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Matt Leinart holding out until Pac-10 teams are placed on the Arizona Cardinals’ schedule
Arizona Cardinals draft pick Matt Leinart remains the only first-round draft pick without a contract today, as emerging details from the negotiations suggest that it’s not money that is the stumbling block, but the former USC star’s insistence that Pac-10 teams fill the bulk of Arizona’s schedule.
“Matt has no desire to play against NFL defenses,” said Tom Condon, Leinart’s agent, “as they actual are defenses and can cover people, and tackle and intercept passes. None of that plays to Matt’s strengths, which is getting the ball to talented teammates who can then make plays against overmatched opponents. And if we see that’s not going to happen here, then we’ll sit out the whole season if we have to.”
As much as the Cardinals want to get their top draft pick into camp, the team says Leinart’s insistence of playing against the likes of Cal, Oregon and UCLA in the NFL is not a contract demand they can meet.
“God knows we’d love to play all those lousy teams, too,” said Cardinals head coach Dennis Green. “That would give us a better chance of finally making the playoffs. But this is the NFL, so you have to play NFL teams. And while I know getting exposed as a mediocre quarterback scares Matt, he needs to step up and face his fears like a man.”
Arizona Cardinals draft pick Matt Leinart remains the only first-round draft pick without a contract today, as emerging details from the negotiations suggest that it’s not money that is the stumbling block, but the former USC star’s insistence that Pac-10 teams fill the bulk of Arizona’s schedule.
“Matt has no desire to play against NFL defenses,” said Tom Condon, Leinart’s agent, “as they actual are defenses and can cover people, and tackle and intercept passes. None of that plays to Matt’s strengths, which is getting the ball to talented teammates who can then make plays against overmatched opponents. And if we see that’s not going to happen here, then we’ll sit out the whole season if we have to.”
As much as the Cardinals want to get their top draft pick into camp, the team says Leinart’s insistence of playing against the likes of Cal, Oregon and UCLA in the NFL is not a contract demand they can meet.
“God knows we’d love to play all those lousy teams, too,” said Cardinals head coach Dennis Green. “That would give us a better chance of finally making the playoffs. But this is the NFL, so you have to play NFL teams. And while I know getting exposed as a mediocre quarterback scares Matt, he needs to step up and face his fears like a man.”
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