Matt Leinart

[BaltimoreFan]

So far from what I have seen, I really like Matt Leinart. However I have heard alot of people saying he whines and cries alot. Is this just because you couldn't stand seeing him win or does he actually whine and cry. If so are their any articles or video clips that prove it. Thanks.

[Brass]

I think he'll be a complete NFL flop.

[redsfan39]

I think he'll be a complete NFL flop.

Not with his ballroom dancing experience.

[CaolinaJoe]

I think he'll be a complete NFL flop.

Because the last QB out of that system was a total flop also.

[See Red]

The man can throw the ball, that's for sure.

I've seen him play in 2 close games, and here's what I've seen that I don't like from him. Against Texas, fairly early in the game, Pete Carroll sends the offense out on 4th and short to try and draw the defense offsides -- that was the only reason he sent them out. Leinart decides on his own that he can get the first, and goes for the QB Sneak and gets stopped short. Later in that same game, he looked absolutely clueless as to what to do, turning a 10 yard pass to the sideliness into an 8 second ordeal. Against Notre Dame, is was a similar situation. He decided to tuck it and run on the second to last play, something that, in that situation, he certainly shouldn't have done. He was saved by his own fumble.

He's got talent, but those decisions he made would scare me some. I'd rather have a guy that played in, and won some, close games.

[FiddySicks]

The man can throw the ball, that's for sure.

I've seen him play in 2 close games, and here's what I've seen that I don't like from him.  Against Texas, fairly early in the game, Pete Carroll sends the offense out on 4th and short to try and draw the defense offsides -- that was the only reason he sent them out.  Leinart decides on his own that he can get the first, and goes for the QB Sneak and gets stopped short.  Later in that same game, he looked absolutely clueless as to what to do, turning a 10 yard pass to the sideliness into an 8 second ordeal.  Against Notre Dame, is was a similar situation.  He decided to tuck it and run on the second to last play, something that, in that situation, he certainly shouldn't have done.  He was saved by his own fumble.

He's got talent, but those decisions he made would scare me some.  I'd rather have a guy that played in, and won some, close games.

But you contradict your own statement. He DID play in and win some close games. In 2004 they won a couple close games, they beat Cal (who put up a good argument for #3 in the nation) by a touchdown, they beat UCLA by only 5, and in 2005 they beat Notre Dame (who was a VERY good team) in a thriller, they beat Fresno State (who has been consistantly underrated) by 8 (in fact, that game is why Fresno State lost the next 3, IMO. they just werent able to recover).

And honestly, can you blame the Rose bowl loss on Lienart? There were a ton of factors that led to Texas getting that win that didnt include Lienart. First off there was the Reggie Bush turnover (which i cant really blame him for, he was just trying to do too much), the LenDale White missed first down with about 2 mins to go in the game, and the fact that Vince Young ran all over that USC defense. And can you really blame Lienart for that last play? Had he not run to the sidelines and tried to get that pass off, he would have been killed and the game would have ended on a sack, rather than ending on Lienart trying to make something outta nothing.

[eqtmgr]

Look, I'll be one of the first people to admit that Leinart doesn't have avery strong arm. But what he does have is excellent accruacy. He proved that against Texas and many other opponents. His decision making is extremely good.

Let's for a second look at the Notre Dame game. Yes, the dive at the goalline was his decision. However, think of this. There is the possibility that he was given the option for the dive if it was there. And even if he wasn't, it was still a gutsy play call on his part. You can't really fault the guy for trying to win. That's been the problem with the Saints since 2001.

Since the 2000 playoff win, there have been countless times when Aaron Brooks made excessively poor decisions. There have been many times when many Saints fans questioned whether or not AB had a desire to win, or even took the game seriously enough. Here's an example. In 2002, the Saints lost by 31 to the Panthers with Chris Weinke as QB. Ironically, Jake Delhomme was sent into the game late in the 4th quarter. Brooks, who fumbled the ball twice and threw three interecptions, sat on the sideline smileing and joking around with teammates. He gave the appearance that he really did not care.

Now, I don't want to sit here and bash Brooks without giving some positive. He was one of the better QB's that the Saints had in the last decade. He has a very good career passer rating and finished the 2004 season with a bang. However, this season was excessively lackluster, as was the performance of most of the players. I just think that it's time that the Saints sat up, took notice, and drafted Leinart with the second pick. He's a QB of the future, especially with the OL that the Saints have.

Of couse, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

[WhoDey42]

He has some talent, but I'm not overly amazed with what I've seen. I think he'll be a mediocre NFL QB.

I lost a lot of respect for him after the things he said after the Rose Bowl loss. When he said "USC is still the best team in the country." and "We only lost by a couple inches." He gave absolutely no credit to Texas or Young.

[brinkeguthrie]

QBs are judged by two things. W's and Ls. Not Heisman's, Ws and Ls.

