Leinart Facing Tatupu

This is a conundrum for me usually...Which USC player to support in a pro game? Before it was Carson facing Troy in the Bengals/Steelers games..and now that Willie McGinnist is a Brownie - oh boy!

here's another one...almost makes pro football worth watching..almost


KIRKLAND — They're friends and former college teammates exchanging some friendly fire this week.

Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu and Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart are two of the top players on their respective teams, and each played big roles in the USC football team's recent success.

Now Leinart, a rookie, will face Tatupu, a second-year player, for the first time in the NFL on Sunday. And they want to make a play against each other.

Tatupu seeks an interception, Leinart a touchdown.

"I'm due for one," Tatupu snapped. "How long has it been, since Week 5? So let's hope that it finally comes. All joking aside, he's a great quarterback and we have to be on our game. All the 4-3 defenses that are being ran up here [in the NFL], he's seen from going against them every day with Pete's defense."

That would be USC coach Pete Carroll.

Leinart had yet to give Tatupu a call as of Wednesday, a fact not lost on Tatupu.

"I've talked to him throughout the season here and there. It's going to be fun," Leinart said. "He's always said he's going to pick me off, so I told him, 'This week, man.' I told him I'm going to throw a touchdown on him, hopefully."

Leinart also complimented Tatupu.

"He was always talking and always starting stuff, but he can back it up now," Leinart said. "He's a great player."