defending Matt Leinart

It's not Matt's fault. He got drafted late, which is fine. Some teams didn't need a quarterback. Then, Coach Dennis Green publicly stated that he "hopes Matt Leinart doesn't have to start all season". So you're in the midst of a PR battle and contract dispute with your top draft pick. And your Head Coach comes out and states he isn't going to play at all this season, barring injury. What did you expect to happen?

Leinart doesn't have any pressure to get into camp and learn the system. He's not going to play anyway. Right? Why you'd go and say Kurt Warner is going to be the season-long starter before your (assumed) multi-million dollar golden boy even takes one rep? What a disaster.

And, to make matters worse, the Arizona Cardinals just invested in a new $465 million dollar stadium. So you know they have the money. Why not just give Leinart's agent the checkbook and the pen? Fools.

Anyway, the point is I don't blame Matt Leinart on this one. If you're not going to play this season, and they're trying to play hardball with your contract, the answer is simple: HOLD OUT. Sure, he may be setting himself up for some extra criticism when he plays, but get back to me in January or in NFL Pre-Season '07 when he actually takes a snap from center.

His judgment in occasionally dating Paris Hilton is his fault, however.

Later.

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