With Warner Signed, Teams Should Go After Leinart

Before you call me crazy, or you tell me that I have no idea what I'm talking about, let me remind you that I've proven I'm crazy for the last three months on this site. Now I present my new outrageous thought that maybe isn't so outrageous after all.

Every team that needs a quarterback should get the Arizona Cardinals on the phone. Now that Kurt Warner has signed on for the next two years, Matt Leinart is useless in Glendale. All he's going to do is hold a clipboard, barring an injury to Warner. That's why Matt Leinart could be available, and why teams without a clear solution at QB should be starting their next call with area code 623.

I'm talking to you, Minnesota Vikings, Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Chicago Bears.

I know what you're thinking.

Jordan, are you nuts? This has already been established. But Leinart stinks! His career passer rating is 71.7. He's appeared in just nine games over the last two seasons. And when he started 12 games in 2006, he threw more picks than touchdowns (12 INT, 11TD) and completed just under 57% of his passes. Not to mention the fact that his arm strength is suspect, his mobility is in question, and he has never proven over a full season he can get the job done.

I hear you. But here's my thinking. Matt Leinart was a great quarterback in college. A phenomenal quarterback in college. And if given the chance, he could be a serviceable option for a team without a quarterback. He's only had one full season to prove himself in the NFL, and that was his rookie year. How many quarterbacks are actually good their first year? I know, I know. Matt Ryan. But he's the exception not the norm.

Think about it. How could Leinart be worse than Daunte Culpepper, Drew Stanton, or Drew Henson? According to Yahoo sports, those are the three quarterbacks listend on the Lions depth chart. The answer is, it's highly unlikely Leinart would be worse.

Same thing with the Vikings. You're telling me Leinart couldn't be better than Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson? If you're the Bears, he couldn't compete with Kyle Orton for the starting job? And couldn't he compete with Luke McCown or Brian Griese in Tampa?

Leinart might be the best option in any of these four situations. In fact, if the Broncos are forced to trade Jay Cutler, maybe Leinart would be a good option in Denver.

He's not great. No one is saying he is. But he hasn't had the chance yet to truly prove whether he can be great. Knowing his track record in college, and the fact that he's had the chance to learn under Kurt Warner, conventional wisdom would suggest that he's probably a viable option for an NFL team with a quarterback in need.

Just a thought. Still think it's so crazy?

The Monday Morning Longsnapper

Credit Where Credit Is Due Edition

Jordan did have this game picked right, but, most people didn't give the Cardinals much of a chance in this game.  Most people didn't give the Cardinals credit a week ago, in Carolina.  Some even doubted their chances to beat the young Falcons, two weeks before that.  And now, for the third week in a row, they've shut us all up.  Except for Jordan.

What most people doubted (if I can confidently speak for the masses) was Arizona's defense.  People questioned whether or not a defense that was in the bottom five in the NFL in points allowed would be able to slow the Eagles.  Now, no one was confusing the Eagles with an offensive juggernaut but for whatever reason, we (at least, I) felt like stopping Atlanta and Carolina in consecutive weeks was merely happenstance.

Crushing DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart (not to mention making Jake Delhomme look like he was 70 years old) just wasn't enough to convince people.  Neither, apparently, was derailing another 2009 elite running back in Michael Turner and forcing 3 turnovers out of Matt Ryan.  Wasn't enough.  

Too soft, not a big game defense.

Then, they went up 21-6 in the first half, forced Donovan McNabb to make throws he didn't want to make, and generally had the heat on the Eagles in that first half.  Things certainly slowed down a bit in that third quarter for the Cards defense, but, the '85 Bears they ain't.  

The simple truth is that the Cardinals, lead by Jesus Christ and his lone disciple Kurt Warner, are a good team.  They weren't a good team all season, they were never the best team at any point in the season.  But, unfortunately for the Panthers and Giants and Eagles and any other team in the NFC, that's just not how it works.  

