The Arizona Cardinals will open training camp in Flagstaff on July 29^th with more questions than answers as usual. This is typical for our franchise. As a fan of the Cardinals, it is understood that player question marks, philosophy, quality coaching, and illogical losses are floating around our temporal lobes like flies on a dead cow. Frustration with poor execution in every aspect haunts this franchise. The Arizona Cardinals are a part of the greatest league in the world and they have accepted their place as the doormat.

Since arriving to Arizona in 1988, the team has compiled a lackluster 105-199 record, one season of which had more wins than losses. They made the playoffs once during that time. Most of those years, it was obvious that the team would not be able to compete due to poor drafting, lack of quality free agent signings and just poor execution on the field by coaches and players. In their history they own a winning record against only two active franchises - New Orleans (No surprise) and New England (Big surprise). In fact, I have been to games where the opposing team seemed to have more fans than the Cardinals. The Dallas Cowboys come to mind. Who to blame? The popular choice is the Bidwell family. Could it be every coach with exception to the great Don Coryell? Does it really matter? Whose fault was it for the loss on Monday night last season against the Bears? Here’s the line on that game: 3 pts scored offensively, 6 turnovers, yet they won the game. I’ve never seen that before. This type of loss epitomizes my point that the Cardinals have learned to lose in every way possible. In Arizona, we call that snake-bit. Is it possible that an entire franchise and fan base are snake-bit? The answer is yes.

Despite all the heart breaking losses last season, it is obvious that this team is on the verge of something good, possibly real good in 2007. Edgerrin James coming to Arizona via free agency was as big of an acquisition as Pudge Rodriguez going to a lowly Detroit Tigers organization a few years before. Now look at the Tigers. But, it wasn’t until Matt Leinart dropped to ten in the 2006 draft that I realized that the Arizona Cardinals fortunes may finally be turning. Anyone that watched Leinart at USC knows that he is smart and knows how to win games. Leinart willed that team to a win against the Fighting Irish. Skeptics always say that Matt had a ton of talent around him and that is why he dropped to Arizona. Thank you skeptics. Leinart may not have the strongest arm, but I know it is strong enough to move the chains. He has the intangibles of a great leader and the confidence that this team needs to influence others to feel confident as well. I am not going to compare him to any of the greats, but they all had what Matt Leinart has. You need talent to win, but just as in business, you need leadership to win it all. Just ask the Atlanta Falcons.

Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm bring their smash mouth style of football to the desert. Not sure about their leadership yet, but we know that Russ knows how to build an offensive line and that Ken can call plays. Can they change the minds of so many that have that lingering doubt? There is no doubt that the team has talent enough to win games. It may take a couple years to develop this talent into something, but I like the game plan. They are going to run it down your throat. They are going to teach toughness. Fear removal. Doubt removal.

I for one can’t wait to see this team play. Lingering doubt be damned.