With spotlight dimmed, QB Leinart hopes for a chance to play

Free-agent quarterback Matt Leinart has heard the "bust" label applied to his uneven NFL career, but it hasn't stopped the five-year veteran from believing he still belongs in the NFL.

Leinart, the former USC quarterback, who won the Heisman Trophy in 2004 and helped the Trojans to successive national championships, was a disappointment with the Arizona Cardinals after they selected him with the tenth-overall pick of the 2006 NFL Draft.

"I’ve heard everything. I’ve seen everything," Leinart told 710 ESPN in Los Angeles on Friday. "For me, I haven’t proven anything ... I haven’t proven that I can play game in and game out. And I understand that. Now, I believe I can play and I’m not one to make excuses. I’ve never made an excuse in my time with Arizona. It just didn't work out for whatever reasons.

"... You kind of look at the timeline of what's happened to me and ... having a pretty good rookie year and then the second year just getting the injury and then, you know, Kurt Warner, I mean Kurt Warner played himself into the Hall of Fame the last three years. There’s not a lot I can do about that. I battled with a Hall of Famer two training camps in a row."

The Cardinals cut Leinart in September just days before the start of the regular season. He signed with the Houston Texans, but couldn't win the No. 2 slot from Dan Orlovsky behind starter Matt Schaub.

Leinart disappeared last season, not throwing a single pass. His distance from the spotlight helped Leinart shed a party-boy image that hampered perception of him coming out of USC.

"Perception is perception," Leinart said. "One person can think one thing of me and then that can escalate and then thousands of people jump on the bandwagon, when it may not even be true."

The Cardinals' selection of QB Matt Leinart at No. 10 is one of many do-overs that NFL teams would like to have in the 2006 draft, NFL.com senior analyst
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Said Leinart: "You look at where I was in college and, I've said it many times, USC was the pro football of California, of L.A., and we were on top. And myself, Reggie (Bush), you know, other guys on the team, it was kind of wherever we went that's how we were treated. (People would say) 'Oh there's USC guys. There's Matt. There's Reggie.'

"I was a 20-, 21-year-old kid and I feel like I’ve always remained the same. I've remained humble. I've always worked hard, but at that time it was kind like wherever we went it was a story, whether it was good or bad. It didn’t really matter. There's a few things, you know, I think I've I learned."

Leinart remains confident in his ability to be an NFL starter despite pedestrian career numbers -- 20 interceptions, 14 touchdown passes and no more than eight appearances in any season. What he'd like to happen next is receive an opportunity to start somewhere.

"I thought Houston was a small and good stepping stone for me to get my career back on track and get a chance to compete somewhere and get that opportunity to start," Leinart said. "We’ll see what happens. Your guess is as good as mine to see what happens, but I’m excited."

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Henning: Dolphins will give Henne chance to be their QB

Some Miami Dolphins fans are crying for the Chad Henne era to end. But Henne's former offensive coordinator, Dan Henning, has some bad news for those folks.

"I feel like Chad will get the opportunity to turn it around, I really do," Henning told The Palm Beach Post last week. "He's always ready to do what you ask him to do, very studious about the game. Good questions, aware of personalities and idiosyncrasies with player personnel that he has to deal with. No problem working with Chad Henne."

Brooks: Change might do QB good Dolphins QB Chad Henne could improve under new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who helped develop Colt McCoy as a rookie in Cleveland, Bucky Brooks writes. More...

» Fates of Henne, Sparano linked

Henne struggled last season, his second as the Dolphins' starting quarterback, going 6-8 and throwing 15 touchdown passes with 19 interceptions. Henning wasn't interested in dissecting Henne's performance during his interview with The Post, saying he'll leave that to the team's current staff, including new offensive coordinator Brian Daboll.

"As I used to tell (coach) Tony (Sparano), 'I don’t tell anybody but you how I feel about player personnel,' " Henning said. “Because then you have so many different layers of opinions running around there, and they get carried off the reservation. That should all come from Tony.

"I don't want to expend any brain power or observations on what could or should or would have been," he added. "The people that are there, they have an on-going obligation to get things turned around."