• Eagles Fans:  That wasn't a missed pass interference call on your second to last pass of the season.  Two things, Kevin Curtis (still my man), was falling down anyway, and McNabb's pass was offline as it was.  Not a PI, sorry.
• Some part of me feels good for the Cardinals.  If I had told you, two years ago, that in the same sports year, the "Devil" Rays would be playing in the World Series, and the Cardinals would be playing in the Super Bowl, there's no way you'd have believed me.  What's next, are the Nationals going to beat the Globetrotters?  Has the world gone completely mad?  Let me guess, the economy's going to tank too, and we're going to have a black president, right?  Sure...
• Brian Westbrook has to be more hurt than he lets on, because when you look back at the three games he played in, he really only had one play of note which was the long screen pass in the Minnesota game.  That was about it.  Average or bad the rest of the way.
• Players that probably wish they didn't play football professionally on Sundays:  Corey Ivy, Willis McGahee (ankle), Willis McGahee (neck)...and anyone else on Troy Polamalu's side of the field at any given time.
• On that note, obviously you hope McGahee comes out OK from the scare he got on the field yesterday.  I've never been a big fan of him, especially after his comments regarding night life in Buffalo, but the kid's tough.  He tore up basically everything possible in his knee in college, was banged up this year, and now this neck injury.  Word was he was moving his arms and legs and speaking easily, so those are obviously good signs.
• The score may have been close, but Baltimore wasn't really in the game as much as it may have seemed.  They seemed to be waiting on a big play, which Joe Flacco has been able to deliver fairly often.  But, against this Steelers D it just wasn't to be.  I expected him to fold completely after the early interception, but to his credit he held it together.  The pressure he never seemed to get a break from, the nearly flawless downfield coverage his receivers faced--it was just too much.  The Steelers D isn't particularly flashy, but they just hit you hard, and often and right in the mouth.
• Lastly, Limas Sweed, if you ever, ever, ever ever ever ever ever (sorry got sick of using commas) drop a pass again like the one at the end of the first half where you're wide open with a chance to blow open the game, I will personally come to Pittsburgh and smack the hell out of you.

Everything You Need To Get Ready For the the NFL's Divisional Round

Baltimore (+3) @ Tennessee

The Titans earned the right to home field throughout the playoffs, but they're probably the least dangerous top seeded team in recent years. Granted, that was because it was usually the Patriots on top of the AFC, and last year they entered the playoffs 16-0. But this Titans team can't possibly scare the Ravens, who come to town Saturday night.

The Titans have an excellent running game, featuring rookie Chris Johnson and the stout and mighty LenDale White. But Kerry Collins is a very ordinary quarterback, and their most productive receiver was Mizzou's own Justin Gage, who had just 651 yards. The Titans running game is good, but it can be stopped. The miserable Chicago Bears defense held this vaunted running game to 20 yards in week 10, and could easily be stopped by an excellent Ravens defense.

The Ravens defense last week single-handedly won the game against the Dolphins last week, by creating 5 Miami turnovers in a 27-9 convincing win. Joe Flacco went just 9-23 passing for 135 yards, but Chad Pennington threw 4 picks, including one that came back 64 yards for an Ed Reed touchdown. They're the sexy pick right now to upset Tennessee after the way they played last week, but keep in mind Jeff Fisher is an excellent coach who will have his team ready. Still, I like the Ravens, considering that defense wins championships (cliche but true), and while the Titans D is good, the Ravens' D is better, and hotter.

Scott's Pick: Baltimore Jordan's Pick: Baltimore

Arizona (+10) @ Carolina

Somehow, the Cardinals showed up last week and actually played a good game. Arizona stumbled into the playoffs playing pitifully, having lost four of six. But against Matt Ryan's Falcons, 'Zona played great defense, intercepting the rookie QB twice and even recording a safety. Arizona's offense played great, as Kurt Warner threw for 271 yards and 2 touchdowns, and he looked like the man many were considering an MVP candidate earlier in the season.

