Monday, May 23, 2011

NFL Free Agency: Will Matt Leinart Find Redemption in Seattle with Pete Carroll?

NFL Free Agency Could Reunite Former Trojans Legends

There's been a lot of discussion over a select few quarterbacks on the trade or free agent market this offseason, mainly Kevin Kolb, Carson  Palmer, Vince Young, Alex Smith, Matt Hasselbeck, Donovan McNabb.

But one name is not discussed nearly as often: former Arizona Cardinal Matt Leinart.

Sure Leinart was a tremendous bust with the Cardinals, who released him before he was signed by Houston, where he never threw a single pass in 2010.

And his desire and work ethic are repeatedly critcized.

Still, I think it's too early to completely give up on the 2004 Heisman winner.

Now it does seem terribly unlikely that Leinart will be this generations  Jim Plunkett and  someday lead his team to a Super Bowl.

But it's not totally impossible, especially since his college coach Pete Carroll could be in need of a quarterback if Hasselbeck leaves via free agency. (And don't forget t hat Mike Williams, Leinart's favorite target in 2003 is a starter in Seattle.) 

The NFL Network's Mike Lombardi doesn't see their reunion as being very productive.

All of which sets the stage for us to connect the dots: Carroll and Leinart reunited in Seattle. It might happen, but I am fairly confident it won't work because Leinart is not up to the task.

Still, you have to consider that if  there is a situation where Leinart can find redemption, it would be in Seattle. Carroll and him have a good relationship and I could see him crafting an offense entirely around the man who led him to a pair of national titles. That's not something that happened in Arizona under Dennis Green or Ken Whisenhunt and certainly in Houston under Gary Kubiak.

The Seahawks are starting over with a new offensive coordinator and so I wouldn't be surprised to see Carroll install a very USC-based scheme,  especially if they have designs on Matt Barkley next April.

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