Life In The DPC!

News of Matt Leinart losing his starting quarterback job to Kurt Warner have been greatly exaggerated.

“Contrary to everything (reported), nothing has changed,” Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “We have not made a decision. We have not named Kurt the starting quarterback.”

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen, citing unnamed sources, reported on Monday that the Cardinals we’re naming Warner their starting quarterback.  Leinart went 4 for 12 with 3 interceptions in last Sunday’s exhibition against the Oakland Raiders.

Going into the 2008 season it was widely assumed that the starting job was Leinart’s to lose. Unfortunately his less than stellar play, along with the ageless play of the former Super Bowl MVP Warner, have many scribes staing that the NFC West is not the PAC 10 and maybe he is not suited rise to the dizzying highs in the NFL.

DavidPatrickCastro.com is pro Leinart endeavor and still feels that he will suceed in the NFL. Other pundits have begun to right him off  but the former Heisman winner will ultimately play up to his potential and lead the Cardinals.

Life In The DPC is eagerly waiting for the release of Madden NFL ‘09 on August 12th, 2008. It’s sad but true that Madden NFL 2008 is still on heavy rotation at the palatial estate of your scribe considering that there are minimal changes from each annual edition. Like the main difference from the ‘07 edition to the ‘08 edition is the exclusion of Pacman Jones but in an act of hypocrisy Tank Johnson and Chris Henry were both included.

Maybe I was irked by the exclusion of Pacman Jones because he is a member of the DPC Madden All Stars (i.e. players that I always have on my Madden Franchise Teams). With Pacman booted out of the ‘08 version I had to go to my back up defensive back Antrel Rolle. (Keep in mind Rolle is on the DPC All Stars because he was involved in the greatest “tackle” I witnessed in person. The aforementioned tackle, and YouTube link, are not given justice by the Zapruder-esque video but I thought Larry Johnson had broken his neck during the play.)

The DPC Madden All Stars recently took a bad hit when their wide receiver Matt Jones got busted for alleged possession of a controlled substance after he may have been found cutting up cocaine with a credit card while sitting in a car in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Jones made the DPC All Stars for the same reason that the Jaguars made him a first round draft pick;a 4.40 40-yard dash to go along with his 6′6″ and 232 lbs. measurements.

With a little over a month to go before Madden ‘08 is released the DPC All Stars will likely include:

QB: JaMarcus Russel (The heir apparent to Jeff George)
HB: Reggie Bush, Michael Bennett
FB:LenDale White (I know he’s a halfback but I line him up as fullback because of his girth and speed)
WR: Matt Jones, Drew Carter, Mike Williams, Nate Burleson
TE: Greg Olson
DB: Pacman Jones, Antrel Rolle

Yes, I realize that the NFL Draft was on April 26th but I recently moved back to Phoenix and I am finally getting my affairs in order. With that said, here is The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of The 2008 NFL Draft. Also please keep in mind that I watched the NFL Draft at University of Phoenix Stadium, home of your Arizona Cardinals, at their Draft Party. I often thought that I should focus my attention on more pressing issues, like the Election, but I wasted my afternoon with my Cardinals brethren (A surprising amount, truth be told. I often thought I had no life but they were also holding an RC Plane show at the stadium too, so I feel a bit better about DPC. Not much but a little bit better)

The Good:

Atlanta Falcons: They’re doing their best to put the Michael Vick fiasco behind them and regain some of their fans back and the additions of Matt Ryan and Sam Baker are a good start. I am not overly sold on Matt Ryan but if I was a Falcons fan I’d be stoked by the simple fact that Joey Harrington isn’t my best quarterback option.

Oakland Raiders: They’re using the same template as the 2007 Minnesota Vikings (i.e. a lack of a passing game can be overshadowed by an abundance of talented running backs). I don’t think Darren McFadden will be as dominant as Adrian Peterson but he will definitely come up large. Al Davis also took a gamble on a pair of physically gifted wide receivers ( Chaz Schilens and Arman Shields) to maintain the perceived threat of the Vertical Stretch.

The Bad:

Any Quarterback that DPC thought would be good: Andre Woodson was once considered a top flight prospect and fell to the sixth round (NY Giants), John David Booty 5th round (Minnesota Vikings) and of course Colt Brennan (Washington in the sixth round). Brennan’s fall from grace wasn’t surprising due to his performance at the Cotton Bowl and showing under weight and dismally performing at the Senior Bowl. Woodson surprised me. Maybe because I thought he would be picked up by the third round after a productive career at Kentucky. Booty was hard to predict because he played in pro style offense but was considered to a second day pick, which he was, and just lacking in positive NFL qualities. I am not sure what he is lacking because he had a good career at USC, of course he wasn’t Carson Palmer or Matt Leinart, which likely explains a lot about his public perception.

