Sporting News | Camp countdown: Matt Leinart's wing will determine how far Cardinals fly
Thanks to an old quarterback, a new coach and some blue-chip draft picks, the Cardinals spent the past three seasons distancing themselves from their futile past and proving that no NFL team is too far away from winning. Back-to-back NFC West titles earned coach Ken Whisenhunt a contract extension, but there are changes everywhere else. Three-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Anquan Boldin was traded, and free safety Antrel Rolle (Giants) and inside linebacker Karlos Dansby (Dolphins) signed big-money contracts in free agency. Oh, and the old quarterback, Kurt Warner, retired, handing the job to Matt Leinart. And though Leinart, the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner, will be the feature story of '10, the performance of the defense could have more of an impact on the overall record.
WhatIfSports.com | 2010 NFL Preview - NFC West Predictions and Fantasy Projections
After two seasons of glory, the Arizona Cardinals' rein atop the NFC West could be over. The Cardinals, coming off a Super Bowl appearance in 2008, made it back to the playoffs again in 2009, but a multitude of players who helped them make back-to-back postseason appearances have left the desert. Quarterback Kurt Warner and linebacker Bertrand Berry hung up their cleats. Wide receiver Anquan Boldin, linebacker Karlos Dansby and safety Antrel Rolle all left during free agency. The best thing that the Cardinals have going for them is that there may not be a clear-cut favorite to win the division. But if they're going to take that title for a third straight year, it'll be with a barrage of new faces.
ESPN (Insider) | NFL: Mike Wallace of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks to be 2010's top breakout player
8. Early Doucet, WR, Arizona Cardinals Kurt Warner may be gone, but the Cardinals still have Larry Fitzgerald on one side of the field, and Anquan Boldin's been dealt to Baltimore. That means plenty of opportunities for the receivers on the other side of the field. While Steve Breaston gets more hype, Doucet's the guy who's more likely to fill in as Boldin's long-term replacement. While Breaston's skill set is built around his speed and deception, Doucet has the attributes you think of when it comes to Boldin: Good hands, strong enough to break the jam at the line of scrimmage, excellent blocking in the run game and fearless heading over the middle. He's even got the negative attributes people applied to Boldin: small hands and a history of injuries. The Cardinals are moving towards a more balanced attack. Replacing Warner with Matt Leinart is a negative, but Doucet should make some noise as a very effective second banana to Fitzgerald.
Yahoo! Sports | New faces, new places, new impact
Future Hall of Famer Kurt Warner(notes) hung up his cleats after 12 years of NFL service, leaving fans and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald(notes) wondering about the future of the Arizona Cardinals franchise. Enter the Hollywood Hot Tub.
CBSSports.com | Leinart to be Cards' starting QB? Nothing's for certain
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart has taken a large number of snaps with the first-team offense the past three months, but that doesn't mean the rumors about his job security aren't just as numerous.
ProFootballTalk.com | Matt Leinart secure as Cardinals starter, unless he isn't
Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt has been walking a tightrope this offseason. He has a starting quarterback in Matt Leinart, and Whisenhunt needs Leinart to be reasonably secure in his status. But Whisenhunt also embraces competition in every nook of the depth chart. The end result? Mixed signals about Leinart's grip on the gig.
azcentral.com | What's up with former Arizona Cardinal Bertrand Berry
Then: Defensive end/outside linebacker for 12 NFL seasons: Colts (1997-99), Broncos (2001-03) and Cardinals (2004-09). Made the Pro Bowl as a Cardinals player in 2004, finishing the season with 14.5 sacks. Now: Retired after the 2009 season.