Bulger Reportedly Draws Interest From Cardinals; Leinart Remains Starter

by Andrew602 on May 21, 2010 5:24 PM MDT

As Vasilii pointed out in a fanshot earlier today, Yahoo Sports' Jason Cole reported that the Cardinals were interested in free agent quarterback Marc Bulger and could sign him come July. Cole had the following to say:

If the situation doesn't improve, expect coach Ken Whisenhunt to make a play for Bulger. The thinking is that the Cardinals may be able to revive Bulger's career in much the same way they revived Warner's career the past three years.

I'm sure that could be likley - with another team. Cole also reported that the coaching staff "hasn't been terribly impressed" with Matt Leinart or Derek Anderson so far this offseason. Those reports are contrary to anything we've heard so far from Ken Whisenhunt, which makes me believe this report is nothing more then an attempt to stir up controversy in Cardinals camp. Obviously until Matt Leinart proves anything, the critics and "experts" will continue to dwell on the situation in hopes that a change is made at quarterback.

For now, Leinart remains the starter for the Cardinals and will likely keep the starting gig until training camp. When that time comes, Derek Anderson will get a better chance to challenge for the starting job. In the meantime, these so-called experts will rip into Leinart and speculate the Cardinals next offseason move.

For the record, the Cardinals three quarterbacks in 2010 will be Matt Leinart, Derek Anderson, and John Skelton...there, I said it

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Urban doesn't buy it, and now PFT is saying we should get Russell too.

http://blog.azcardinals.com/2010/05/21/the-qbs-arent-named-bulger/

It can be no surprise Marc Bulger was, once again, linked to the Cardinals despite the presence of Matt Leinart, Derek Anderson and rookies John Skelton and Max Hall.

I haven’t been able to get in touch with general manager Rod Graves, but he told NFL.com’s Steve Wyche the team is "not actively engaged in discussion with Marc Bulger" and "right now, we’re not looking outside of our group."

"If he is interested, we’re appreciative but right now, we’re focused on the guys that we have here," Graves said. "Matt has done a great job so far but so has Derek Anderson and our young guys. I’ve learned to never say never. Who knows what may happen? (Coach) Ken (Whisenhunt) hasn’t made any final decisions on who will be the starter at quarterback. Right now, we’re not looking outside of our group. That’s not our focus."

(UPDATE: Graves got back to me via e-mail, echoing the same thoughts. Included was this: "Questions regarding the depth chart or who will be the starter will be answered by Ken.")

It certainly doesn’t put the Bulger possibility to bed. But just yesterday, Whisenhunt — asked generally about who stood out — without prompting talked about his current quarterbacks. "I thought the quarterbacks threw the ball very well this week," Whisenhunt said. "That was nice to see."

It’s not exactly an endorsement for the season, but it is praise — something that, if the Cards were that disappointed with the group, I wouldn’t think Whiz would say. I still think the starter this season is already on the roster, and I still think it’ll end up being Leinart. I do think, if Bulger were to sign, it would basically end any thoughts Leinart would have of being QB here. It would create an awfully awkward situation. And again, it’s May. NFL media is looking to find something to talk about when nothing much is going on (I know I am), and the quarterback situation here lends itself to speculation.

The rumors won’t stop, regardless. Profootballtalk.com just posted an entry "Don’t rule out JaMarcus Russell in Arizona." Yeah, well, I think I’m going to rule him out right now.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.

by JoeCB1991 on May 21, 2010 6:07 PM MDT reply actions

Sure seems like some people are bored right about now

It’s the media starting speculation just for the sake of doing it. You’d think they’d be paying attention to the Santana Moss situation or something.

When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson

by Red Reign on May 21, 2010 6:26 PM MDT up reply actions

Yeah, bored and stupid.