The Ugly:

Chicago Bears: Mainly for avoiding that whole lack of a quarterback issue. I know it is getting redundant to harp on the Bears for their lack of a tip/top QB but one has to wonder if GM Jerry Angelo is risking his career with an abnormal infatuation with Rex Grossman? That and apparently drafting a running back, Matt Forte, has driven Cedric Benson off the deep end or at least off their roster. Which could be a blessing in disguise since the former first round draft pick has proven to be the anti-Walter Payton (or is that Bizarro Payton?)

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart has been admonished by head coach Whisenhunt for his party boy lifestyle. Apparently his beer bonging skills aren’t respected by the Cardinals.

“I reiterated to him the type of behavior that we expect at all times from our players,” coach Whisenhunt said. “He understands that as well as the level of scrutiny that he’s under because of who he is. It’s being handled internally.”

I don’t fault Leinart for a bit of decadence because he has had a batch of bad luck. Last June he was ordered to pay $15,000 a month in child support and he played in only five games last season due to a broken collarbone.

1) The Raiders should avoid trading their 2nd round pick to Atlanta for DeAngelo Hall. There is little doubt that Hall is supremely talented and would be an asset to a less than stellar Oakland defense but did he ever live up to his potential? It is the opinion of this scribe that the Raiders would be better suited to go after Pacman Jones. Also Pacman wouldn’t cost $70,000,000 over 7 years like Hall.

2) The 49ers are reaching with their recent free agent signing of Bryant Johnson. If you can’t become a tip/top receiver under Dennis Green in all likelihood you never will. But he is an upgrade over most of the wideout talent in San Francisco. On a related note I think the signing of Isaac Bruce was a good idea. He’s a Martz guy and will ideally bring some maturity and poise to a young 49er squad.

3) Ezra Butler, of University of Nevada fame, will be a solid pro.

The Arizona Cardinals hosted Super Bowl XLII last weekend and like usual they were nowhere near appearing in it. I predicted a 10-6 2006 and I was way off base. In 2007 I figured they would improve a little bit and they made me a visionary as they leaped from 5-11 in 2006 to 8-8 in 2007. For the most part I am not overly optimistic fella but in the “Any Given Sunday” NFL developed by Pete Rozelle the Cardinals have a legitimate chance of making a championship run. I have never articulated this notion due to embassment but a legitimate news outlet sorta shares my sentiments.

There were minimal Arizona Cardinals updates for the 2007 season. I did my best to follow the Cards but due to moving to Nor Cal I had almost no access to games and misc. news. In 2008 I’ll do my best to amend this problems. Heck, I’ll start right now.
Leinart Back in the Saddle with Kristin Cavallari

No changing diapers last weekend - Arizona Cardinals QB Matt Leinart was in Vegas partying with old flame Kristin Cavallari, who was celebrating her 21st birthday. Laguna Beach fans (it was a solid show before it turned into the dreck that is The Hills and that horrible Newport Beach garbage) may recall that the two dated during the show’s first season, when he was at USC and she was a high schooler.

If you’re keeping score at home, Hollywood Leinart’s resume, real and perceived: Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Shannen Doherty, Alyssa Milano and Brynn Cameron. Cavallari would probably be his best score, since she lacks in the deranged department, and is actually hot. This puts him firmly in Romo/Brady land, except, you know, he needs to a) stay healthy and b) win a few more games.

Scene and Heard (Review-Journal)
First Friday of 2008 (Vegas Eye)

Vinny Testaverde became the oldest starting quarterback, age 43, to win a game as he lead the Carolina Panthers over the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals were forced to use Tim Rattay after injuries to Matt Leinart and Kurt Warner. All praise to Testaverde aside, and he deserves it, but where is Jeff George?

At this point in the 2007, and this is no different than any other season, starting quarterbacks are dropping like flies or they are just incompetent. Am I being a bit off base when I say that George is better suited to lead the Chicago Bears than Rex Grossman, Brian Griese or Kyle Orton? Would you rather have Trent Dilfer at the helm of the 49ers? If Kerry Collins is getting a paycheck where is the love for the former number one pick out of Illinois?

It is a foregone conclusion that Devin Hester and the Chicago Bears vs. Arizona Cardinals Monday night match up would be the highlight of my existence in Phoenix. It still comes up in idle chatter about once a week (this down from daily) and it is difficult for me to explain that Monday Night Football is an event in every city where the carnival stops during the season. The Cardinals and their fans were shocked to be part of Monday Night Football and the city was buzzing over being on a national stage for something besides hosting the Fiesta Bowl. Despite the buzz Matt Leinart came out gunning and Rex Grossman tanked (foreshadowing the Super Bowl?) and the Bears were down throughout until the defense came up large and set the stage for Hester…

I wrote Number 4 back in May. Thank you for the good times, Richie Anderson.

DPC and Richie Anderson