TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -Matt Leinart can find solace in the knowledge that some pretty good quarterbacks began their NFL careers on bad teams.
Take Troy Aikman, whose first Dallas Cowboys team went 1-15, or Peyton Manning, who went 3-13 in his debut season at the controls of the Indianapolis Colts.
Leinart's Arizona Cardinals stagger into their bye week at 1-7, the worst record in the NFL.
``It's tough, it's frustrating, but in this game and this profession, we're going to go through ups and downs,'' he said. ``We're going to go through ups and downs, and the best of the best have started at the bottom and worked their way to the top. Nothing comes easy.''
There is no deeper bottom in professional sports than the Cardinals, a franchise with one winning season since 1984 and one playoff victory since 1947. The long-sought move to a state-of-the-art stadium, and the sellout crowds that came with it, have done nothing to change those fortunes.
Arizona brings a seven-game skid into the off week. As awful as they've been in recent years, the Cardinals have not had a record this bad halfway through a season since 1997.
Coach Dennis Green came to the desert 2 1/2 years ago with the playoffs his oft-stated aim. Since then, Arizona is 12-28, with an offense that can't run and a defense that's inconsistent. Three times, the Cardinals have blown chances to win at home, most memorably to Chicago on a Monday night, when the Bears rallied from 20 down, returning two late fumbles and a punt for touchdowns.
On the road, the Cardinals have been manhandled by Seattle, dominated by previously winless Oakland and soundly beaten by Green Bay, dropping Green's road record at Arizona to 3-17.
The negative statistics go on and on. Green still has his job, probably through the rest of the season. But the bluster is gone.
Asked if he was grateful the Bidwill family kept him on, Green said, ``I don't look at things that way. I'm a football coach. That's what I've done for 33 years, so that's what I'm doing now.''
The Cardinals are sold out at their new home in Glendale for the season, but expect ticket holders to be more than willing to put theirs on their market for at least some of the remaining four games, particularly the Nov. 12 contest against the Dallas Cowboys. Those who keep their tickets will be ready to voice opinions about a team that promised so much more.
Edgerrin James was supposed to bring a running game, but the offensive line rarely has produced any room. The running back was through talking after the latest debacle, telling reporters ``I've got nothing to say.''
Kurt Warner was supposed to be the starter all season while Leinart learned from the wings, but Warner's turnover-plagued performances against St. Louis and Atlanta prompted a switch to the big-name rookie four games into the season. Leinart played well in his home starts against Kansas City and Chicago, but struggled at Oakland and Green Bay. His four losses as a starter doubles the total he had in his entire career at USC.
``Even though you're successful in college, you come in and no matter what, you're not going to win. You're not going to go 16-0, it's highly doubtful,'' Leinart said. ``For me, although it's tough, I think that it's good that I'm learning, get thrown in the fire learning, and just take those losses and turn them into wins in the future.''
Green said the problems at Green Bay weren't entirely of Leinart's making.
``A lot of dropped balls,'' Green said. ``We've got a tight end that drops the ball and he could have run 55 yards right into the end zone; a lot of dropped balls and a lot of dropped balls early in the game.
Pro Bowl wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, sidelined for two weeks with a hamstring injury, is expected to return for the Dallas game. So are linebacker Karlos Dansby and nose tackle Kendrick Clancy.
After the Monday night debacle, Green fired Keith Rowen as offensive coordinator and gave the job to quarterbacks coach Mike Kruczek. The week off will give the new coordinator some extra time to make changes.
The line seems improved since the shifting of Reggie Wells to right tackle from left guard and the insertion of rookie Deuce Litui at right guard. But then the defense fell apart against the run in Green Bay.
Through it all, the clock is ticking on Green's regime. He has one year left on a contract that pays him $2.5 million per season. But at the season's end, even the notoriously thrifty Bill Bidwill might be willing to part with that money to prevent an exodus of his newfound fan base.
Suffice it to say, the players were elated to get away for a long weekend. They were given three days off before returning to practice on Monday.
``Oh man, there can't be a better time,'' linebacker Calvin Pace said. ``We just need a break. Football will take a toll on you body and your mind. Just get away. For everybody that's going home, I recommend don't even look at football.''
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