Honeslty, no other NFL team needs a quarterback? I guess no one believes that Matty can start. I’m just tired of hearing the Cards are interested in all these turds.

by ksredbird on May 21, 2010 6:47 PM MDT up reply actions

Sounds like

Cole was nearing a deadline, so he plagiarized Peter King’s imagination for some copy. Dumb and Dumber apparently became sports writers.

by Long Beach on May 21, 2010 9:27 PM MDT reply actions

Where does this come from? LOL

Regardless of what anyone thinks of Matt we won’t know until preseason. If a move like this happened you know the coaching staff would be making a statement. Our practices etc have been just to open for someone to not have picked up on Matt or D doing so poorly that Whiz is tossing the towel in May!

by Punisher3190 on May 21, 2010 9:52 PM MDT reply actions

Cole is always the one that has been bashing Leinart.

I think that he is just trying to grasp at straws. I doubt that the “team sources” he had are anyone that is really important. Probably a janitor or something.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.

by JoeCB1991 on May 21, 2010 10:02 PM MDT reply actions

Probably Andersons agent

They are who we thought they were!

by Jesse Reynolds on May 21, 2010 10:24 PM MDT up reply actions

Or HardHat of course.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.

by JoeCB1991 on May 21, 2010 10:38 PM MDT up reply actions

Texans fan here:

this question is irrelevant from Matt Leinart. There has been a lot of talk throughout many blogs about Andre Johnson vs Larry Fitzgerald. Fitz is a great target in the endzone and is the best deep ball threat in the league possibly. But besides that, what else is he good at? I don’t watch the Cards so I can’t say AJ is better than Fitz, but it seems to me that AJ racks up a lot more catches and yards than Fitz. So the question is, what are Fitz’s strengths and weaknesses? And do you think he is the best WR in the league?

"You got to believe in yourself. Hell, I believe I'm the best-looking guy in the world and I might be right."- Charles Barkley

by bone31crusher on May 22, 2010 10:50 AM MDT reply actions

Fitz can go up and catch just about anything in his vicinity even with defenders crawling all over him.

Andre Johnson impresses the hell out of me. Even as a Cardinals fan I’d give him the edge. I don’t see much disparity in talent between the two.

I don’t know about how their stats compare but keep in mind Fitz was playing with another superstar WR lined up opposite him in Anquan Boldin. Also, Warner threw a lot of designed short passes. (The patented Kurt Warner run game). Not to mention last year his shoulder was jacked up and he stopped throwing deep.

As for Fitz’s weakness I’d say speed. He’s not known as a burner. Breaston is the Cardinals’ speedy guy. Plus they drafted Andre Roberts and brought in some other speedy guys to compete for a spot.

What does the rest of the Texans receiving corp look like besides Johnson?

by hadrarius on May 22, 2010 1:29 PM MDT up reply actions

Kevin Walter is our #2.

He is as solid as any route runner in the NFL. He is also one of the best run-blocking WR in the league too. Our #3 is our speed guy, Jacoby Jones. Very good on deep balls, particularly deep post routes. With AJ doubled up a lot, Jacoby can breeze by his man. The problem for him though is his hands are sub-par. We just drafted Trindon Holliday who may or may not take up the #4 spot. No intro needed for him really.

"You got to believe in yourself. Hell, I believe I'm the best-looking guy in the world and I might be right."- Charles Barkley

by bone31crusher on May 22, 2010 4:22 PM MDT up reply actions

Lets just say they are equal

Although Fitz has some better receivers around hum going by what I’ve seen from the Texans receivers besides Johnson.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan [I have always lived in Arizona, dad is from Chicago].

I can't stand fair-weather/bandwagon fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad. And don't switch to whichever team wins the Super Bowl each year.

by JoeCB1991 on May 22, 2010 1:58 PM MDT up reply actions

We have good WR.

We had the #1 passing attack last year for a reason(besides AJ).

"You got to believe in yourself. Hell, I believe I'm the best-looking guy in the world and I might be right."- Charles Barkley

by bone31crusher on May 22, 2010 4:19 PM MDT up reply actions

Best passing attack

Can also be attributed to their TEs and RBs. I could see comparing Fitz and AJ(I know all about him being a HUGE Hurricane fan). I think they are the top two in the league. 1a and 1b (take your pick). But I would give the edge in the edge in overall depth to us. This even with Q gone.

