Leinart Back To The Bench, Anderson Back Under Center

Well it looks like we officially have our first quarterback controversy of the year (Brett Favre doesn’t count).

Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt announced that Derek Anderson will get the start under center Saturday night as they take on the Chicago Bears (-4 points) in Week 3 NFL preseason action. Obviously, this means that former first round pick Matt Leinart finds himself in a role he is quite familiar with: benchwarmer.

Since being selected tenth overall in the 2006 NFL Draft, Leinart has been nothing short of a bust. In 29 games, the 2005 Heisman Trophy winner has thrown just 14 touchdowns to 20 interceptions, while compiling a dreadful passers rating of 70.8.

He spent the better part of the last four years serving as understudy to futre Hall of Famer Kurt Warner. Now that Warner is off to retirement, the starting job was pretty much handed to the former USC Trojan. However, in his first two preseason outings, Leinhart didn’t produce a scoring drive and did nothing to put a stranglehold on the starting QB slot. Enter Derek Anderson…

The former Cleveland Browns QB was brought in to back-up Leinart this season; however, you can’t help but think that Arizona management suspected that Anderson could challenge for the starting position given Leinart’s NFL performance leading up to this season.

Anderson was perhaps the biggest surprise of the 2007 NFL season, tossing 29 touchdowns. His numbers have been horrible ever since; last season had three touchdowns and ten picks in eight games.

So where does all of this leave the Cardinals QB situation now? Anderson is the starter for now but given his recent history, he is anything but a ‘sure thing’ to keep the starting job once the regular season kicks off. If Leinart does reclaim the starting job, he will be on a very short leash. This could easily be a situation where Whisenhunt changes his mind numerous times throughout the season.

Vegas doesn’t seem to have an answer to the Cardinals quarterback situation either. Sportsbook.com opened odds Friday on which Cardinals QB will accumulate more passing yards during the 2010 regular season. Their oddsmakers have handicapped this QB competition at a dead heat. Meaning, neither QB is being spotted any yards and the juice is equal on both sides.

Who do you think will throw for more passing yards this season?

Matt Leinart (-115) or Derek Anderson (-115)