Matt Leinart Makes Strong Bid for Backup Job

Matt Leinart had a nice little game against the Chiefs last week, coming off the bench to complete 6 of 9 passes for 54 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. After the game he said something about not living in fear of losing his job if he makes an errant throw, a bad read, or doesn't execute a textbook three-step drop.

"That's not the way I approach it," he said. "No one is perfect. No one is going to make the play every single time. Obviously, there's going to be bad plays. No one is perfect. You are not going to throw a great ball every time. If I worried about that I wouldn't be playing football."

Well, he may not be worried about it, but he could have plenty of time to contemplate his soon-to-be Sunday afternoon fate: standing on the sidelines pretending to hope Kurt Warner, newly installed Cardinals starter, doesn't throw a pick-six on his next attempt. You see, Leinart, who's had a horrendous record against the Raiders, made his way to Oakland for a Week 3 preseason game and promptly laid an egg.

He finished the evening 4 of 12 for 24 yards, no touchdowns and three interceptions. On the upside, the Cards still managed to win the game. Still, the Arizona Republic's Kent Somers suspects that such an outing won't do much for Leinart's shot at the full-time gig. Shocking, I know.

Only one of his passes, a 14-yarder to receiver Anquan Boldin, seemed to be thrown with much conviction or accuracy. It's hard to see Saturday's video helping Leinart keep the job.

Warner started slowly when he entered late in the first half. When pressured on a third down, he fumbled the ball, but the Cardinals recovered. He presided over two touchdowns to open the second half, although he didn't have a lot to do with them other than one 25-yard pass to Boldin. Warner couldn't say if Saturday brought him closer to the starting job.

Warner doesn't have to say it because Leinart's play did most of the talking. I blame it on potty-mouthed preteens.