Leinart camp: Teams' interest could have pushed him to NFL

LOS ANGELES -- Matt Leinart might have been closer to declaring for the NFL Draft than anyone thought.

The father of USC's quarterback said Friday that if teams at the top of the draft board had committed to taking a quarterback, his son might have jumped.

"All they (San Francisco with the No. 1 pick) had to do is tell Pete Carroll they were going to take a quarterback No. 1," Bob Leinart said. "That was the same with Cleveland, they couldn't commit. Pete talked to the 49ers and they didn't know what they're going to do.

"If they could have said (something) and we (already) knew Matt was going to be the best quarterback in the draft, it would have made the decision way tougher."

Speculation is that Leinart, recovering from elbow surgery this spring, could have been the No. 1 pick overall but surprised everyone in January by announcing he would return for his redshirt senior season. Carroll downplayed the indecisiveness at the top of the draft as a factor for his quarterback staying. San Francisco is still debating whether to take Utah's Alex Smith, Cal's Aaron Rodgers or another player or even trade the top pick.

Matt Leinart was closer to declaring for the draft than most think. (Getty Images)

"It's not in their interest to be decided," said Carroll a former NFL head coach with the Patriots and Jets. "They're going to continue to be unwilling to confirm (their interests), from a strategic standpoint in all ways. It goes to how much money they'll wind up having to pay.

"If they come out and say, 'This guy is the greatest thing ever,' the guy on the other end of the phone is the agent saying, 'Remember what you said?' It's better for them to downplay unless it's really clear to the No. 1 team."

Had he known former offensive coordinator Norm Chow was leaving, Leinart said in January, it might have changed his thought process. But Carroll moved almost immediately in elevating Lane Kiffin from the staff to offensive coordinator and re-hiring Steve Sarkisian as quarterbacks coach and assistant head coach.

"It might have changed my thoughts a little bit, obviously," Leinart said Thursday. "I would have waited to see who they brought in."

USC will play its spring game Saturday but Leinart has missed the entire spring while rehabbing his left (throwing) elbow. The surgery was to relieve tendinitis that bothered him last season. He is expected to be ready for fall drills and the 2005 season.

Late in Thursday's practice, Leinart called plays for backups Rocky Hinds and John David Booty.

"If they let me (call my own plays) now, I don't see why they wouldn't let me in the fall," he said.

But Leinart continues to be asked about his surprising decision.

"I still have people come up to me and say they respect the heck out of what I decided to do," he said. "A lot of people thought I was stupid for staying. I got both sides: Not really negative but why? Why would I give up all that money?"

It's obvious the decision still weighs on him

"I'll watch where my teammates get drafted, my buddies," he said of next week's draft. "I might not watch those first couple of picks."