TAMPA, Fla. -- When the Arizona Cardinals made Matt Leinart their first-round pick in the 2006 NFL draft, he expected to get to the Super Bowl. But Leinart figured he'd be the starring attraction this week, and not just another guy watching while his more famous teammates get the media attention.
But in talking to reporters today, Leinart said he's still preparing as if he were a starter, and waiting for the opportunity to prove he can be the elite NFL quarterback so many people expected him to be when he won the Heisman Trophy at USC.
"I can be a distraction and be all mad and point the finger, or I can be a good teammate and support Kurt and still work my butt off and prepare every day like I'm the starting quarterback," Leinart said. "And that's the road I decided to take because that is just more the type of person I am."
Leinart said he takes solace in knowing that plenty of NFL quarterbacks have found success after struggling early in their careers.
"Steve Young, Tony Romo and a lot of other guys have sat and paid their dues and waited their time," Leinart said. "Aaron Rodgers is a perfect example. The Packers struggled this year, but I thought he had a pretty good season."
Of course, Rodgers paid his dues and waited behind a future Hall of Famer. Leinart is paying his dues and waiting after being anointed the starter as a rookie and then losing his job because of poor play. Leinart understands the difference.
"I have played and I want to get back in there, but this is the way it happened and it happened for a reason," Leinart said. "We are at the Super Bowl in my third year which is pretty cool,, and you never know what could happen. I could be playing on Sunday. Obviously, you hope nothing happens like that, but you never know."
Leinart's career has long been entwined with that of Vince Young, who played against Leinart in college and was the only quarterback chosen ahead of Leinart in the draft. Like Leinart, Young was benched this season for a grizzled veteran, and Leinart said he sees the similarities.
"He is in a very similar situation with the Titans with Kerry Collins," Leinart said of Young. "I think Vince is going to be fine and I think it may have been a good experience for him."
It's hard to see a benching as a good experience -- but Leinart is trying to put the best spin on this season that he can.
Super Bowl XLIII Images
Sal Lopez, right, of Mesa, Ariz., and Jen Hinnenkamp, of Alexandria, Minn., organize the first shipment of St. Louis Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner jerseys to arrive at J.E.B. Enterprises NFL merchandise store Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009, in Tampa, Fla. The Cardinals will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa on Sunday. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin answers questions at the NFL football team's practice facility on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa, Fla., Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009. The Steelers face the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday in Tampa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Matt Spaeth looks at teammates through a telephoto lens during a media availability at the football team's practice facility on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa, Fla. Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009. The Steelers face the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday, Feb 1, in Tampa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Chris Kemoeatu (68) is recorded by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as he talks on the phone during a media availability at the football team's practice facility on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa, Fla. Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009. The Steelers face the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday, Feb 1, in Tampa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison (92) carries a trophy presented to him during a media availability at the football team's practice facility on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa, Fla. Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009. The Steelers face the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday, Feb 1, in Tampa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Jeff Reed heads to the locker room after a media availability at the football team's practice facility on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa, Fla. Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009. The Steelers face the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday, Feb 1, in Tampa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Santonio Holmes (10) answers questions during a media availability at the football team's practice facility on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa, Fla. Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009. Holmes reveals a childhood secret: He spent a year selling drugs on a small-town Florida street corner. He intentionally chose to use the biggest of stages, the Super Bowl, to make public the mistakes of his youth in hopes of persuading at-risk children to take a better course with their lives. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger leaves the stage after appearing at a media availability at the football team's practice facility on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa, Fla. Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009. The Steelers face the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday, Feb 1, in Tampa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Pittsburgh Steelers liinebacker James Farrior heads to the locker room after a media availability at the football team's practice facility on the University of South Florida campus in Tampa, Fla. Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2009. The Steelers face the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday, Feb 1, in Tampa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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An U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer watches as fellow agents inspect a pile of merchandise during a raid on a booth at a local flea market where hundreds of jerseys were seized Wednesday morning, Jan. 28, 2009 in Tampa, Fla. A task force of federal and local law enforcement officers are searching the Tampa Bay area for unauthentic merchandise leading up to Sunday's Super Bowl XLIII. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
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