But it's no secret the Cardinals don't win on the road. The Cardinals were just 3-5 away from sunny Glendale and Carolina did not lose at home. That's right. The Panthers went 8-0 in Charlotte this season. So by any measuring stick, this is not an easy game for the Cardinals to come in and win, especially when you consider Arizona's last road win came at lowly Seattle November 16th.

Carolina only lost 4 games this season, and already beat the Cardinals at home, 27-23. The Panthers have won four of their last five games too, the only loss coming at the Giants, who hold the #1 seed in the NFC. Carolina has a good running game, and good receivers. They have a good defense, and solid special teams. They are a definite force in this year's playoffs and will win this game. With the line being 10 however, it's hard to pick a playoff game to have that wide a margin. That's why I'll pick Arizona to cover, even if they barely cover it.

Scott's Pick: Carolina Jordan's Pick: Arizona

(Then again though, go with Scott. Remember, I'm 0-4 in this year's playoffs.)

Everything You Need To Get Ready for Wild Card Weekend

Sunday Edition

Here are the results of Saturday's picks:

As usual, Scott fared better than me.  We both lost with the Cardinals defeating "our" Falcons in the afternoon game.  Scott won the night cap as the Chargers got some help from the referees and an outrageous performance by Darren Sproles to beat the Colts at home.  So Scott went 1-1, and the self-proclaimed "blithering idiot" (Jordan), went 0-2.

Baltimore (-3) @ Miami

Now that the Dolphins successfully completed the worst to first story line after beating the Jets in New York last week, they'll face a very tough six seed in the Ravens on Sunday.  Ravens QB Joe Flacco has been an excellent game manager this year, as Scott pointed out in the Saturday edition of this preview.   But if he performs like the other rookie quarterback in this year's playoffs, Falcons QB Matt Ryan, it's going to be a quick exit for the Ravens.  

On the other side of things, while the Dolphins are the higher seed and have the home game, they are the underdogs because the Ravens were really a better version of them this season.  The Ravens offense ranked 11th in the NFL this season while the Dolphins ranked just 21st.  On the defensive side of the ball, Baltimore, known for its stifling defense ranked 3rd in the league, allowing just over 15 points per game.  Miami's defense was much improved and very good this year too, but ranked 9th in the league allowing almost 20 points per game.

By the numbers, the Ravens would obviously have the edge.  But the Dolphins have continued to silence their critics this season after an excellent 11-5 run in a tough AFC East.  And, whenever it seems the Dolphins aren't supposed to win, they continue to do so time and time again.  That's why I like Tony Sparano's 'Fins in the early match-up.  But, why listen to me?  I'm always wrong.

Scott's Pick:  Baltimore Jordan's Pick:  Miami

Philadelphia (-3) @ Minnesota

After their infamous tie against the Bengals in which Donovan McNabb idiotically admitted he didn't know an NFL game could end in that fashion, the beleaguered QB has been nothing short of spectacular since.  He has thrown 9 touchdown passes and 1 interception during that stretch, and has once again silenced his critics and the lunatic Eagles fans that were once again ready to run him out of town.  Despite the Eagles up and down season, and their bizarre 9-6-1 record, Philadelphia is a dangerous team to tangle with in the playoffs.  Under Andy Reid, the Eagles have never lost a first round playoff game, and they have reached the NFC Championship four times.

The Vikings on the other hand have had a series of disappointments in the playoffs recently.  Then again, they usually burn out and fail to make it to the post season, but with Chicago's loss in Houston last week the Vikes clinched before their win over the Giants on a last second field goal by Ryan Longwell.  While they have an incredible running game with the incomparable Adrian Peterson and former feature back Chester Taylor, their passing game is their X-factor.  If Tavaris Jackson (or maybe even Gus Frerotte) is bad, conventional wisdom would suggest the Vikings have no chance of being serious playoff contenders.  It's likely that Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson will challenge the Vikings quarterbacks to beat them and stuff the box to contain Peterson.  If they can get some solid QB play, however, this could be a long day for the Eagles.  The Metrodome is one of the loudest and most difficult venues for road teams in the NFL.

