NFL Rumors – Arizona Cardinals Trying To Trade Matt Leinart

The failed marriage of Matt Leinart and the Arizona Cardinals is heading towards an ugly divorce. While many thought that the retirement of Kurt Warner would lead to Leinart’s expected ascension, the arrival of Derek Anderson has made the former first round draft pick expendable. NFL rumors persist that the Oakland Raiders, New York Giants and Buffalo Bills are making a strong push to acquire Matt Leinart.

Three quick questions about this whole melo-drama:

1) Should Leinart be used as a career backup? Is that his destiny?

2) Is Leinart really that much worse than Anderson?

3) If they risk trading Leinart, how much longer until Larry Fitzgerald follows?

Both the Oakland Raiders and New York Giants have injuries to their current starters. Jason Campbell was hammered in a preseason game and is recovering from a stinger. Jim Sorgi, who had signed with the Giants in the off-season, is now injured for the season and the Giants need a suitable backup plan for Eli Manning.

So if Leinart was traded to either team, his role would be as a backup quarterback which is exactly why he’s unhappy in Arizona. Doesn’t sound like the right move for the player, though attractive trade package offers from either team could bring this NFL rumor to fruition.

Let’s not be too optimistic about Matt Leinart’s potential. He’s 27-years old after all, and has never really popped in an NFL uniform the way he made waves on a stacked USC Trojans team during his college days. In four NFL seasons he’s never played more than 12 games in a year, and that was way back in his rookie season.

Leinart’s career stats don’t exactly make him an attractive asset anymore. Over four years, he’s amassed just 29 games, a 57.1 completion percentage, 3,983 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s also thrown 20 interceptions.

That being said, if any team is desperate for a quarterback, it’s the Buffalo Bills who are staring down a triple barreled shotgun composed of Trent Edwards, Brian Brohm and Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback. While Leinart is probably far better than all three of those guys, he actually hasn’t proven it in Arizona.

On top of that he has a base salary of $2.76 million this year which skyrockets to over $7 million next year. That’s not money you want to pay a guy who might not be good enough to be a starting quarterback. Sources close to the Buffalo Bills are shooting down the NFL rumor that the team is pursuing Leinart actively.

The Bills and Browns are the only two teams that make complete sense for Matt Leinart, which is ultimately the sad truth about his career. If Buffalo really thinks he’s not worth it, then fine. But one thing Leinart knows how to do is play with an electric running-back and C.J. Spiller could revitalize his career in Buffalo.

I don’t really care where Leinart ends up because I don’t think he’s that good at the pro level. This is a huge gamble for Arizona, however, because if Derek Anderson doesn’t work out and they trade Leinart, the guys backing him up are John Skelton and Max Hall.