"No one would blame Kurt Warner if he had regrets. It is one thing to proceed with retirement. It is another to accept the finality of it.

So . . .

"Not at all," Warner said Monday.

And the collective hearts of Cardinals fans break once more.

The quarterback isn't simply accepting retirement, he's embracing it. If he's not getting his kids ready for school, he's sorting through television offers. If he's not brainstorming about his First Things First Foundation, he's preparing for his work as an NFL television analyst.

"It wasn't difficult watching (Saturday's preseason game) at all, because I didn't feel like I was supposed to be there," he said. "While I still feel attached to it to some degree, it didn't feel like I was missing out on something."

Unlike many other professional athletes, Warner already had a post-retirement plan in place. Family. Foundation. Throw in movie and broadcasting offers, and who has time to be restless?"