Burns: No Warner to save the day

by Dave Burns/Sports 620 KTAR (January 14th, 2011 @ 9:23am)

Dave Burns' Previous Posts

The most significant development in the Cardinals search for their 2010 starting quarterback came not from anything Matt Leinart or Derek Anderson did on the field.

It came from what the 2009 quarterback, Kurt Warner, tweeted off of the field:

@kurt13warner OK, y'all... I am watching game... I am not coming back... and I would still appreciate your help! LOL, sorry guys, u know def of 'retire'?

@kurt13warner Shout out 2 my guys Jaws, Coach G, and Mike Tirico thanks for the love! Sorry, but I am done, maybe I will join u in the booth sometime! LOL

Governor Jan Brewer passed SB 1070 and disposed of photo radar on the freeways. Surely she has the power to force #13 out of retirement. Can we poison the water supply in the Warner household with the same Kool-Aid that Brett Favre has been drinking for the last three years? We've already seen one NFL team reduced to begging for the return of their king…what's wrong with two?

Of course, Warner's busy iPhone fingers weren't the story of the night. Rational fans know just as well as I do that he is not coming back, he was never coming back.

The story is the quarterback question, as in, do they have a quarterback?

The offense looked anemic under Leinart: zero first downs, protection issues, no run game, etc. Things briefly perked up under Anderson but then he displayed the lack of accuracy that cost him a starting job in Cleveland. Not one but two bad throws into the end zone, he threw high on one, behind on the other. If he completes either one of them we've got a full blown controversy on our plate.

Instead we've got this big empty feeling, like winning the consolation prize on a game-show. The 2010 Arizona Cardinals board game. Or is it bored game?

I know it's just the preseason. I know that even the great Kurt Warner struggled in last year's preseason. I understand that what I've seen so far hardly counts as evidence that Leinart or Anderson can't get the job done. And I trust Ken Whisenhunt. Implicitly.

Even the vanilla preseason has to have some flavor to it. I'm waiting for Leinart, or Anderson for that matter, to show me SOMETHING this preseason. This was supposed to be Leinart's moment. Monday Night Football vs. Vince Young. The moment where the "gamer" (stole that from Ron Wolfley) showed up. Instead, they're off to watch more film.

Earlier on Monday, ESPN's Adam Schefter said that Anderson has outplayed Leinart all camp long and suggested it was only a matter of time until Anderson unseats Leinart. Anyone who had spent any length of time at Camp Cardinals can easily refute the first claim but at this point I couldn't tell you who the leader in the clubhouse is for the starting QB job.

Leinart isn't doing anything to keep it. Anderson isn't doing anything to take it. And in that void we've been reduced to reading twitter to find the answers. Like this gem from Peter King of Sports Illustrated (@SI_PeterKing):

Probably not a good idea to take Matt Leinart in your fantasy draft. You can't take Anderson either. The cards are in big offensive trouble.


Last 5 Comments

  • Reply Abuse Vote
    Back to the Old Cardinals
    Cougar007
    This team has two problems, First, the O-Line for this team is terrible. And that is supposed to be one of their strengths. Second, the coaching staff needs to grow a spine and quit listening to the national media telling them that Matt Leinart is no good. Everyone needs to take a deep breath, realize that we are talking about the preseason here we have aQB that has completed 77% of his passes thus far. Or you can all keep screaming like idiots and when Leinart goes to a new team and becomes the next Manning drown in tears. The latter would be the traditional method for the Cardinals.
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    Matt Leinart
    Cougar007
    As a native Arizonan, I now remember why I despise the Arizona Cardinals. Here you have a guy that completed 77% (10/13) passes WITH NO INTERCEPTIONS in his two games of the PRESEASON and you are ranting like the guy has thrown 50 picks in the superbowl. Get over it. The guy is a great QB. You know the reason I know that I am right and the national media is wrong about Matt Leinart? Take a look at our power running game.
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    49'ers are team to watch
    Fred T
    1) Anderson's second errant pass had to be thrown behind the receiver. If you paid attention, there as a defensive person that would have intercepted a pas in front of the guy. The 1st pass was too high and hard. 2) Leinart isn't a leader. You don't slap away the hand of a O-lineman that is trying to help you up. That only gets you a "look out block". He comes across as a clueless immature QB. No wonder he only tok a "ball room dancing class" his Sr year.
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    Leinart
    Aero
    has talent. It showed when he was in college. The problem is... He had a great supporting cast that believed in him. That created confidence to get the ball down field. Matt, it is time to develop that confidence in your new supporting cast. Get reps, play for the love of the game instead of the glamor and money. This is your shot. Now or never baby! Some great college athletes cannot translate that talent to the show. Are you one of them? Sometimes I wonder if you are even interested any more. Show some fire!
  • Reply Abuse Vote
    Come on now....
    Bosty
    This is pre-season. Matt was only in for two possessions. He was 66% in passing which is pretty damned good. Cut the guy a break. For all intents and purposes he is a rookie and has to develope his confidence. Wiz needs to play him more then two sets if he expects to see anything. Anderson got to play most of the last two games. Fair is fair... Until Matt gets the same opportunity to show what he can do back off!!!
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