USC football: Matt Barkley is Pac-12 offensive player of the week

After passing for a record-tying five touchdowns and leading USC to victory over Syracuse, Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley on Monday was selected as the Pacific 12 Conference offensive player of the week.

Barkley threw touchdown passes to tight end Rhett Ellison, receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee and tight ends Randall Telfer and Xavier Grimble in the Trojans' 38-17 victory.

It was the third time that Barkley passed for five touchdowns. He did it last season at Hawaii and against California.

USC Coach Lane Kiffin was low-key on Saturday night, saying Barkley played well.

But upon reviewing the game tape, Kiffin said Barkley was "awesome" against the Orange.

"I think we have become accustomed around here to seeing those kinds of performances," Kiffin said Sunday night. "Those types of days don't happen very often across the country."

Rodney Peete, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez also passed for five touchdowns at USC.

Barkley completed 26 of 39 passes for 324 yards, without an interception. He has passed for nine touchdowns, with only one interception, this season.

More later at latimes.com/sports.

--Gary Klein

Photo: USC quarterback Matt Barkley sets the Trojans at the line of scrimmage during Saturday's 38-17 victory over Syracuse. Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

USC football: Matt Barkley, Matt Leinart, Tim Tebow talk quarterback sneak

USC pulled off perhaps the most famous quarterback sneak in college football history when Reggie Bush assisted Matt Leinart into the end zone with the so-called "Bush Push" at Notre Dame in 2005.

Leinart, current Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley and Tim Tebow are among the voices in a story about the art of the quarterback sneak play in ESPN The Magazine.

Some excerpts from the conversation-style story:

"I just called "Kill!" in the huddle and everyone knew what we had to do."

-- Tim Tebow, Denver Broncos quarterback

"It's not just a meathead play. There is an art to it. You have to know what the defense is going to do before the ball is snapped, know certain guys will slant a certain way when we're in an empty set or that a team doesn't load the box in the red zone."

-- Matt Barkley, USC quarterback

"I think I had six rushing touchdowns my senior year at USC and three were QB sneaks from the 1-yard line. I stole a lot of TDs."

-- Matt Leinart, Houston Texans quarterback

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-- Gary Klein

Photo: USC quarterback Matt Barkley. Credit: Alex Gallardo / Los Angeles Times

Matt Leinart reverses course, stays with Houston Texans

In a prime example of how free-agency moves this week are not etched in stone, quarterback Matt Leinart has decided not to rejoin Pete Carroll in Seattle -– a deal that couldn’t be signed until Friday -– and instead will stay with the Houston Texans.

According to individuals with knowledge of the negotiations, Leinart had agreed to terms with the Seahawks on Tuesday and intended to be reunited with Carroll, his college coach, believing his only quarterback competition would have been Charlie Whitehurst.

However, the Houston Chronicle reported Wednesday that Leinart was bothered to learn that Seattle subsequently agreed to terms with former Minnesota quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, Brett Favre’s backup with the Vikings. In Minnesota, Jackson played under offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, who now has that job in Seattle, so the quarterback is very familiar with the offensive system.

Leinart did not return phone messages.

According to the Chronicle, Leinart changed his mind once Jackson agreed to a deal with Seattle. The newspaper also reported Leinart told Texans Coach Gary Kubiak that he wanted to sign with a team that would give him a chance to start. That’s not immediately likely in Houston, which has a starting quarterback in Matt Schaub.

ALSO:

Should the N.Y. Giants re-sign Plaxico Burress?

Matt Hasselbeck expected to sign with Tennessee Titans

Donovan McNabb reportedly heading to Minnesota Vikings

-- Sam Farmer

Photo: Matt Leinart. Credit: Roy Dabner / EPA.

USC Football: Versus to rebroadcast Trojans' 2005 'Bush Push' victory over Notre Dame

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, Versus will rebroadcast USC's 2005 victory over Notre Dame.

The game will be shown at 4 p.m. PDT Thursday. 

USC's 34-31 victory featured Matt Leinart's fourth-and-nine pass to receiver Dwayne Jarrett and Reggie Bush's infamous push of Leinart into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.

The game will be shown as part of a Notre Dame tripleheader that includes the Irish's 1992 game against Penn State at 2 p.m. and 1993 game against Florida State at 6 p.m.

