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.