Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt wasn't thrilled when he received a phone call from a sorrowful Matt Leinart early Monday morning. But Whisenhunt, speaking Wednesday from the NFL meeting in Palm Beach, Fla., said he was pleased that his high-profile quarterback recognized he put himself in a bad spot.
Photos (1,2) of a Saturday night party held at Leinart's house quickly surfaced on the Internet. The photos show Leinart holding a large "beer bong" as a young woman swilled down the contents. Another photo showed Leinart in a hot tub with four women. Whisenhunt said the photos were taken at Leinart's Phoenix-area home when Leinart was holding an NCAA basketball tournament-watching party at his home.
Most disappointing to Whisenhunt is that Leinart was making great strides in an effort to tone down his public perception as a party boy. In the past, Leinart, a former Heisman Trophy winner at USC, was seen leaving the home of professional party girl Paris Hilton.
"The disappointing thing is Matt has really worked hard to stay out of the public eye," Whisenhunt said. "And this kind of ruins it, but he really has been working hard for us."
Leinart missed the final 11 games of the 2007 season with a shoulder injury. Whisenhunt said Leinart has been working out in Phoenix for the past several weeks and is making good strides. Whisenhunt is a known quarterback guru and he admitted that 2008 will be an important year for the development of Leinart, who is entering his third season in the NFL.
"This is a big year for him," Whisenhunt said of his quarterback.
