Ken from Los Angeles writes: As an Arizona Cardinal fan with a firm adherence to the motto, "In Whis we trust," I am shocked no member of the media has questioned Ken Whisenhunt's stated lack of concern about Matt Leinart's performance after Kurt Warner retired.

It seems a lot of people have speculated that Whisenhunt has never trusted Leinart and it leaves many of us Cardinal fans scratching our heads as to why the team did not make a hard push to trade for Donovan McNabb (who would've welcomed a trade to the desert) or Jason Campbell when they were available.

If the coach has/had that little faith in Matt, why stick the team with a very shaky alternative in the form of Derek Anderson? Both McNabb and Campbell throw good deep balls like Anderson, but possess everything else that Anderson does not, like throwing well on the run, stepping up in a small pocket and good QB play in general. Both of those QBs -- especially McNabb -- would've kept the Cardinals as viable Super Bowl contenders for the next 3-5 years. Not only that, but Whisenhunt and the team have taken the trouble to reshuffle the offensive lline to suit a left-handed QB; it just doesn't add up.

I am hoping you can be the one to ask Whisenhunt or Cardinal officials some of these questions, for nobody else is. This could be Whisenhunt's first real mistake as a Cardinal and one that could hurt the team for 2-3 more seasons -- unless the team plans on gettnig McNabb after this season.

Mike Sando: Throw out the part about reshuffling the line to suit Leinart. I do not think that was a significant consideration this offseason.

The situation with Leinart was probably a little more organizational in that the team had invested millions in him without getting a chance to see him over an extended period. The feeling was that Leinart might finally blossom now that he would be stepping out from Warner's shadow, and the organization owed it to itself to at least give him a shot. The results have been disappointing to Whisenhunt, obviously, but I can also see why Leinart and fans are confused.

Let's review the tape.

Whisenhunt in March: "Obviously, it's not an open competition. Matt has earned the right to be in this spot and be the guy and that is the way it's going to go forward. But (Anderson) will get reps, he will get an opportunity to compete because that is the way we have handled things."

Whisenhunt in June: "You see it in (Matt’s) confidence, how he runs the huddle and how he sees the plays. His reads are much more decisive. He is throwing the ball with confidence. And I think he knows what is in front of him. It's obvious to me he’s more comfortable with the whole process, not just throwing a pass or knowing where guys line up. He understands the concepts of the plays and he has the ability to get us in and out of certain plays, all those things you see more assuredness from him. I am excited with what he has done in the OTAs so far."

Whisenhunt in July: "Seeing Kurt work has had a big impact on Matt. Anytime a player like Kurt works like he does, and has that success, it's going to rub off. Matt's done a nice job. He's had a good spring."

Of course, Whisenhunt has always said he'll treat the quarterback position like any other, favoring the player that gives his team the best chance to win. A broader view might be to support the player that gives the team the best chance to win for the long term, but if that player doesn't provide the best bet now, why would anything change? It's not like Leinart is a rookie. He's had three-plus years in Whisenhunt's offense.

It's obvious Leinart has his detractors within the organization. They told Mike Lombardi back in March that Leinart's work ethic was shaky, leading Lombardi to say he'd be surprised if Leinart opened the season as the starter. More recently, Lombardi even wondered if the Cardinals might release or trade Leinart. ESPN's Adam Schefter foreshadowed the change to Anderson by suggesting early in the week that Leinart could be losing ground.

These were not randomly generated musings. They reflected dissatisfaction within the Cardinals' organization, since affirmed by Whisenhunt.

It's possible Whisenhunt will go back to Leinart in another week or before the regular-season opener. Right about now, though, the Cardinals would be looking much better with McNabb under center.