LOS ANGELES--Matt Leinart shot back at some of his critics yesterday who said he was too much of an airhead to make a solid professional quarterback, insisting that his airheadedness would not “in any way” affect his performance on the field. He also pointed out that he was wildly successful in college despite being a total mimbo.

“When you’re at the top like I am, people are always trying to find things wrong with you. They’re always looking for a reason why you won’t succeed,” Leinart said on the Dan Patrick Radio Show on Monday. “First it was arm strength, and now it’s the fact that I’m an airhead. Being an airhead is my personal business and I have never, ever let it interfere with my game. I know a lot of people are going to doubt me, but I intend to prove that you can be extremely vacant and still win football games.”

Leinart also cautioned against reading too much into this social life, saying it has nothing to do with what he brings to the table as a quarterback.

“I know a lot of people see me in the paper hanging out in LA with people like Tara Reid and Paris Hilton, people who can actually make you dumber just be standing next you,” said Leinart. “But so what? I did that all through college and was still wildly successful. That’s because I’m in a different mindset when I’m on the field. The fact that I’m in a mindset at all is what makes it different. Off the field I don’t bother with things like mindsets.”

Several NFL teams are said to be concerned with Leinart’s mental toughness and are wondering if he can handle the pressure of playing for a team that is likely to struggle during his first few years. One GM, after meeting with Leinart, said those concerns are valid.

“It’s going to be a tough transition from USC to, say, the New York Jets or the Titans,” said the GM. “And with Leinart it’s just…I don’t know. I just have a bad feeling about the kid. I mean you look into his eyes and it’s like the lights are on but nobody’s home. He says ‘Dude’ a lot, too, and he sometimes seems stoned. He’s no Jay Cutler, that’s for sure. That kid punched me square in the face for showing up 5 minutes late to our meeting.”

Just days before the draft it’s still unclear where Leinart will go. Some have the Titans taking him, while other have him falling to the Jets. Either way, he’s almost certain to be a top 5 selection, despite his airheadedness.

Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow, who coached Leinart at USC, called criticism of Leinart “ridiculous.”

“People criticizing Matt have no idea what they’re talking about,” said Chow, who joined the Titans prior to last season. “This is a guy who was undefeated for much of his college career. He never had a problem understanding the formations either. On the field he’s as bright as can be. Off the field, who cares? This is the NFL. Most of the people here aren't terribly bright, otherwise they would have found something better to do with their lives than play football.”

While Leinart enjoyed great success in college, the pro game is infinitely more complex and requires discipline and intelligence, particularly at the quarterback position. In addition, a star quarterback in a town like New York would need to carry himself in the proper way both on the field and off.

“Matt is a very intriguing choice, but like every candidate he has his downsides,” said Jets head coach Eric Mangini. “To put it bluntly, he’s a mimbo. You know, a male bimbo. When I met with him he had this blank look on his face, like he was staring right through me. He nodded his head a lot and gave a lot of yes and no answers. He also had lipstick on his collar and he sort of smelled like booze. And he had some girls phone number scribbled down on his hand. And his cell phone kept going off, and the ringtone was that Nelly song ‘Hot in Here,’ and he wouldn’t answer it. He just sang along with it until it stopped. He also kept chugging Red Bull and popping these little pills to stay awake. Still, he beats the hell out of Chad Pennington.”

  Copyright 2006, The Brushback - Do not reprint without permission. This article is satire and is not intended as actual news.

Copyright 2005, The Brushback - Do not reprint without permission. This article is satire and is not intended as actual news.