When writing Houston’s post lockout checklist on Friday, I considered including backup quarterback as an area to look at.
Dan Orlovsky is due $2.75 million in 2011, but he stayed ahead of Matt Leinart all last year. Kubiak seems to like Orlovsky enough and the post was getting too long, so I just ignored the position.
Apparently the Texans are open to bringing Leinart back. John McClain of the Houston Chronicle writes the team “would love” to do just that. McClain just doesn’t see the scenario as particularly likely.
“Leinart wants to play for a team that’ll give him a chance to start. I see him being reunited with Pete Carroll,” McClain writes.
We doubt that chance to start is out there. And while the Texans “would love” to have Leinart back, it would probably be for a third quarterback’s salary. They’d let him compete with Orlovsky.
Leinart wants a better opportunity than that. But are we sure that a chance like that is out there, even from Carroll?
Teams weren’t exactly beating down Arizona’s door when Leinart was made available early last September. The Seahawks didn’t go after Leinart when he was cut.
We’d guess that Leinart is viewed no differently than a David Carr-type at best by most teams. He’s an option to be your backup, but it would be stunning if Leinart convinced a coach he was “The Guy” in training camp.
It’s possible Leinart won’t get a better opportunity than returning to Houston.