QBs Leinart, Young hope to answer questions

The two standouts are expected to go early in April's draft.
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The link between Matt Leinart and Vince Young grows stronger.
In December, they sat together at the Heisman Trophy ceremony. In January, they faced each other for a national title. Now they're in Indianapolis vying to become the first quarterback chosen in April's NFL draft.
Separating them is the challenge.
"Matt's success at Southern Cal over the last couple of years is almost unprecedented in the history of the school. He understands offense, he understands defense, and moves the football and makes plays in big games," Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher said Friday.
"Vince, on the other hand, is a different style of quarterback, certainly if not the top, one of the top athletes coming out of the draft."
Stock rises quickly
Leinart led Southern Cal to two straight national championships, then Young's performance in January's Rose Bowl that ended the Trojans run. Texas won its first outright championship since 1969 and Young's stock rose so quickly he had to skip his senior season.
Leinart stayed in school another year after winning the Heisman in 2004. But while Young was busy earning his second straight Rose Bowl MVP award, Leinart's quest to join Archie Griffin as the only players to win two Heismans ended when Southern Cal teammate Reggie Bush won.
Off the field, the players admire each other.
"Obviously, that guy is a freaky runner," Leinart said with a smile.
But the battle between Leinart and Young is no longer about jewelry or trophies; it's about bragging rights, prestige and cold hard cash.
Most people expect Bush to be the top pick in April with the two quarterbacks expected to go next. The question is who goes first?
Leinart has the stronger NFL pedigree. He's played in a pro-style offense, succeeded Pro Bowl quarterback Carson Palmer at Southern Cal and fits the classic dropback model. He was listed at 6-foot-5, 225 pounds last year and spent time studying Peyton and Eli Manning as well as Palmer.
Plus, he's grown accustomed to the pressures of the NFL.
"It's tough being in L.A., being in the limelight and being the only team there that really had success the last couple of years," Leinart said. "I think it's the closest thing to the NFL. I've done tons of interviews, I've seen lots of things happen, so I think I'm very prepared."
Young, in contrast, is this year's hot prospect although in the daily two-month evaluation that is the draft, he seems to have slipped a bit lately.
Few thought Young was as polished as Leinart when the season started. But after throwing for 267 yards and running for 200 more, including the winning touchdown, in the Rose Bowl, Young surged.
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