Leinart could learn from Young

Disgruntled Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart stands at a crossroads. Once a collegiate superstar, national champion, and heisman trophy winner. Leinart now stares down the barrel of another season holding another clip board. It appears that newly acquired free agent Derek Anderson will lead the team on to the field in week one. Anderson replaces retired great Kurt Warner, who also came in as a free agent and won the job from Leinart. Did I mention Leinart was a top ten draft pick in the 2006 draft? I'll give Leinart a pass for being replaced by Kurt Warner. There is only a handful of quarterbacks that can send Warner to the bench, even if he suited up today. But Anderson? With all due respect, Derek Anderson was labeled a bust in Cleveland and was benched for Brady Quinn. Yes, that Brady Quinn. No general manager in the nfl will pay a quarterback top ten money to be a perennial backup. It must be the performance on the field. Leinart to this point has not shown that he is ready to quarterback an nfl team. His latest outburst about out playing Anderson and possible collusion have done him no favors in the front office or locker room. As if to say the head coach would risk his own job and reputation to pay back a personal vendetta. That's ego personified.

Leinart could learn a lesson from fellow collegiate superstar and 2006 top ten pick Vince Young. Young started out of the gate fast in Tennessee, earning rookie of the year honors and a spot on the nfl Madden cover. Things quickly went sour as the defenses caught up to his scrambling ability and forced him to be an accurate pocket passer. The outcome was disastrous. Young found himself on the bench and worst of all, labeled a quitter by his team mates after a third grade meltdown in the first game of the 2008 season. Young's fall from grace was long, hard, and public. His response? He humbly accepted his demotion and watched back up Kerry Collins lead the team to a 10-0 start and league best 13-3 record. Young's career in Tennessee looked finished, but he never gave up and quietly studied behind Kerry Collins. Young spent less time partying and more time in the playbook. Young committed himself to the off season program. But most importantly, Young went to head coach Jeff Fisher privately and asked what he needed to do to get his starting job back. After a year and a half of hard work and a twist of fate, Young enters week one as starting quarterback for the Tennessee Titans. A move that was welcomed by his team mates who view Young as much improved and a leader on the team. To this date Vince Young has never lost to Matt Leinart in head to head competition. Both are equally talented. The game could be won before they take the field.

Jets have Hard Knocks offense

I have not had the pleasure of watching all of the Hard Knocks episodes with the Jets as their 2010 star. I have watched their offense in the preseason though, and the show was much more entertaining. I now give head coach Rex Ryan a break for the swearing. I am not sure Gandhi could have contained himself while watching one stalled drive after another. The New York Jets are a team with super bowl expectations, not aspirations and Rex Ryan is a smart man. He knew when he wrote "soon to be champs" on that espn bus that he had to get his all world cornerback Darrelle Revis into camp. He knows his only shot is to somehow resurrect the 2000 Ravens and will their way to a title on defense. Rex Ryan also knows that his offense, and turnover prone quarterback Mark Sanchez specifically, is not equipped to carry the team through January if need be. Ryan's defense finished number one in the league last year and the Jets only snuck in the playoffs by the graciousness of Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Two teams who rested their starters, knowing full well they might face the same team again when it really mattered. The Jets have a tough schedule and some potent offenses on the horizon. Even with Revis the Jets will need to put up some points. So do what you have to do Rex. Scream, swear, film. Just get that offense on track before the championship bus leaves without you.

Manning, Woodson still great

While watching Thursday night's preseason game between the Packers and the Colts, I couldn't help but notice that Peyton Manning and Charles Woodson are still the best at what they do. Manning and Woodson have been consistantly great in a strikenly similar way. Both were born in 1976. Both finished the 1997 college football season as the best two players at their position, Manning as quarterback for the University of Tennessee and Woodson as a corner back and return specialist for Michigan. Woodson untimately won the heisman and national championship, but the race between he and Manning was so close it was deemed an "upset" by most. Both were drafted in the top five of the 1998 NFL draft. Manning was named first team all rookie and Woodson was the defensive rookie of the year. Both have been to multiple pro bowls throughout their careers, and both are at the top of their game today. Manning enters the 2010 season as the reigning mvp and Woodson enters as the reigning defensive player of the year. I am growing to appreciate their careers now more than ever. I hope they retire together and enter the hall of fame together.

Happy Returns for Titans

The Tennessee Titans and their fans were pleased with their 24-10 preseason win over the Arizona Cardinals. The fans were especially pleased, as there has not been much to cheer about in the city of Nashville since the last Titans home game. Flood damage and recovery took a back seat to Chris Johnson, Vince Young, and football. Yes, we are well aware it was a preseason game and some marque players were out. But they won, and we looked good doing it. Chris Johnson seemed to be in mid season form. Players raved over Vince Young's improvement with his accuracy and leadership in mini camps. Last night's performance shows that he might, I said might, finally turn the corner. The defense dominated on third down and the return game was much improved as well. The Titans have a flock of physical back up running backs to complement the league's ultimate weapon in Johnson. Tennessee looked like the team that finished the season 8-2 last year. All preseason games aren't meaningless.

Cowboys in unfamiliar place

The Dallas Cowboys are the favorite team of America's favorite sport. Football season has finally arrived and the Boys are defending NFC champs. They play in the state of Texas for goodness sakes! But on the eve of their first home preseason game, the Cowboys find themselves in an unfamiliar role, second fiddle. The headline grabbing Texas Rangers are the new toast of Dallas. A role far different than the usual stop gap between the Mavs and Cowboys. I am a Dallas resident and less than casual baseball fan, but I've been bit by the bug too. It's hard not to root for a rags to riches story, and I do mean that figuratively and literally. From leading the division in August to "stealing" Cliff Lee from the Bronx bullies. As I am writing this, Cliff Lee is putting it to the Yankees. All while being bankrupt. The bidding war and he said he said court room drama that ensued only served as a backdrop. This team is likable, and really really good. They have always been the underdogs and it's hard not to root for them. Then it seemed like out of the blue the Cowboys were on last Sunday night. Don't get me wrong, the Cowboys are and will always be top dog in Texas, but for now the radio stations and sports page are Texas first, Texas often. It will be interesting to see what would happen should the Rangers continue to win as the regular season approaches for the Cowboys. I hope we get to find out.