The Eagles are a better team than the Vikings, but the Vikings defense can keep the Philly offense in check.  And with the Vikings having home field advantage and a lot to prove in this year's playoffs, expect them to come up with a big victory at home against the Eagles.

Scott's Pick:  Philadelphia Jordan's Pick:  Minnesota

Everything You Need To Get Ready for Wild Card Weekend

Saturday Edition

The first round of playoff football is finally upon us, after 17 weeks of watching battling, and playoff jockeying, and eventual choking, the supposed cream of the crop, the league's best 12, have risen to the top.  Eight of them square off this weekend, in a battle for the right to move on to face teams that are way, way better than them.

Falcons (+1) @ Cardinals

First of all, if you saw this one coming, pat yourself firmly and squarely on the back.  Matter of fact, have someone else do it so you don't have to do any more work.  Well done.

Second of all, this one should be a fun one, if only because it's something new.  Don't get me wrong, Colts/Chargers is compelling, and has provided great playoff drama in the past.  However, as most baseball fans agree, Yankees/Red Sox games get a little boring after the 100th time.  Point is, this game features some new playoff blood, both teams haven't been here in a bit.  Both teams feature offenses that can put up points in an absolute hurry.  

The rub, as they say in the movies, comes from two pointed differences in these two teams. First, both are quite prone to giving up yards, however, the Cards are in the bottom 5 in the league in points allowed per contest at just under 30.  The other problem Arizona faces is that they couldn't have played much worse football down the stretch of the season to "tune up" for the playoffs.  After a hot 7-3 start, the Cardinals dropped four of six, and at least 35 points in every loss.

Atlanta, on the other hand, finished the season 5-1, with impressive victories against Carolina and Tampa Bay, and at Minnesota and at San Diego.  We all know that Matt Ryan's a rookie QB, and how rare that is for him to be starting a playoff game (only 3 other guys have done it, and one was Shaun King).  That said, he hasn't Joe Flacco'd his way through this season.  Ryan's had to carry an offense at times, not simply manage it.  And, as the team's success indicates, he's done a pretty damn good job.  With such a small line, I'm going with Atlanta, behind one of the league's best new running backs Michael Turner and star rookie QB Matt Ryan.

Scott's Pick: Falcons  Jordan's Pick: Falcons

Colts (-1) @ Chargers

Before we get into this one, is there a more blatant example that the idea of division winners getting automatic home field in the first round is absolutely moronic?  Here's a San Diego team that backed into the playoffs, largely due to Denver's never ending, confounding incompetence.  All Indy's been doing since Week 9 is winning, plain and simple.

Then again though, LaDainian Tomlinson did look mighty spry against that Denver D.  Now, that is a swiss cheese defense, no one's doubting that, but, for the first time in a while, LT looked like his old self again, making cutbacks, exploding into the open field. Indy's been susceptible to the run game this year (122 ypg), so if Tomlinson's feeling good again, this one could be swung to the home team.

Still though, it is hard to pick against a team that's won nine straight and has the league MVP, unless, you're negative and you're constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop.  

But, if we may for just a second, let's take a look at that nine game winning streak.  Credit where credit is due, Indy did beat Pittsburgh on the road and New England at home.  However, of the other seven games, not one was against a winning record (if you take out a meaningless win against Tennessee in the final week of the season).  Houston, San Diego, Cleveland, Cincy, Detroit and Jacksonville all had under-500 records at the time they faced the Colts.  Cleveland, Cincy, Detroit and Jacksonville just happen to be four of the worst teams in the NFL.  Not so impressive now, huh?

And so, I'm going with San Diego, if only because I want to see a last gasp effort out of LT and finally see Philip Rivers get some credit.  He had the year of his life, and it's not nearly talked about as much as it should be.  I expect he and LT to step up big time, because they're going to need it in this one. 

Scott's Pick:  Chargers  Jordan's Pick:  Colts