Henning also didn't want to discuss wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who didn't exactly back the coordinator or Henne as Miami's offense faltered last season, ranking 30th in the 32-team NFL.

"I'd rather not comment on that," Henning said.

For those people who believe the Dolphins' struggles cost Henning his job, think again. Henning told The Post that he always planned to retire in January, after Sparano asked him to return for the 2010 season.

"It was understood between (Sparano) and I that I was going to be moving on, regardless of whether he stayed or they won the Super Bowl or were 1-15 again," said Henning, who's 69. "So I knew it (leaving the team) was coming from January 2010."

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Giants safety Jones fights for another chance after car crash

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Vickers says he'd fit into Browns' new offense if given chance

Free-agent fullback Lawrence Vickers can't be sure of his future with the Cleveland Browns, not after they took Stanford's Owen Marecic in the fourth round of April's NFL draft, and not after general manager Tom Heckert's comments following that.

Vickers, who has played five seasons with the Browns since they selected him out of Colorado in the 2006 draft, recently told The Plain Dealer that he wasn't disappointed when the team nabbed Marecic, apparently to replace him. Vickers was just perplexed.

"I was like, 'Wow,' but at the same time, I laughed," Vickers said. "I don't know what their plans are."

The Browns have a new coach, Pat Shurmur, and a new offensive scheme, the West Coast, and they're looking for the right fit at fullback. After drafting Marecic, Heckert said of Vickers' future in Cleveland: "When the league starts (after the lockout), we'll see."

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Vickers fears his reputation as an explosive "knockout fullback," won by opening holes for Jamal Lewis in successive 1,000-yard seasons and paving Jerome Harrison's path to 561 yards in the final three games of 2009, has clouded respect for what he can do with the ball in his hands.

Vickers played in a variation of the West Coast offense at Colorado, gaining more than 500 yards rushing and receiving in his college career. He has caught 41 passes with the Browns, 23 of them in two seasons (2007 and 2008) in former coordinator Rob Chudzinski's offensive scheme.

"I am a West Coast fullback. That's what they don't understand," said Vickers, who didn't receive a contract tender before the NFL lockout started and hasn't spoken to Shurmur or Heckert about his standing with the team. "... Maybe if I wasn't knocking people out, maybe I'd still be known as a versatile fullback. Anybody that watches football knows.

"The last two years, I haven't caught the ball. I wasn't a part of the offense. So I made a way for me to be on the field. That's what a football player does. Anybody that can make his presence on the field without the ball is a helluva guy.

"I played in the West Coast offense at Colorado," Vickers added. "When I first came to the NFL, my first carry was at tailback. In Chud's offense, look at how many passes I caught. People have short-term memories. I forgive them for that. What I've done for you lately is knock people out. That's only because that's all that was left for me to do."

Vickers said the Browns under former coach Eric Mangini were "a team where they don't even use a fullback. Mangini's era wasn't really a fullback era. I played just on (the belief that) 'this person has to be on the field.' Everything I got wasn't given. I took it. Our offense was based on New England's. They don't even have a fullback."

Vickers understands that teams must make decisions, and he doesn't begrudge the Browns their choice of fullbacks.

"I'm not disappointed, because I understand business totally," he said. "In business, you've got to make decisions that are for the business. If it is the end of me, kudos to Cleveland. I'm not angry. My own personal goal was to be in one spot for my whole career. I love Cleveland. I wanted to be like Kevin Mack, who spent his whole career there.

"If it is my departure in Cleveland, I'm going out with a bang. The team is on the rise. Am I mad at Tom or even Mike (Holmgren)? No. I'll see them. I'll shake their hands."

Vickers hopes the team will want him back, even as he realizes it probably won't.

"I just hope I don't have to come to Cleveland in a different uniform, because it's gonna be bad (for the Browns)," he said. "Those (Browns linebackers) are my guys. They know they will come with it and I will come with it. It's gonna be one of those all-time Cleveland games."

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Greenway says there's good chance Leber will exit Vikings

Ben Leber's status as a free agent has placed him firmly in NFL limbo this offseason, and at least one Minnesota Vikings teammate doesn't foresee a return to purple and gold for the veteran linebacker.

