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Whisenhunt: Decision To Start Warner Wasn't Easy

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By BRETT McMURPHY | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 29, 2009

TAMPA - Kurt Warner or Matt Leinart?

That was the decision Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt had to make at starting quarterback before the season began.

The Cardinals are in the Super Bowl, so Whisenhunt obviously made the right choice going with Warner. But he said it wasn't an easy decision.

Whisenhunt's decision came on a Friday night after the Cardinals' final preseason game.

"At that time I felt I needed to make a decision to prepare for our first regular-season game, which was eight days away," Whisenhunt said. "It was very difficult from the standpoint because I liked a lot of the things that Matt had done for us in the preseason and the way I had seen him grow and handle the competition and obviously Kurt had a very good preseason.

"It came down to making a decision at the end of who gave us the best chance to start fast."

Leinart is a former first-round pick in his third year out of Southern Cal. Warner, an 11-year NFL veteran, has played in two previous Super Bowls with St. Louis, winning it after the 1999 season.

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