Bleacher Report - Articles by Eli Etzel

Matt Cassel: The Arizona Cardinals 2009 Starting Quarterback

Eli Etzel — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:02:52 -0500

The Cardinals played a great game in the Super Bowl, but it is time to start to look towards the 2009-2010 season.

Will Boldin be back? I think so. Larry Fitzgerald already said he would take a paycut for the team to try to resign Boldin.

Another key question is, will Kurt Warner be back next season or retire. I think he will retire. That's where Matt Cassel comes into play. He will not be a Patriot next season if Tom Brady comes back. The Patriots want to trade him away and out of their conference so they wont have to play him. I could see the Cardinals giving up a first and third round pick to get him.

They really cant be seriously believing in Matt Leinart. He has not really proven himself at all this far in his NFL career. The Cardinals could possibly trade away Matt Leinart and get back a third or fourth round pick to get back for the trade for Cassel.

The Cardinals with Cassel could be a powerhouse in the NFC for years to come with a group of great young receivers Breaston, Boldin, and Fitzgerald who all had 1,000 yard seasons.

There could be able to throw the deep ball more often and possibly farther with Cassel at QB. Don't get me wrong Kurt Warner is still a great QB but I think they need a good young QB as their face of their franchise with their young good wideouts and young defensive backfield with Rodgers-Cromartie, Rolle, Hood, and the leader Wilson. The Cardinals if they execute this trade or Warner comes back XLIIII could be a match-up I think between the Cardinals and Patriots.

The Top 10 Quarterbacks In The NFL

Eli Etzel — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 11:54:27 -0500

This year we have seen some new faces emerge at the QB position Aaron Rodgers Matt Cassel, and Matt Ryan. and some familiar faces faces Kurt Warner,Brett Favre, and Tony Romo so lets start the countdown of the top 10 Quarterbacks (with discussion) While some might agree while some disagree i hope you enjoy the slideshow. I would like to hear your comments and objections.

Begin Slideshow

Oakland Raiders: Darren McFadden To Have a Breakout Rookie Season.

Eli Etzel — Sat, 31 May 2008 12:35:15 -0400

The rookie to break out this season will be the Oakland Raiders' Darren McFadden.

He has killer speed and killer moves by high stepping and juking out the defense. You might be saying he does not have a good offensive line. Al Davis made one bad draft choice a couple years back by drafting Robert Gallery.

He was a bust, but in this year's draft McFadden fell into Davis' hands like Peterson fell into the Vikings hands. McFadden will want to go all out and win Rookie of the Year because he feels he has been overshadowed by finishing as a runner-up for the Heisman Trophy.

He has JaMarcus Russell as his QB, so with Russell's running ability they could run the option play. When McFadden dominates this season in the NFL, it will not be for his offensive skills, but for his pure athletic ability.

The only way McFadden will not dominate is if he has to split carries with Justin Fargas. McFadden also lined up at QB and WR during minicamps, so stay tuned; he could line up pretty much any where on the field.

So this season, stay tuned when McFadden carries the Raiders.