Matt Leinart might not be entrenched as the team's starting quarterback, but it's going to be difficult for him to lose the job before the start of the season. No one knows that better than the guy trying to beat him out, Kurt Warner.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt named Leinart the starter shortly after the end of the 2007 season, but he has gone out of his way to say the position is open to competition, like any other spot. If Warner performs better, he'll play.

But Warner knows it's hard to lose a starting quarterback job in the preseason.

"It's hard because all we're doing is practicing and playing preseason games in limited time," Warner said. "As far as the opportunities that are going to present themselves in training camp ... I don't know if that's going to be able to be a factor."

-- Center Al Johnson underwent surgery on his left knee last week for the second time in less than three months. Johnson experienced swelling and pain in the opening day of practice and had the joint cleaned out. It's hoped he will return for the regular-season opener. Third team center Scott Peters suffered a severe knee injury in practice last week and is out for the season. The club feels comfortable with backup center Lyle Sendlein starting, but there is no experience behind him.

-- Receiver Lance Long, a rookie free agent from Mississippi State, has been an unlikely star in this training camp. Long caught only 14 passes as a senior last year and started just two games, yet he has made impressive plays almost daily in camp.

"He's exciting to watch," coach Ken Whisenhunt said, "but you have to temper that with the fact he hasn't played in a game yet. That's going to be the real test for him. It kind of goes in stages. I sit there in the spring and say, 'well, I've got to see him in pads.' Then when we get the pads on, I'll say, 'I have to see him in games.'"

-- Receiver Larry Fitzgerald had a little fun with four NFL officials who recently visited camp. Fitzgerald lobbied to get some calls during the regular season. "I'll get you some nice Christmas gifts this year," Fitzgerald said. "I need some help."

-- Last week, coach Ken Whisenhunt was asked if the light bulb had gone on yet for nose tackle Alan Branch, a former second-round pick who is third on the depth chart. Whisenhunt ran with the metaphor. "You know how when a light sometimes will flicker?" Whisenhunt said. "That would be an accurate assessment (of Branch). It certainly has burned bright a couple of days and it has a tendency to kind of fade, go off a little bit, then come back on. Maybe it's something in the switch."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "He likes to keep it on the down low. I don't think he wanted anybody to know." -- QB Matt Leinart on RB Edgerrin James turning 30 last week.