The Oakland Raiders talked a ton of shit to me
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Q9 Playboy: How is your golf game?
Leinart: Pretty shitty.
Since I'm an athlete, some of it comes naturally. To be honest, I've got a natural swing, but I'm not any good. I feel I could get fairly decent and hold my own if I practiced enough, but I'm just too lazy to practice right now. And Arizona is home to some of the most beautiful golf courses in the world.
Q10 Playboy: When you entered the 2006 NFL draft most analysts figured you would be drafted early, possibly to the Tennessee Titans or New York Jets. Were you surprised when you went 10th?
Leinart: It didn't surprise me after I was sitting there past the third pick, which was Tennessee. I knew then there was a good chance I would fall to Arizona unless some team was going to trade up to get me. You're just waiting for your name to be called. When Arizona called I was excited, but I was also bummed because I wanted and expected to go higher. But when I look at the things that Arizona has, like a new stadium and great players, plus being close to home, it is literally the perfect place to be. Now that I've been here I can say I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the NFL than with this team.
Q11 Playboy: What was the first NFL game you ever attended?
Leinart: It was a preseason game I actually played in. I'd never seen a game from the stands. My first game was against the New England Patriots, and it was a surreal feeling. I remember warming up before the game, and everyone was kind of hanging out with one another. I thought, I've made it. I've got Junior Seau warming up; I've got Tom Brady throwing the ball--along with all these guys I had watched win three Super Bowls. It was incredible. That was a fun experience. And I did pretty well against them, too.
Q12 Playboy: What kinds of insults were thrown at you as a rookie?
Leinart: I got a lot of shit talked to me but not as much as I expected. One of the Detroit Lions talked some smack to me. The Oakland Raiders talked a ton of shit to me. They were kicking my ass the whole game. I was hoping to get out of that game alive, to be honest with you. Warren Sapp is the king of talking. I think some of the guys in Green Bay talked to me. Other than that I had a lot of good things said to me. I remember John Lynch and Champ Bailey and all these guys telling me I was going to be a great pro and to keep my head up. That goes a long way, especially from guys like that.
Q9 Playboy: How is your golf game?
Leinart: Pretty shitty.
Since I'm an athlete, some of it comes naturally. To be honest, I've got a natural swing, but I'm not any good. I feel I could get fairly decent and hold my own if I practiced enough, but I'm just too lazy to practice right now. And Arizona is home to some of the most beautiful golf courses in the world.
Q10 Playboy: When you entered the 2006 NFL draft most analysts figured you would be drafted early, possibly to the Tennessee Titans or New York Jets. Were you surprised when you went 10th?
Leinart: It didn't surprise me after I was sitting there past the third pick, which was Tennessee. I knew then there was a good chance I would fall to Arizona unless some team was going to trade up to get me. You're just waiting for your name to be called. When Arizona called I was excited, but I was also bummed because I wanted and expected to go higher. But when I look at the things that Arizona has, like a new stadium and great players, plus being close to home, it is literally the perfect place to be. Now that I've been here I can say I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the NFL than with this team.
Q11 Playboy: What was the first NFL game you ever attended?
Leinart: It was a preseason game I actually played in. I'd never seen a game from the stands. My first game was against the New England Patriots, and it was a surreal feeling. I remember warming up before the game, and everyone was kind of hanging out with one another. I thought, I've made it. I've got Junior Seau warming up; I've got Tom Brady throwing the ball--along with all these guys I had watched win three Super Bowls. It was incredible. That was a fun experience. And I did pretty well against them, too.
Q12 Playboy: What kinds of insults were thrown at you as a rookie?
Leinart: I got a lot of shit talked to me but not as much as I expected. One of the Detroit Lions talked some smack to me. The Oakland Raiders talked a ton of shit to me. They were kicking my ass the whole game. I was hoping to get out of that game alive, to be honest with you. Warren Sapp is the king of talking. I think some of the guys in Green Bay talked to me. Other than that I had a lot of good things said to me. I remember John Lynch and Champ Bailey and all these guys telling me I was going to be a great pro and to keep my head up. That goes a long way, especially from guys like that.
