The Raiders may be located in northern California, but they’ve been drawing heavily on a southern California connection at quarterback. After trading for former USC quarterback Carson Palmer last year, they recently signed former USC quarterback Matt Leinart as his backup.
The two were three years apart at USC – Palmer was drafted in 2003 and Leinart in 2006 – and Leinart actually backed up Palmer for one year at USC.
“We have remained close over the years,” Leinart said. “He is a guy I have always looked up to, and it’s awesome 10 years later to be reunited.”
Leinart had a chance to start last year, after the injury to Matt Cassel in Houston, but he was injured in his first game and out for the rest of the year. He was then released by Houston in the offseason, who found a capable backup in rookie T.J. Yates, who had to step in after both Cassel and Leinart went down.
“Coming off the injury, it was a bummer because when I got my shot (last season) I was feeling good and playing well, it was such an unlucky break,” Leinart said. “Coming off the injury, my goal was to get back and get healthy.”
The Raiders’ new offensive coordinator is Greg Knapp, who was Leinart’s quarterbacks coach in Houston, so the two know each other well. Combined with Palmer, that puts a lot of familiar faces around Leinart. “This was a good fit at this point in my career,” Leinart said.
Leinart has been working out with Palmer and some of the Raiders receivers, and he indicated that he is very excited to be working with some of the fastest receivers in the NFL. Maybe it is time for the Raiders to Go Vertical again. If they do air the ball out this year, Al Davis will be smiling down on them.