ALSO:

Defensive lineman Steve Dillon signs letter of intent to USC

USC football: Armond Armstead released from hospital

-- Gary Klein

Photo: Trojan Matt Leinart spins and reaches for the endzone on a quarterback sneak to make the score 34-31 and put USC ahead for good against Notre Dame in the fourth quarter Saturday Oct. 15, 2005 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana.

Arizona Cardinals release Matt Leinart

Matt Leinart's star-crossed NFL career took another turn for the worse Saturday when the former USC quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner was released by the Arizona Cardinals.

Arizona Coach Ken Whisenhunt called Leinart with the news this morning, Leinart's agent Chuck Price said.

Playing four seasons in Arizona, Leinart started 11 games as a rookie in 2006 but suffered a broken collarbone the following season and lost his spot to veteran Kurt Warner.

With Warner now retired, Leinart spent much of training camp at No. 1 on the depth chart before unexpectedly slipping below Derek Anderson in late August.

Asked what he was looking for with the change, Whisenhunt replied briefly: "First downs."

At the time, Leinart seemed mystified by the demotion.

"I don't really know what else I could possibly do," he told the Associated Press. "It probably goes beyond football, beyond the field actually. For me, I am not making excuses. I am not going to complain. For me, I just really want an explanation and I haven't been given one."

Leinart, who played sparingly in the preseason, completing 78% of his passes for one touchdown and no interceptions, was not available for comment Saturday.

He was scheduled to return home to Los Angeles and consider his next move.

-- David Wharton

Photo: Quarterback Matt Leinart delivers a pass in the preseason for the Arizona Cardinals. Credit: Christian Petersen / Getty Images

Gruden: Leinart 'hasn't taken advantage of his opportunities'

ESPN's Jon Gruden, a Super Bowl-winning coach and quarterback expert, just gave a very blunt assessment of why Matt Leinart hasn't panned out in Arizona. There are multiple reports the Cardinals are actively trying to trade the former USC star, picked 10th in the 2006 draft.

"I just say he hasn't performed," Gruden said Wednesday morning on the network's "Monday Night Football" conference call. "He hasn't taken advantage of his opportunities. He's clearly been average. He hasn't been a guy who's really taken control and choked the opportunity that's been given to him, and obviously there's something missing there.

"Ken Whisenhunt has been watching him closely -- a young guy that has been put in place there in the first round to be the future of the franchise, and he hasn't taken advantage of his opportunities with an outstanding supporting cast. And for that reason I believe the Arizona Cardinals are looking to improve the position. It's that simple.

"There's a lot of guys who don't realize their potential. That's not to say he won't in the future. But the people that know him best in Arizona don't believe he can take them where they want to go, and for that reason they're going to try to upgrade the position."

-- Sam Farmer

Pete Carroll says he thinks Matt Leinart will thrive as Cardinals' quarterback

Matt Leinart has yet to show any real star power in the NFL, but he will have another chance now that Arizona Cardinals Coach Ken Whisenhunt has named him the unquestioned starting quarterback.

Speaking with reporters at the annual NFL meetings Wednesday, Seattle Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll, who coached Leinart at USC, said he has no doubt Leinart will finally succeed in the pros.

The former Trojans coach said he has seen his former quarterback in this situation before, describing Leinart as "floundering" until he was tagged the Trojans unquestioned starter over Matt Cassell on the last day of spring practice in 2003.

"He had a look in his eye," Carroll said. "He said what I think he probably said to Kenny [Whisenhunt]: 'You'll never regret this, and you'll never have to look back.' And he just flipped and hit the switch."

Of course, we all know what happened next: two national titles, one Heisman Trophy. Carroll said he feels confident Leinart will flip the same switch with the Cardinals now that he doesn't have to worry about competing for the job.

"I think that's what he’s been waiting for," Carroll said. "He's been waiting for that recognition that you are our starting guy, and I think he’s going to be a terrific player. I don’t know him in any other way. I don’t know how to think of him in any other way than he is going to be a great performer for them."

-- Chuck Schilken

Photo: Pete Carroll and Matt Leinart celebrate after Leinart's final game at the Coliseum. Credit: Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times

USC football: Matt Leinart is Sporting News college football player of decade

Matt Leinart won the 2004 Heisman Trophy and helped lead the Trojans to two national titles and a 34-game winning streak.

