The Pain Of A Failed Prospect

I just endured a beating (in price) that has taught me a serious lesson on prospecting. Fortunately I did not purchase the card I had pulled it from a box but in this case I ended up missing out on a lot of money when I walked away from an insane offer.

In 2006 I pulled a 2006 Bowman Chrome Matt Leinart Rookie Autograph blue refractor #41/75 while I was busting a box in a friend’s card shop. At the time every one was seeking Vince Young, Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and even LenDale White and their cards were shooting up in price every day. There was a Leinart collector who frequented the store and word was passed on that I pulled the card, he made an offer of $275. I turned him down and decided to sit on the card because Leinart was slated to be the future of the Arizona Cardinals organization and I figured I would be able to cash in big time after he proved his potential.

He started 11 games in 2006 and while he didn’t burn up the field he was ok for a rookie. Even then I held on to the card hoping for a better sophomore season. Needless to say he played in only 21 more games over the next 6 seasons and ended his career in 2012 with a total of 4,065 yards, 15 TDs and 21 INTs and a 70.2% QB rating.

For a number of years now I have been trying to sell the card hoping to find that diehard USC fan, I finally found a buyer. The final selling price… $3.50

I left $271.50 on the table and I am now done with prospecting, anything I pull that is hot and I don’t collect gets put up for sale.

The Cardinals On The Trade Prowl

In what may be Matt Leinart’s final game in an Arizona Cardinal’s uniform, the team decided to take the field in their new alternative black jerseys. While Leinart looked good in the uniform his performance on the field was the culmination of his 4 years here in the desert. His game consisted of 2 series, a 3-and-out and then a drive that picked up 2 first downs but then died. His stats for the game: 3/5 for 14 yards. Ok, the question no longer is "Did we waste a draft pick?" but now "What can we get for him?"

Some of the teams mentioned in the rumor mill include New York Giants, Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders. I think Oakland would be a horrible fit, to much would be expected of him and if he can not produce he will fall in to line as another failed Raider project. Buffalo might not be bad because the QB situation is up for grabs, there are plenty of receivers and CJ Spiller will draw off the defense. New York would be a blessing and a curse for Leinart. He could fall quietly in to the backup position where nothing is expected of him, the problem is the NYC nightlife. To often we have seen Leinart in questionable positions. I put him in a class with Tony Romo, more interested in who they are doing off the field in comparison to how they are doing on the field.

Now tell me, what do you think of the Cards alternative jersey? I like it because it is classical but still modern in design. Here is a picture of Adrian Wilson modeling the jersey from when the Cards released the images back in April.

Warner Retires! Leinart In?

After 12 seasons in the NFL, 3 Super Bowls, 3 NFL MVP Awards, 1 Super Bowl win and 1 Super Bowl MVP Award, the Arizona Cardinals Kurt Warner has decided to hang it up and call it a career. He has proven to be one of the NFL’s “Good Guys” and has always put the team first no matter what the situation. Here come the eBay Trolls.

Warner’s retirement now leaves the Cards wondering what their move is this April at the NFL Draft. The franchise “QB of the Future” Matt Leinart is ready to step in to take over for the departing Warner but he has not been able to prove himself since being drafted in 2006. In 29 career games, Leinart has only thrown for 3,900 yards, 14 TDs and 20 INTs. If Leinart can successfully take the reins of the team and continue to guide them to their winning habits, his cards could potentially return to the 2006 prices.

The Cardinals have a few needs this year including picking up a LB and they could use help on the Offensive Line. So how will the team draft and has this changed since Warner’s announcement?

It is expected that Clausen and Bradford will be off the board by the time the Cardinals draft at #26 most likely leaving the QB situation down to a handful of prospects including Tony Pike and Tim Tebow and I have heard rumor that the Patriots may draft Tebow to plug in to a Wildcat offense. There are a couple of dark horses to look at like Colt McCoy and Jake Locker but these are “project” picks and probably are not going to be seen in the first round.

I still have hope that he will reach his potential.

Matt Leinart... Does He Have A Future?

Pulling a Matt Leinart 2006 Bowman Chrome RC was nice but when I realized that it was actually an autographed refractor numbered to 75 I thought I had pulled a winner that would definitely appreciate in value. Within a few weeks I was offered as much as $275 but I decided to sit on the card and wait for Leinart to show his talents.

Three years later we see Leinart sitting while the 38-year old Kurt Warner continues to carry the Cardinals to another winning season. This is not how the 26-year old Matt Leinart pictured his career. He was suppose to be the future of the franchise, the face that gets used to advertise season tickets offers and plastered on billboards around the Valley. You have to wonder if he will ever overcome his frat boy image, the guy from USC that likes to party, shirks his parental duties and hangs out with college girls.

It does not help that he only plays in mop up duty, coming in to games when the score is so lopsided that it does not matter how he plays. Today he came in with the Cards up by 20 over the Bears and immediately throws an interception. Leinart is still young but he needs to take control of his destiny.