"The reality of (Leber's status) is certainly uncertain," linebacker Chad Greenway said in an interview with KFAN-AM. "I would say there is a better percentage of him not being here than him being here. But again, that's not my hope."

Leber, 32, is coming off his fifth season with the Vikings. He began his career with the San Diego Chargers, who selected him in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft. He has played in every regular-season game but one during his tenure with the Vikings. Last season, he finished with 35 tackles, but he was held without a sack for the first time in his career.

Greenway made it clear he'd like Leber to return for a sixth season in Minnesota.

"Well, I hope he stays," Greenway said. "I think he's a great player and certainly a great teammate. Would love to have him around for another few years, as long as he wants to play."

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Payback? Ex-Redskin Portis wants chance to join rival Giants

Clinton Portis knows he has something to prove entering the 2011 season. He'd like to prove it to his former team, the Washington Redskins, twice per year.

Portis said Tuesday on SiriusXM NFL Radio that he wouldn't mind joining the NFC East rival New York Giants, calling the possibility "outstanding."

"I would love that opportunity," Portis said, via Comcast SportsNet Washington and RealRedskins.com.

Portis, 29, noted that the Giants pound the football with their 1-2 running back punch of Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs, boast a solid offensive line and have a premier quarterback in Eli Manning. All they need is to join forces.

"I just need to be able to come out and show what I'm capable of," said Portis, who's 77 rushing yards shy of 10,000 in his career. "... I think it's revitalizing to have an opportunity and still have the drive and still have the hunger to go out and prove people wrong."

The Giants aren't the only team on Portis' wish list. The Mississippi native expressed disappointment that the New Orleans Saints drafted Alabama running back Mark Ingram last month -- "I thought that would be a match made in heaven," Portis said -- and he mentioned San Diego's Philip Rivers, Indianapolis' Peyton Manning, New England's Tom Brady, Philadelphia's Michael Vick, Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers and Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger as quarterbacks with whom he'd like to play.

One team not on Portis' list: the Oakland Raiders. That's because former Redskins offensive coordinator Al Saunders, who coached Portis in 2006 and 2007, is there.

"I don't think Al Saunders' system fit me," Portis said. Me and Al kind of clashed when we were in D.C. -- I'm not sure he was a big fan of mine, the practice habits. ... I think for myself, (I need) a clean slate, something new, a fresh start."

The Redskins released Portis in February because of his impending $8.3 million salary and injuries that limited him to just 13 games in the last two seasons. Portis pointed out Tuesday that the NFL lockout, which is in its third month, actually helps him, giving him more time to heal.

"I think I'm in better shape today than I was since, probably, my fourth or fifth year in the NFL," Portis said. "... Now I'm having some freedom and opportunity to go elsewhere and train and do my own thing and recover at my own pace. Usually by now, my back hurts from pushing sleds and doing this and doing that in the offseason program. ...

"I'm looking forward to growing completely healed. I'm benching, I'm squatting, I'm running. I feel like I got the speed back that was once dominating and scared so many other opposing teams."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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White's heads-up strip gives Ryan, Falcons second chance to beat Niners

ATLANTA -- Roddy White's best play came on defense, and it allowed the Atlanta Falcons to come up with another close-call victory.

When 49ers cornerback Nate Clements intercepted Matt Ryan late in the fourth quarter and ran 39 yards down the left sideline, White had one goal in mind: Knock the ball out.

"Any time that you see defensive players carrying the ball," Atlanta's star receiver said, "they aren't used to it, so you've got a chance."

Falcons WR Roddy White's biggest play could have been his strip fumble of the 49ers' Nate Clements, but he also put up enough numbers offensively to be among the weekly leaders.

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White's forced fumble kept the winning drive alive, and Matt Bryant kicked a 43-yarder with 2 seconds remaining to lift the fortunate Falcons to a 16-14 victory over the winless 49ers on Sunday.

"It wasn't the prettiest kick," said Bryant, who won last week's overtime game at New Orleans with a 46-yard field goal. "But the only thing that matters is we get that 'W' when the ball went through the uprights."

The Falcons (3-1) have won three straight.

San Francisco (0-4) blew a 14-0 first-quarter lead due in part to a pair of interceptions by Alex Smith.

