National Football League

Matured Leinart ready to drive Texans

Published Nov. 25, 2011 12:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

We take a trip in the hot tub time machine and bring you an unlikely marriage in Houston. The wheels have fallen off in Buffalo, and we tell you the most under-reported story in the league this year.

Happy Thanksgiving. It's time for our "Football Friday" NFL sizzle and fizzle ...

SIZZLE

Matt Leinart

It's Thanksgiving, so tis the season for a feel good story of a second chance at an NFL career.

I wrote a few weeks ago on FOXsports.com that the Texans season would not be derailed by the season-ending injury to Matt Schaub. Matt Leinart is back from the NFL version of hell and ready to ably guide the Texans to the tournament.

I know, I'm just as stunned as you are. But talking to Leinart this week, I'm more convinced than ever.

The Texans are loaded. They have the best offensive line in football. They have a dynamic one-two punch at running back. Houston's defense is dominant and game-changing. And Leinart promises not to screw it up.

In a revealing interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio this past Tuesday, Leinart came across as humbled, focused and determined to make the most of this fresh opportunity to prove he's not the ultimate NFL bust. Leinart explained, "I'm chomping at the bit. I've been working hard."

Before we move forward, it is important to look back. Leinart, a former top pick for Dennis Green in Arizona, never clicked with Ken Whisenhunt, who rightly loathed Leinart's pretty boy ways. Leinart said he didn't know what really went wrong with Whisenhunt, but added, "We just never clicked."

And, of course, there was the infamous hot tub picture, featuring Leinart soaking in the suds with four bikini clad young ladies. Fair or unfair, the photo literally became the perfect snap shot of Leinart's stay in Arizona. He had the reputation for not working.

On the infamous picture, Leinart told us, "It sucks. It is unfortunate, but it is something I have to live with. I've learned that I can't control it. I've learned about perception and reality. I've learned to now only care what people in the Texans organization think of me. My teammates and coaches know how much I care and how much I want to win. I was young. I made mistakes. But I've really learned from it.

Whisenhunt opted to roll in 2010 with Derek Anderson, Max Hall and John Skelton rather than stare at Leinart with his backward hat for another second. The former first-round pick was jobless.

Enter Gary Kubiak and Houston. According to Leinart, it changed his life. He said Kubiak taught him the difference between "working hard and how to prepare. I always worked hard, but coach showed me how to prepare as a quarterback."

You cannot undervalue how strong a statement this is in Leinart's maturation process.

Leinart reveals his confidence was at an all-time low after being cut by Arizona. He became the third stringer in Houston, behind the immortal Dan Orlovsky on the depth chart. It was a long way from USC, but Leinart had one true believer in Kubiak.

Leinart said, "He just kept being so positive and stressing positivity. He just kept telling me 'You can play this game.' And I just kept my head down, worked hard and believed him."

When free agency came around this summer, Leinart eschewed the chance to potentially start and be reunited with his old college coach Pete Carroll. He didn't want to leave Kubiak.

Now, Leinart gets the chance to prove he belongs. But frankly, it is so much more than that. The 7-3 Texans can make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history. They have a realistic chance to win a division and get a bye.

And the irony is not lost. Kubiak, squarely on the hot seat coming into the season, could be rewarded for having confidence in Leinart.

Leinart's been through hell and back. A lot of it was his fault. He stressed that he wants to "manage the game" with the talent around him. Perfect. More proof that he gets it and understands the situation he's in. The timing is great that wideout Andre Johnson returns for the Texans in Jacksonville this weekend, just in time for Leinart to make his first start.

Gary Kubiak and Matt Leinart in the playoffs together. Who could have pictured that last Thanksgiving?

FIZZLE

Marty Hurney

The Panthers general manager is likable. Perhaps that's why he escapes true criticism. Lost in the extraordinary rookie season for Cam Newton is one interesting little fact: Carolina is simply dreadful and inept. As I wrote last season, I don't know how you can blame John Fox and not Hurney. The contracts for Charles Johnson and DeAngelo Williams were flat out absurd this offseason, especially the one-hit-wonder Johnson. The defense is awful on every level. There is no depth at receiver. Years of poor drafting has caught up to the unwatchable Panthers.

Colts

It's the Colts and Panthers on FOX this weekend! This one has all the makings of something special. When I penned my "fire Jim Caldwell" column early this year, I predicted the Colts would go 0-16. Facing the Panthers in Indy is the only chance they have for a win now. I'm predicting the embarrassment continues with another Colts loss.

Tyler Palko

Well, that was fun. After looking like, well, Tyler Palko in New England, Scott Pioli smartly claimed Kyle Orton off waivers, as we predicted Tuesday night in our FOXSports.com video. Chiefs head coach Todd Haley told us on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Wednesday he was interested. Obviously, he wasn't lying. Orton is a major upgrade and will give KC at least a chance to win games down the stretch when he eventually takes over.

Bills

Well, the wheels have officially fallen off the Bills bandwagon, with Buffalo having lost three in a row. Fred Jackson, the Offensive Player of the Year in the first half, is now done for the season. Nobody is even talking about Ryan Fitzpatrick going to Harvard, wearing a wedding ring in games or his nasty beard. That's how inept he's been. An injury to key offensive lineman Eric Wood has set the line into musical chairs mode. That 5-2 record seems like a long time ago. They will fall to 5-6 after losing to the Jets this weekl Even Mark Sanchez can't mess that up.