Not a bad college career, according to Sporting News, which named Leinart the college football player of the decade.

Leinart chose the end of the 2005 Notre Dame game, which featured his fourth-and-nine pass to Dwayne Jarrett and his Reggie Bush-assisted sneak into the end zone, as his favorite moment.

“The thing was, we didn’t panic,” Leinart told Sporting News. “We just executed a play. And then the Bush Push, or whatever they call it, I had to decide whether to spike the ball or go for a touchdown. I told Reggie, ‘I’m going to go.’ He said, ‘OK. I’ve got you.’

“I remember, after the game, being so emotionally drained. Everything that went into that game and getting the rivalry back in the spotlight. That last drive felt like it took years off your life. But I’ll never forget celebrating in the locker room after we won.”

-- Gary Klein

Adrian Peterson still sore at USC

Adrian Peterson is a Pro Bowl running back for the Minnesota Vikings, but when he looks back at his college career he still has two major regrets.

And USC is involved in both.

In 2004, Peterson ran for an NCAA freshman record 1,925 yards for the Oklahoma Sooners, becoming the first freshman to place second in voting for the Heisman Trophy.

Which was won by USC quarterback Matt Leinart.

Then, a few weeks later, Peterson and the Sooners were thrashed, 55-19, in the Bowl Championship Series title game.

The winner: USC.

"When I look back, I had an outstanding [college] career," Peterson said in a story published today by the Associated Press. "There were some things that -- a national championship, I didn't accomplish that. I fell short. I had the opportunity my freshman year, and I don't even want to talk about that."

In that game he didn't want to talk about, USC held Peterson to 82 yards rushing in 25 carries, with a long gain of nine yards.

Peterson said he longed for a Heisman when, during a visit to Reggie Bush's home in L.A., he found himself gazing at Bush's Heisman. "I was like, 'Awww!' I wanted to ask him where Matt Leinart was so I could go over there and take mine. But it's all good. It is what it is."

Hey, he might still have an outside shot. Depending on how USC and Bush fare in the NCAA's investigation of the Trojans football program, there might be a national championship and Heisman up for grabs.

-- Mike Hiserman

Sports and Hollywood: Sean Payton, Matt Leinart and Scientology

Because we're in L.A., after all ...

• New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton can write a play script, but what about a film script? He's trying to sell a movie concept called "The Xbox Kid," which combines everything guys love: sports, video games, and natural disasters. It sounds an awful lot like Adam Sandler's "Click."
• Matt Leinart is taking MMA lessons. What does this have to do with Hollywood? A) It's Matt Leinart. B) The lessons are being taught by Fox's Jay Glazer. C) Leinart used to be represented by CAA, which is hawking Payton's script.
• It's amazing what you can find in the Sports Illustrated Vault. Deadspin went poking around this weekend and discovered a Scientologist -- former 49er quarterback John Brodie. The site raises a great question: Why aren't there more Scientologists playing sports? It's a surprise, writes A.J. Daulerio, "given how malleable (and super rich) these guys are coming out of college. And most athletes are already hard-wired to process various self-help and motivational techniques."

Finally, a line poigniant enough for Vin Scully though perhaps a bit too biting, from Bob Brenly during a sloppy Cubs-Reds game:

"If there are any Little Leaguers watching, turn the TV off."

-- Adam Rose

Photos, from left: Sean Payton; Matt Leinert; Bob Brenly. Credits, from left: Bill Haber / Associated Press; Matt York / Associated Press; Matt York / Associated Press.

Nothing compared to USC's 2006 Pro Day

NFL coaches and scouts turned out en masse for USC's pro day to watch quarterback Mark Sanchez, linebackers Brian Cushing, Rey Maualuga and Clay Matthews and the rest of the draft-eligible Trojans.

But the scene paled in comparison to USC's 2006 event, regarded throughout the college and pro football worlds as the pro day to end all pro days.

Back then, pro day was open to the public. So a huge crowd showed up to catch a glimpse of Heisman Trophy winners Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart, running back LenDale White and others. The crowd grew so large, in fact, the fire marshal threatened to shut down the event.

Coach Pete Carroll, capitalizing on the interest, had tied pro day to junior day, when high school prospects come to campus. It made for an interesting mix of college players, high school players, agents, coaches, scouts, media and fans.