Ryan Lindley Could Change His NFL Future With Win Over Carolina

The Arizona Cardinals face the Carolina Panthers on Saturday in an NFL wildcard matchup. Ryan Lindley will be the starting quarterback in the game for the Cardinals. It is a game that could define the rest of his career in the league.

If Lindley can lead the Cardinals to victory, the third-year quarterback will join a rare club: He would be just the third quarterback since in 1970 to win a postseason game with one or fewer wins in the regular season. Currently Lindley has won 1 of his 6 career games as a starter in the NFL.

A win would put Lindley into football lore. A win could give him the chance to write a great ending to a season that began with him on the practice squad of the San Diego Chargers.

If Lindley is able to lead the Cardinals to victory on Saturday, Arizona could have itself a controversy with the backup quarterback position.

Drew Stanton has been the more effective replacement for the injured Carson Palmer going 5-3 prior to being sidelined with a knee injury for the last two games of the regular season and the wildcard game on Saturday.

However, with a Stanton scheduled to be paid $3.2 million in 2015, will it be worth it for Arizona to pay that to a backup. That question is in play much more since Lindley has shown big strides with this game the past three weeks.

Stanton is to be paid a roster bonus of $500,000 as well as a workout bonus of $250,000, over and above his $2.45 million salary.

Lindley received $234,700 for seven regular season weeks of work, which for the entire season would have been $570,000. In 2013, he earned $480,000 as a third stringer who did not take a snap all season.

Cutting or trading Stanton before the start of next season would cost the Cardinals $750,000 and save them $3.2 million toward the cap.

With starting quarterback Carson Palmer earning $10.5 million next season, is having a backup that costs $3 million worth it?

That depends upon Lindley. If he wins on Saturday and gives the Cardinals an opportunity to play at either Green Bay or Seattle then he could be seen as an option to keeping Stanton around next season.

He has shown good arm strength and his poise has been lauded this week. However, Lindley must improve his deep passes and decision-making, but that will come with reps and experience.

However, if he can beat Carolina, the Cardinals could reevaluate their backup to Palmer.

A win for Lindley on Saturday would give him a better status headed into the offseason.