Two national titles is two more than 99.9% of all college QBs every get. He came thiiiiiiiiiiis close to three.

If he had gotten the third, NO ONE would question this guy. Three natl titles in a row would give him automatic entry into MYTHIC status..as the greatest college QB EVER, PERIOD.

As it is, he got two, and that's awful big.

He'll be great. How good? Who knows. Read this:

''He was considered something of a long shot; he didn't get drafted until the third round. ''

(Joe Montana.)

[Natsfan36]

just as long as hes not put on the cover of: Sports Illustrated or Madden

If hes not, then he will have a chance

[BCBoy]

He has good accuracy, but sometimes, he just loses it. In the wipe out against Cal in his final game, his accuracy looked terrible, he ended up 50% on the game, but he was off on a lot of his throws. He's a great QB, but sometimes I think the awesome USC WR's (Jarrett, Smith, McFoy, Byrd, etc.) make him look better with some of the great catches they make. Jarrett especially since he's 6'4 or 6'5 he can make a lot of balls that were underthrown or overthrown look right on target because of his long reach.

[brinkeguthrie]

just as long as hes not put on the cover of: Sports Illustrated or Madden

If hes not, then he will have a chance

SI. That's what nailed Brady.

Man of the Year...........

loses playoff.

[Steel Certain]

Peter Brady...uh....I mean Matt Leinert is in for a rude awakening in the NFL. He'll be going from a California God to a complete zero in the next three years. I hope he enjoyed his crazy days at USC at the BMOC...he'll be having Cafe Lattes at Starbucks with Ryan Leif and Ty Detmer talking about "the good ol' days" before you know it...

[NJTank]

I dont know he seems to have a good head on his shoulder and I think he will go through some tough times but will be a good QB.

[infrared41]

I think it depends on where he ends up. If he gets with the right team I think he'll be OK. If he ends up in New Orleans then forget it. I don't think he has the personality to adapt to getting his brains kicked in for 16 weeks a year for three or four years. A decent team should take a shot at trading up to get him. Someone like Washington or Dallas, maybe the Bears or Denver. I like his ability but I don't see him as a "franchise savior" like Vince Young or Reggie Bush. He needs to go where he won't be expected to do it all. Keep in mind that he had an awful lot to work with at USC.

[VitaminD]

Will he turn around the Saints in 1 season? Heck no. But how long did it take most young QBs do even make the playoffs?

McNabb: 3 seasons, plus he didn't play for a few games his first year behind the immortal Doug Pederson.

Eli: 2 seasons.

Palmer: 3 seasons.

Troy Aikman's 1st season, he was 1-15. Vinny Testaverde suffered through years in Tampa Bay.

He's not going to walk into a situation like Roethlisberger or Brady did, where decent teams were already in place, and he would just have to do his job and not screw it up. You won't be able to judge him for 3 years, and that's hoping the Saints have the sense to build a team around him, which can't be said of what the Texans did for David Carr. A decent RB and no O-line protection is not enough for some people not to label David Carr a "flop". He's not the problem. Leinart could be in for the same ordeal.

[RickV]

Ryan Leaf, Heath Shuler, Cade McNown, Tim Couch, Akili Smith, Rick Mirer, etc, etc, etc.

No one knows who will succeed and who will fail. If I remember, all of the above were thought of very highly by the so-called experts. Personally, I think he will fail and I think Brady Quinn will succeed, but hey, what the hell do I know??

[rmackman]

I think Matt Leinart will be a good quarterback, just not a stud. I'm thinking maybe Matt Hasselbeck level. Now would I want him? Sure depending on who else was available. Being in South Florida, I have a feeling this might happen... Vince Young's entry into the draft pushes some players down opening up the availability of Vanderbilt QB Jay Cutler to the Miami Dolphins. At 6'4" 225 lbs I think hes' exactly what Miami needs.

[brinkeguthrie]

Ryan Leaf. besides counting his dough, wonder what he's doing now? Biggest flop in draft history? Although that tackle for the Packers, Manderich, might be up there.

With the Bengals...(the team I have the most experience watching,) ----oh, Klingler..Akili..Hunley, drafted but never played..Ki-Jana, hurt from day one..Big Daddy...

You KNOW the Chargers have thought; 'if they had taken Leaf, we'd have had Manning." IF IF IF.

And then they wouldn't gotten thumbs down by Peyton's brother.

[paynomind]

OK, look at the QBs int he NFL playoffs. Know what the pattern here is? Smart, pocket passers with quick releases and accuracy.

Leinhart, for all of his over-ratedness in college, and all of his overblown hype has a good chance to be a good NFL QB.

As tired as I am hearing about it, if he goes to a West-Coast offense team, with short, quick throws, with 5 options, and a RB out of the backfield, he could find success.

That said, New Orleans isnt a good fit for him. Unless they end up with Mooch as a coach, and they trade or release Horn.