Reprints Online

Matt Leinart agreed to sign a six-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals that could earn him a maximum of $51 million if he meets the terms of escalation clauses that would give him additional money the more he plays. The contract contains $14 million in guaranteed money

Leinart was a former Southern California star and the 10th overall selection in the NFL draft but he was as well the NFL's only unsigned first-round pick.

He missed Arizona's exhibition opener Saturday but his agent Chuck Price said Leinart would head to training camp in Flagstaff, Ariz., following a physical, and should be with his new teammates in time for dinner tonight and practice Wednesday morning. Leinart is expected to begin camp as the third quarterback behind starter Kurt Warner and backup John Navarre.

Matt Leinart was fourth on Southern California's career completions (524), passing yardage (6,878) and total offense (6,772) charts. He has already thrown 71 touchdowns (the second most in USC history behind Carson Palmer's 72) in just 26 career starts, with at least 1 Touch Down in all but 1 game he has started (the first 24) and at least 2 Touch Downs in all but 3 games (he had a string of at least 2 Touch Downs in 15 consecutive games). He also has thrown at least 3 Touch Downs 13 times (and at least 4 TDs 7 times, including 5 TDs on 3 occasions).

He is averaging a Touch Down pass every 11.5 career attempts. His career passing efficiency rating of 160.5 is fifth on the all-time NCAA chart. During USC's current 22-game winning streak, he has thrown 63 TDs and just 9 interceptions (his career TD/interception ratio is 71/15). His 71 career TD passes-already sixth on the Pac-10 career ladder-are the most ever in back-to-back seasons by a Pac-10 quarterback. Leinart's 64.3% career passing percentage is just below USC's career record of 64.6% set by Rob Johnson (1991-94). His 1.84% career interception rate is lower than the USC and Pac-10 career record of 1.95% set by Brad Otton (1994-96). USC is 25-1 when Leinart starts (his 96.2% winning percentage is the highest of any USC quarterback ever and is the second-best mark in NCAA history, minimum 25 starts, behind Toledo's Chuck Ealey, who was 35-0).

Leinart was just the third quarterback in the last 30 years to lead his team to back-to-back national championships. In his 2 starts against Notre Dame (2003 and 2004), he has completed 73.5% of his passes (50-of-68) for 751 yards and 9 TDs.

About the Author

About the Author: Julie Smith is one of the most recognized copy writers on Sports Betting and currently writes for Instant Action Sports. Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety on your site, make sure to leave all links in place and do not modify any of the content.