When Is Matt Leinart Going To Stop Messing Around And Sign ? He And The Cards Aren't Even Close To Agreement!

Question

His agent needs to stop with all these little games he's playing, so Leinart can get in there and learn that system Arizona has... Leinart could easily end all this now... be he wont... what do you think ???

All of the other first rounders have either signed or agreed to terms

Answer 1

The Arizona Cardinals are at an impasse, for now, with first-round quarterback Matt Leinart, the tenth overall pick in the draft who was expected to be drafted higher than that.

Some league insiders believe that Leinart is being screwed by the bad deal signed by linebacker Ernie Sims at No. 9 and the average contract given to quarterback Jay Cutler at No. 11. Sims is represented by agent Todd France, who also represented last year's No. 9 pick, cornerback Carlos Rogers of the Redskins. Because, as some league insiders believe, France did a bad deal in 2005 for Rogers, Sims and France were forced to work off of that same bad deal in the same slot in 2006, since the last thing France could do was bad-mouth the contract he negotiated for Rogers a year ago.

As a result, the Cardinals are offering (we're told) a six-year deal with relatively low guarantees and light backside payments.

Another factor that's emboldening the Leinart camp is that the Titans gave quarterback Vince Young a premium deal at No. 3. The thinking is that Young got an "owner's deal" driven by Bud Adams' desire to get Young into camp -- and to stick it to Texans owner Bob McNair by taking care of the Houston native on whom McNair passed. Adams still lives in Houston, and he moved the Oilers to Tennessee a decade ago.

We're also picking up indications that the situation could get ugly. Agent Tom Condon's new partner at CAA, Ben Dogra, isn't afraid to stage a long holdout to get the deal he wants. Dogra did it with Vikings tackle Bryant McKinnie in 2002, and we've heard rumblings that he would have done it with Raiders safety Michael Huff if the Raiders had insisted on a six-year deal for the seventh overall pick. Our guess is that the developing symbiosis between Condon and Dogra could prompt Condon to take a hard line.

Another thing we're hearing is that Leinart believes that Cardinals coach Dennis Green told Leinart when he was drafted that he'd be paid like the star that he is -- that the Cards would "shock the world" with the package given to the No. 10 pick.

But that's not the package on the table, and it appears that the two sides could be digging in for a protracted holdout.

BTW, Pro Football Talk Rumor Mill (linked below) is the best source for NFL gossip anywhere.

UPDATE - LEINART, CARDS STILL TALKING

Multiple sources with knowledge of the status of the negotiations between first-round quarterback Matt Leinart and the Arizona Cardinals tell us that the two sides are making progress.

"The money is close," said one source, who predicted a deal by the end of the week.

Another source confirmed that talks continue, but cautions that there has been no breakthrough, and that a deal could still be "days" away.

How many "days" away remains to be seen. John Clayton of ESPN suggested on Tuesday night's SportsCenter that the number is seven or less.

Leinart is the last of the unsigned first rounders. The tenth overall pick, Leinart's agents surely are trying to get a slot-busting contract, especially in light of perceptions that the guy drafted in front of him, linebacker Ernie Sims, got a bad deal. Also, the agents are likewise faced with making up lost ground in light of Leinart's unexpected slide on draft day.

Answer 2

I think E. James should still be on the Colts.
Seriously, though, this is exactly why he did not go top 5.

AZ is not used to dishing out money for players, which is why they have never really been competitive.
They have to be very careful or their payroll can get out of control really fast.
I think they should forget about Leinart and start investing in an O-Line or Edge and Warner will get killed.

Answer 3

God u guys r retarded. This is a business and Leinhart is just handling his. Arizona's front office is known for being cheap, Leinhart is just allowing his agent to do his job and get him paid. He's not starting this year so you all need shut da hell up bout him needing to get there as soon as possible. Stop blaming it on him when u dont even know whats goin on. Draft Picks hold out all the time this isnt nething new, and they still turned out well.

Answer 4

Because he's a coward. His teammates on the Cardinals won't be nearly as dominant as his college team was. He knows they'll find out the calibar of player he really is (Ryan Leaf?)

So, he knows he'd better get as much as he can this year, because after this he'll be running the drive through at Taco Bell

Answer 5

He should just get it over and sign, I don't know why he would hold out this long. He must think that he is the greatest quarterback ever or something!! Go figure he is from USC, the University of Spoiled Children!!!!

If he comes in he wants to start but that won't happen!!!

Answer 6

Dude the cards never sign their first rounders and I mean never without a long holdout. Trust me I live in Phoenix and the bidwells are the worst owners in the nfls history.

Answer 7

Leinart doesnt wanna play football. He wants to hang out Paris "Anorexic" Hilton. Hes a nobody. AJ Hawk could kick this pussys ***.

Answer 8

He's just pissed that he wound up in Arizona. He'll take out his childish frustrations on them, bomb out and not be heard from again.