Matt Leinart

NFL quarterback Matt Leinart plays for the Arizona Cardinals. He has spent his entire career with the Cardinals after the team selected him in the first round of the 2006 NFL draft with the 10th pick overall. Leinart has played in 27 games during his Cardinals career, with 16 starts. The majority of those came as a rookie in 2006 when he took over in week five and made 11 consecutive starts before a shoulder injury caused him to miss the season finale.http://www.azcardinals.com/team/roster/Matt-Leinart/8c345c7b-7ce1-4eec-931e-9cff475e2c99

He'll vie to become the team's starter in 2010 with the retirement of 2009 starter Kurt Warner.

Prior to playing in the NFL, Leinart helped the USC Trojans win two national championships - a co-championship in 2003 and the outright title in 2004 - and he also won the 2004 Heisman Trophy that goes annually to the the best player in college football.

Leinart was a three-time All-American and one of the most decorated quarterbacks in college football history, His 37-2 record as a starter at USC ranks as the highest winning percentage aof any USC quarterback and the second highest in NCAA history with a 37-2 record (94.9 percent). Leinart threw for 10,693 yards with 99 touchdowns and only 23 interceptions as a collegiate athlete, completing 64.8 percent of his passes all-time (283-of-431).http://www.azcardinals.com/team/roster/Matt-Leinart/8c345c7b-7ce1-4eec-931e-9cff475e2c99

Leinart made news in early April of 2008 after pictures surfaced on the internet of Leinart at an alcohol filled party with numerous women. One picture shows Leinart holding a beer bong, while a woman drinks from it. Many of the women pictured have been reported to be under the legal drinking age of 21. Also attending the party was friend, musician Nick Lachey.

Leinart has rumored to be romantically linked to several women in the past including Paris Hilton and Britney Spears. He has one son, Cole Cameron Leinart, who was born on October 24, 2006.

Leinart appeared in eight games, but played two meaningful games when Warner suffered a concussion against the St. Louis Rams in the 10th game of the season on November 22. Leinart inherited a 21-3 lead when entered in the second quarter against the Rams, completing 10-of-14 passes for 71 yards in preserving a 21-13 victory.http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4683204<ref> Leinart made his only start the following week against the Tennessee Titans. He completed 21-of-31 passes for 220 yards without touchdown or interception, but the Titans beat the Cardinals 20-17.<ref>http://www.azcardinals.com/team/roster/Matt-Leinart/8c345c7b-7ce1-4eec-931e-9cff475e2c99 For the season, Leinart finished 51-of-77 passing for 435 yards and three interceptions. http://www.azcardinals.com/team/roster/Matt-Leinart/8c345c7b-7ce1-4eec-931e-9cff475e2c99

Leinart served as the backup to Warner, who led the Cardinals to the Super Bowl and was the Pro Bowl starter. Leinart played late-game action in four games. Leinart threw a career-long 78-yard pass to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald against the New England Patriots on December 21. He completed 15-of-29 passes for 264 yards with a touchdown an an interception for the season.

Leinart won the quarterback battle with Warner and started the first five games of the season before suffering a season-ending collarbone injury against the St. Louis Rams on October 7. He threw for a career-high 299 yards against the Seattle Seahawks on September 16. Leinart completed 60-of-112 passes for 647 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions on the season.http://www.azcardinals.com/team/roster/Matt-Leinart/8c345c7b-7ce1-4eec-931e-9cff475e2c99