Veterans Tim Rattay (left) and Vinny Testaverde are the quarterbacks from whom the Cards will choose to replace the injured Matt Leinart.

When Matt Leinart shuffled off the field Sunday after breaking his collarbone, Cardinals general manager Rod Graves observed the play from his perch in the Edward Jones Dome press box and acknowledged the Cards may need to sign a quarterback.

By the time the game was over, Graves knew the Cards would have to sign a quarterback. And as the team charter lifted into the air Sunday afternoon to fly back to Arizona, he and coach Ken Whisenhunt had already huddled up in first class going over the team's "ready list" of available free agents.

After sorting through the names, two emerged as the team's top candidates, both of whom were contacted Monday: Vinny Testaverde and Tim Rattay.

The Cardinals expect to sign one of the two Tuesday to back up Kurt Warner. (EDIT: Testaverde did not come. Click here).

Testaverde, who will turn 44 in November, has ties to both Whisenhunt – who was tight ends coach for the Jets in 2000 when Testaverde was in New York – and offensive coordinator Todd Haley, who was an assistant coach for the Cowboys when Testaverde was the starter there in 2004.

Last season, Testaverde appeared in three games for New England and it was thought he was going to return there this year. But after signing with the Patriots deep into training camp, Testaverde was released during final cuts.

Testaverde threw just three passes for the Patriots in 2006, completing two.

Rattay, who had been in Tampa Bay the past season and a half after five and a half seasons in San Francisco, spent training camp with Tennessee. Rattay was cut when the Titans decided to keep only two quarterbacks.

Last season in four appearances, Rattay had a quarterback rating of 88.2 with four touchdowns and two interceptions.

Contact Darren Urban at askdarren@cardinals.nfl.net. Posted 10/8/07