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Kurt Warner is retired and as ArizonaCardinals.com staffer Darren Urban noted last week, as of March 5, the only quarterback the Cardinals will have under contract is Matt Leinart.

And while he's clearly first in line to become the heir apparent to Warner, head coach Ken Whisenhunt still hasn't told Leinart he's the starter.

While that doesn't mean the Cardinals aren't counting on the former first-round pick to be just that, Whisenhunt has been quick to deflect questions -- often using humor.

Indeed, asked last week why he is so confident in Leinart's ability to fill the hole left by Warner's retirement, the coach quipped: "He's the only quarterback we've got on the roster so we don't really have a lot of options with that."

Still, Leinart knows he will be the Cards' guy, and last Wednesday, talking for the first time publicly since Warner retired, he made clear he has been anxious for this time to come.

"I do feel like I am the starting quarterback," Leinart told Urban. "I think that's the mindset I have to have and that's the mindset I do have. To be honest, I am not worried about any of that. I feel this is my job and I am going to go out and do well and be the guy they drafted me to be.

"Ultimately, my play will define what people say about me."

Working in Leinart's favor?

He believes spending time behind Warner was important. "I feel I observed and absorbed as much I as I could from Kurt in our time together," Leinart explained adding the experience has left him with little doubts he is ready, even as many outside the team clearly wonder.

Whisenhunt, meanwhile, compared Leinart's situation with that of Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, who sat for a couple of seasons behind Brett Favre before taking over.

Rodgers became a Pro Bowler, and while Whisenhunt isn't declaring that for Leinart's future yet, the Cardinals do expect Leinart to be a success.

"Matt has been very fortunate to play behind a quarterback who has played at as high a level as anybody the last couple of years and he has seen the work and the preparation and time that it takes," Whisenhunt said. "We have seen things on the practice field from Matt every day – things that everyone doesn't see -- that lead us to believe he is going to be a good quarterback."

According to Urban, Leinart said while he already feels he has built a level of respect in the locker room, he also is cognizant of the need to continue to earn respect.

No doubt about that. In fact, some have suggested he'll have to go further.

In an article published Jan. 21, Arizona Republic beat writer Kent Somers wrote: "Leinart has to re-gain the trust of his receivers. Everyone can say all the right things about believing in him, but Leinart's inaccuracy this season eroded confidence among the receiving corps."

Leinart, the 10th overall pick in 2006 draft, addressed the issue with Urban.

"There is all this talk that my receivers don't trust me, but to me, that's a bunch of nonsense," the quarterback explained. "I am as close to my wide receivers as Kurt is. I love those guys and we have a great relationship. Not being the starting quarterback, it's a little different, but I know Larry [Fitzgerald] and he said he's got my back.

"We will work hard, get comfortable with each other, and you know what? It's going to work out."

We'll see. ... Recent history doesn't speak all that well for Leinart.

According to Urban, Leinart acknowledges his performances outside of his lone start in Tennessee were "a little shaky, up and down."

Leinart played well against the Titans and the Cardinals would have won had the defense not let the Titans drive 99 yards for a touchdown in the closing minutes.

"It's unfortunate we didn't win that game," Whisenhunt said, "because a lot of questions would have been answered about him."

Leinart believes his showing against the Titans, while not "out of this world" was efficient and showed he was capable of leading a team.

He also knows many outsiders point to his brief appearance in Chicago -- in which he threw an interception with the Cards holding a big lead, forcing Whisenhunt to reinsert Warner into the game -- as a red flag.

"I had a bad throw and then you don't get a chance to redeem yourself," Leinart said. "That's where people are like, ‘He played horrible in that game.' Well, I played four plays. Granted I missed an opportunity and it was my fault. That's why I am excited about this chance. If I have a bad play, I will answer back."

Of course, nobody should expect the Cardinals to ask Leinart to do all the same things they asked Warner to do. Clearly the offense will evolve.

Even Leinart acknowledges change is coming, if for no other reason than he's better under the center instead of shotgun.

With his ability to bootleg and run more play-action, the Cards can have new wrinkles. But Leinart also told Whisenhunt he is comfortable running the offense as it is, and Leinart believes it will get even easier as he gains experience.

But there will be changes.

As Profootballtalk.com reported Saturday, general manager Rod Graves confirmed what's been whispered about plenty at the combine: Anquan Boldin is available.

"We're receptive to taking any calls. I don't want to get into specifics but we're going to look at all the possibilities," Graves said.

Nothing much new there. ... As Somers put it: "The Cardinals think he's a great player but are willing to listen to anything that might make them a better team. That's been the policy for, oh, a year now. ..."

Meanwhile, Graves expressed confidence in his younger players, while conceding it won't be easy to replace a player of Boldin's caliber. "We'll see where this thing takes us," he said.

If you ask me, the willingness to deal Boldin isn't just due to the emergence of Steve Breaston as a legitimate threat and the late-season surge Early Doucet.

The games Boldin has missed the past two years are also a factor.

Arizona is 6-2, averaging more than 30 points per game. With him, they're 17-13, with 24.5 points per game.

According to SI.com's Don Banks, as long as the Cardinals don't over-price Boldin, he should draw interest from receiver-needy teams like Miami and Baltimore -- and maybe even Denver if it moves Brandon Marshall.

ESPN.com insider Adam Schefter believes the Cardinals would be quite happy to get a second-round pick in return for Boldin -- although they might have to settle for less.

More importantly, from a Fantasy perspective, moving Leinart in under center (and given Boldin's presumed departure), there will be a heavier emphasis on the running game, which has developed over the past year and a half.

As the Sports Xchange recently noted, Tim Hightower is a versatile player who is excellent at picking up the blitz. But it will be hard for him to hold off second-year man Chris Wells, who is more talented. Wells has big-play ability and is a physical runner.

The Xchange also believes that LaRod Stephens-Howling has a chance to become a productive third-down back.

Assuming the rushing attack is the focal point, the play-action pass, not one of Warner's favorite things, could become more of a threat with Leinart at the helm.

Given the imminent change, Fantasy owners will need to watch the situation closely. It's too early to begin making hard and fast decisions, but I strongly suspect Fitzgerald's days as a first-round pick in point-per reception leagues have probably come to an end.

I also expect to be ranking Wells accordingly.

Hightower finished last season as the 23rd ranked back in our final 2009 FootballDiehards.com stats; Wells ranked 31st. It's safe to assume those positions will be reversed in this year's projections with Wells likely to move well into top-20 territory. ...

Meanwhile, getting back to the quarterback. ... Urban notes that Leinart is a different player than 2007. He insists he is also a different person. And he wants to prove himself.

"I could say everything I want to say and believe what I believe, and people are going to continue to either say I'll be OK or I'm not going to be OK," Leinart said. "I understand that. What is exciting is, this is it. This is my chance. That's how I will gain respect, as far as the media, as far as the fans, as far as opponents, my teammates.

"I know this is my season. I know this is my opportunity. ..."

Current bottom line from the Fantasy perspective? Even if Leinart takes full advantage of the opportunity, those looking for Warneresque totals from the Cardinals' passing attack will be disappointed. ...

Also of interest. ... Even as the Cardinals prepare to go through significant personnel-related player changes, the main architects of the team are assured of staying long-term.

This after Whisenhunt and Graves each agreed to new contracts through the 2013 season.

Whisenhunt’s deal also has a team option for the 2014 season.

He becomes the first coach since the franchise moved to Arizona to receive a contract extension.

In three seasons, Whisenhunt has compiled a 27-21 win-loss record, two NFC West titles and a Super Bowl appearance. The Cardinals are 4-2 in the playoffs.