The Arizona Cardinals eventually came to the conclusion that Matt Leinart isn’t a reliable NFL quarterback.
Rookie Sam Bradford, on the other hand, is ready to show the St. Louis Rams – and the league – that he is worth the record contract.
The top overall pick, Bradford makes his first career start Sunday as the Rams host Derek Anderson and the defending NFC West champion Cardinals.
The Cardinals won the NFC West in each of the past two seasons behind a prolific passing game led by Kurt Warner, who retired after last season.
Arizona hoped Leinart would finally prove this preseason that he could be its quarterback of the future this preseason. However, the former USC star was beat out by Cleveland Browns castoff Anderson and subsequently released.
The move punctuated a tremendous fall from grace for Leinart, the 2004 Heisman Trophy winner and 10th overall pick of the 2006 draft.
Anderson knows the feeling of being unwanted. He lost his job in Cleveland to Brady Quinn after throwing three touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season and was released.
Now, Anderson not only gets a new lease on life Arizona, but he has the luxury of throwing to one of the best receivers in the league in Larry Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald, who has 35 touchdowns over the last three seasons, suffered a sprained MCL in the preseason but will be ready for Sunday’s opener.
For the first time in his career, Fitzgerald won’t have Anquan Boldin on the other side to divert some of the defense's attention.
The Cardinals traded Boldin, who was seeking a new contract, to the Baltimore Ravens in the offseason. Steve Breaston will start opposite Fitzgerald and Early Doucet will serve as the slot receiver.
Given the uncertainty surrounding the passing game, the Cardinals may try to run the ball more in 2010.
Those plans may include more Tim Hightower and less Beanie Wells in Week One. The Cardinals are expecting a big season from Wells, but he may not be available for the opener due to a knee injury.
Like the offense, Arizona’s defense is in a state of flux. Linebacker Karlos Dansby and All-Pro safety Antrel Rolle are gone from a defense that gave up 90 points in two postseason games. They have been replaced by Joey Porter and Kerry Rhodes, respectively.
The new-look defense will try to harass Bradford, who was selected first overall and signed to the biggest rookie deal in league history despite questions about his health.
The former Oklahoma quarterback won the Heisman Trophy in 2008, but missed most of his junior season after suffering a sprained AC joint in his right shoulder.
Bradford, who signed a six-year, $78 million deal with a record $50 million guaranteed, showed no ill-effects in the preseason. He looked poised and accurate in two starts, completing 21-of-28 passes for 257 yards and three touchdowns.
St. Louis, which finished 1-15 in 2009, is eager to see if Bradford can carry that success into the regular season.
Bradford won’t have Donnie Avery to throw to, though. The team’s leading receiver from a season ago, Avery suffered a torn ACL in the second preseason game. St. Louis acquired Mark Clayton from Baltimore on Monday to make up for the loss.
While Avery isn’t around, Bradford can rely on Steven Jackson. The two-time Pro Bowl selection ran for 1,416 yards last season despite being hampered by nagging back injury. Jackson enters 2010 healthy after having surgery in the offseason for a herniated disk.
Jackson and the Rams have lost seven straight to Arizona, which outscored St. Louis 52-23 in two games last season.