Life's too short. Be a fan. Orlando Magic, Arizona Cardinals,Tampa Bay Rays and of course "the U"! What a winning combo.

by hevchv on May 23, 2010 6:45 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions

Fitz

Fitz is one of my favorite athletes ever, but I have to give the edge to Andre Johnson. He gets a lot more looks from his QB so that might add to his stats, but because he gets so many looks he sees some really tough coverage and still produces game in and game out.
Fitz has the best hands in the game, and is a incredibly strong and physical WR, who runs near perfect routes. AJ is number one, but Fitz is number two by a very slim margin.

They are who we thought they were!

by Jesse Reynolds on May 22, 2010 3:38 PM MDT up reply actions

I have to disagree about who is stronger.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpWqMqrZwTU

I rest my case.

"You got to believe in yourself. Hell, I believe I'm the best-looking guy in the world and I might be right."- Charles Barkley

by bone31crusher on May 22, 2010 4:24 PM MDT up reply actions

He didn't say he was stronger he just said Fitz is incredibly strong and physical

doesn’t mean AJ isn’t. AJ looked a lot like another (now ex) Cardinal receiver in that clip.
I think the Texans supporting cast at WR are very underrated. Jones stretches the field as well as any speed guy and Kevin Walter is just plain awesome (one of my favorite WR’s in the game). Hard worker, doesn’t complain, and like you said a beast in run blocking, which in my opinion just reflects his character that he’s a team player and contributes in any way he can.
It’s hard to compare AJ and Fitz cause they are very similar (which sounds weird but in this case I think you know what I mean). I think AJ is a little more physical after the catch whereas Fitz is the better jump ball receiver. I think it’s just safe to say our teams are incredibly fortunate and have the top 2 receivers in the league, regardless of the order.
GO CARDINALS!!!

by cardsfanforlife24 on May 22, 2010 5:01 PM MDT up reply actions

Well said.

"You got to believe in yourself. Hell, I believe I'm the best-looking guy in the world and I might be right."- Charles Barkley

by bone31crusher on May 22, 2010 9:26 PM MDT up reply actions

Plus

Those were DB’s and Gerald Hayes made a pathetic attempt at a tackle.

They are who we thought they were!

by Jesse Reynolds on May 22, 2010 5:53 PM MDT up reply actions

AJ was outweighed 3 to 1 though.

"You got to believe in yourself. Hell, I believe I'm the best-looking guy in the world and I might be right."- Charles Barkley

by bone31crusher on May 22, 2010 9:28 PM MDT up reply actions

Until AJ gets to the playoffs....

and produces the way Fitz has, I will always give Fitz the edge. They are both great players, but what separates greats from all-time greats is what you do on the big stage. Fitz has proven, with and without Q, that he will go down as one of the greatest rcvrs. of ALL-TIME.

by toolman234 on May 22, 2010 8:47 PM MDT up reply actions

So you are saying that because Andre has never gotten to the playoffs, he is below Fitz?

So because Dan Marino has never won a super bowl, Brad Johnson is better than him right? You can’t take over a football game by yourself like you can in basketball.

"You got to believe in yourself. Hell, I believe I'm the best-looking guy in the world and I might be right."- Charles Barkley

by bone31crusher on May 22, 2010 9:26 PM MDT up reply actions

But like Michael Jordan said

There’s no “I” in “team”, but there is an “I” in “win”. LMAO. Sorry couldn’t resist.

Life's too short. Be a fan. Orlando Magic, Arizona Cardinals,Tampa Bay Rays and of course "the U"! What a winning combo.

by hevchv on May 23, 2010 6:52 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions

by Andrew602 on May 23, 2010 11:20 PM MDT up reply actions

That is true.

Fitz has accomplished more. Had the Texans had Warner the shoe may be on the other foot so to speak. It’s a team sport after all. No one’s accomplishments occur in a vacuum.

by hadrarius on May 24, 2010 11:52 AM MDT up reply actions