Matt Leinart. First round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals. A college great who led the Southern Cal Trojans to one title, two if you live in Southern California and nowhere near Louisiana or other SEC territories in Dixieland. Last week photos of Leinart and Hollywood personality, some would say singer, Nick Lachey surfaced on the internet. Young girls, hot tubs and beer bongs; smiles and laughs. So what exactly is the issue his head coach Ken Whisenhunt has with his young Quarterback?
First, Leinart is having fun during what amounts to his yearly vacation. Training for the season has not started in earnest yet. Leinart's not doing anything any other man, of whatever age, wouldn't mind doing. Spending quality time with young hotties in a hot tub. The problem is Ron Mexico? Ron who you ask? Ron Mexico, the man actually known as Michael Vick in sports and courtroom circles. His Myspace photos detailing women, parties and possibly plant-life excursions called into question any young, wealthy, star quarterback. Colin Cowherd of ESPN radio questioned Vick's judgement over the photos and at first, it seemed a stretch. But then the snowball kept rolling on Mike Vick until it rolled all the way down hill, out of the NFL and into prison.
Is Leinart the white Michael Vick? A quarterback making millions, the desired face of a franchise, underachieving in some ways, but still possibly the next NFL great? Maybe. Maybe not. The Herd and others can question his judgement like he questioned Vick's judgement, but so far dating Paris Hilton and having parties has not landed Leinart in the center of a felony. Yet. Head coaches and owners can be embarrassed, although I suspect that embarrassment is more for public show than an actual belief, but that is another story altogether.
Leinart is being paid millions to step up and lead the Arizona Cardinals to the playoffs. That's a fact. It is also a fact that the dude is a young, single man with an off-season from the grind that the NFL is on every player, but particularly a quarterback. At least the Cardinals know by the way he holds the beer bong in that famous photo that he has rehabbed adequately from last year's season ending broken collarbone. The No Fun League won't let you dance, might not let you grow your hair too long, but now partying with some ladies during your vacation is a problem too? If Commissioner Roger Goodell doesn't watch out the NFL will be the new millenium version of "Big Brother." Or maybe it already is.
