NASHVILLE -- The Arizona Cardinals will start Derek Anderson at quarterback in Saturday's preseason game against the Chicago Bears.
Don't automatically think it's the end of Matt Leinart.
Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt is good at using the preseason to motivate players, and this is another one of those instances. He made the announcement here after the Cardinals practice at Vanderbilt University Thursday.
Whisenhunt wants to see more fire from Leinart. By sitting him -- Leinart will take over in the second quarter with the starters -- this is that chance. He also made it clear this isn't a decision on who will be his starter
Neither Leinart nor Anderson has lit it up this summer in camp, and neither played well in Monday's loss to the Tennessee Titans. But Leinart hasn't been nearly as a bad as he's been portrayed. The odds are that he still starts -- if he comes out of this change by making it a positive.
Leinart has to show Whisenhunt and the rest of the team that he is the man for the job. It's more than just with his play. There's the passion, the leadership, the desire to be a success.
If he can show that in his backup role, he will open as the starter at quarterback in the regular season. If he flops, and Anderson plays well, you just might see a change. If that happens, Leinart's career as a starter could be hanging in the balance.
I say he responds and Leinart will be the starter on opening day and the Cardinals will be the team to beat in the NFC West.
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