On Thursday, the Cardinals unexpectedly (but hardly surprisingly) demoted Matt “Three and Out” Leinart for the team’s third preseason game. In his place, Derek “High and Outside” Anderson will start against the Bears.
On Friday, Leinart discussed the situation, showing precisely the same maturity level that has landed him in his current predicament.
“I don’t know how you judge performance when you have 13 pass attempts to the other guy’s 40,” Leinart said, per Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic.
But, Matt, it’s not about the other guy. It’s about you.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt has seen far more than 13 pass attempts from Leinart in training camp practices, offseason practices, in-season practices, preseason games, regular-season games, and even postseason games.
But at least Leinart hasn’t become discouraged. “I believe that I’m going to be starting that opening game,” he said. As to a possible trade if he doesn’t win the job that he’s now losing, Leinart said that “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
Matt? Look to your left and then to your right. You’re on that bridge right now. And if you’re not careful you’re going to burn it down.
UPDATE: Somers has more comments from Leinart. And more in this case, from Leinart’s perspective, isn’t better.