"Those were critical errors," Smith said.

White caught seven passes for 104 yards -- including four for 60 yards on the winning drive -- but his biggest play was chasing Clements down and knocking the ball loose as he tackled him from behind at the Atlanta 7.

Falcons guard Harvey Dahl recovered the ball to preserve the 12-play winning drive. Clements picked off a pass over the middle that was intended for tight end Tony Gonzalez.

San Francisco went up 7-0 in the first quarter on Vernon Davis' 11-yard touchdown catch. The 10-play drive was aided by cornerback Dunta Robinson's 34-yard pass interference penalty against tight end Delanie Walker.

Four plays later, Falcons punter Michael Koenen was lined up to receive a snap in the end zone. A blown blocking assignment allowed Dominique Zeigler to run past long snapper Joe Zelenka and dive forward for the blocked punt.

Taylor Mays, seeing the ball arching down in his direction, turned toward the back of the end zone and kept both feet inbounds as he caught the loose ball for an unconventional touchdown and a 14-0 lead.

"I saw him block it, picked it up and tried to keep my feet in bounds," Mays said. "It was a trip, but I would have given it all up for a win."

Falcons running back Michael Turner ran 16 times for 50 yards, and Jason Snelling finished with 31 yards on seven carries.

Ryan, who completed 26 of 43 passes for 273 yards, connected with Gonzalez to convert Atlanta's final third down on a 5-yard pass to the San Francisco 26.

Late in the second quarter, Gonzalez caught a 9-yard pass to become the first NFL tight end with 12,000 yards receiving. Gonzalez, who spent his first 12 seasons in Kansas City before the Falcons traded for him last year, earlier this season became the first NFL tight with 1,000 career catches.

He seemed more proud of White and Dahl for extending the winning drive.

"We knew we just needed a field goal, so we had to get it 20 yards past the 30-yard line," Gonzalez said. "It's definitely all confidence when you are in the huddle at that point."

The 49ers failed to hold the one-point lead despite running 13 plays and using nearly seven minutes of the fourth quarter, but the drive ended with Smith getting sacked on William Moore's unblocked safety blitz.

"On that last drive, I thought we did a good job," Smith said. "We were moving the ball, but then we stalled. It was frustrating not to be able to get points."

Though the game ended with another loss, the Niners' early drive gave hope that coach Mike Singletary made the right choice in firing Jimmy Raye as offensive coordinator earlier this week and replacing him with Mike Johnson.

"As much as it hurts right now, I'm excited," Singletary said. "There were positives that came from this."

Frank Gore finished with 137 total yards, 77 rushing on 21 carries and 60 yards receiving on seven catches. Smith completed 21 of 32 passes for 188 yards and a touchdown.

Atlanta was 2 for 11 on third down plays before Ryan threw from his end zone to connect with Brian Finneran for a 17-yard gain down the left side.

White made four tough catches on the drive. His 19-yard reception against safety Dashon Goldson came in tight coverage on the left side before Ryan's second interception.

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After he helped the Falcons regain possession, White ran a sideline route on the right side and beat cornerback Tarell Brown for a 20-yard gain.

"It was an incredible catch," Ryan said. "The ball had pace on it. It was high, and he went up and just made a played when we needed to. That's the kind of thing we've come to expect from Roddy."

Early in the second quarter, Harry Douglas caught Ryan's 8-yard pass in the right flats and dove for the front pylon to cut the lead to 14-7.

Douglas' 34-yard catch late in the second quarter helped set up a 37-yard field goal by Bryant that made it 14-10 at halftime. Bryant cut the 49ers lead to 14-13 with a 31-yard field goal at the 5:53 mark of the third quarter.

"We made lots of mistakes and we've got lots of things that we've got to correct," Falcons coach Mike Smith said. "But we're 3-1 through the first quarter of the season."

Notes: 49ers S Michael Lewis didn't make the trip. He missed practice Friday because of personal reasons and reportedly has demanded a trade. Mays started in his place. ... Falcons WR Michael Jenkins (shoulder) and OLB Sean Weatherspoon (ankle) did not dress. ... X-rays of Walker's sprained ankle were negative. He didn't return after leaving in the second quarter.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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