Kurt Warner News: Pro Sports Daily

Kurt Warner should be high on Chicago Bears' shopping list

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January 6

Chicago Tribune

columnist David Haugh

"An NFL general manager who establishes finding a quarterback as his team's top off-season priority, as Jerry Angelo has for the Bears, is like an astronaut who says he is ready to soar into space. Conceptually, there can be no limits to the possibilities, or what's the use? That thought left the deepest impression when considering how the Bears viewed the first round of the NFL playoffs, a weekend that included 37-year-old free-agent-to-be Kurt Warner taking the Arizona Cardinals franchise to uncharted postseason territory. Warner looked like the guy with two league MVP trophies on his mantel in completing 19 of 32 passes for 271 yards, two TDs and one interception in Saturday's 30-24 win ..."

Warner's been where McNabb is right now

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November 26

PhillyBurbs.com

"He was playing the worst football of his life. He couldn't stop throwing interceptions, couldn't stop fumbling. He got booed. He got benched. He had serious concerns about his future. Donovan McNabb? Nope. Kurt Warner. Warner was the NFL MVP and Super Bowl MVP in 1999 with the Rams, won another MVP and reached another Super Bowl in 2001 and is making a run at another MVP this year with the Cards. It wasn't that long ago that Warner was going through something very similar to what Donovan McNabb is experiencing now. The worst slump of his life. "It doesn't matter how long you've played this game or how well you played it, there's always periods where it doesn't go in your favor," Warner ..."

Warner proves stint with Giants wasn't end

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November 23

Camden Courier-Post

"In the end, the hammer dropped swiftly and suddenly on one of the game's most accurate and prolific quarterbacks. Two years removed from taking the Rams to their second Super Bowl in three years, Kurt Warner encountered a rough stretch of injuries, played two games in 2003 and found himself in the unemployment line. Just like that, a legend hit the highway. "I think when you get cut by a team that you have won two MVPs with and gone to two Super Bowls with, there is automatically something there that people question," Warner said. The Giants signed him with Eli Manning waiting in the wings, then benched the old-timer for the rookie halfway through 2004. Once again, Warner was on the move, ..."

Mentor No More, Warner Leads Way

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November 23

New York Times

"When President-elect Barack Obama recently met with his defeated opponent, John McCain, they exchanged stilted banter while photographers took their picture. But there was one subject these two rivals agreed on: that Kurt Warner, the quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals, is having a remarkable season. "There's hope for us all," McCain said. Indeed, as Warner leads his 7-3 Cardinals against the 9-1 Giants on Sunday in Glendale, Ariz., his comeback story is one of the best in current sports. Warner has a chance to win his third N.F.L. Most Valuable Player award. If he does, he will tie Brett Favre for the N.F.L. record. He would also be the first player to win it with more than one team. ..."

No talks between Cards, Warner

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November 19

Arizona Republic

"Late last summer, the Cardinals and agent Mark Bartelstein agreed to suspend negotiations to extend quarterback Kurt Warner's contract because of one unanswered question: Should Warner be paid as a starter or a backup? It took only a few weeks of the season for that question to be answered. Warner is a leading contender to win a third NFL Most Valuable Player award, and the Cardinals are on the cusp of their first division title in 33 years. Yet negotiations haven't resumed. Bartelstein has called General Manager Rod Graves in recent weeks, but the conversations haven't gone beyond pleasantries. "There's nothing new," Bartelstein said Tuesday. "I wish I could tell you something ..."

Arizona's Warner back in the saddle

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November 17

Seattle Post-Intelligencer

"He has been rejected, replaced and revived more times than just about any quarterback in NFL history, so it should come as no surprise that Kurt Warner is back on top of his game one more time. At 37, the Arizona Cardinals signal caller appears poised for a run at the third most valuable player award in his roller-coaster career and has his team on the brink of its first NFC West title with six weeks remaining. Not bad for a fellow who has already gone from grocery store stock boy to Arena League hopeful to Super Bowl hero back to washed-up castoff. His Super Bowl team, the St. Louis Rams, released him in 2004 after he had lost his job to Marc Bulger. He caught on with the New York Giants, ..."

In Arizona, Kurt Warner is looking like a miracle worker

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November 16

Kansas City Star

"Kurt Warner's rise from grocery store stock boy to Super Bowl hero in St. Louis may have been improbable. But now, as Arizona's quarterback, Warner may be performing the impossible. The Cardinals haven't been to the playoffs since 1998, haven't won a division title since 1975 in St. Louis, haven't hosted a playoff game since 1947 - in Chicago. Warner not only has Arizona, 6-3, at the top of the NFC West, but if the Cardinals were to win just their fifth division title in the franchise's 88 seasons, he's making a strong case for a record-tying third league MVP award (though Brett Favre just might win a fourth MVP, the way the Jets are playing). Another MVP for Warner - coupled with his two ..."

Warner putting up big numbers for Arizona

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November 10

Sacramento Bee

"Kurt Warner for MVP? At one point last year, the AARP seemed more realistic for the Arizona Cardinals quarterback. "Kurt told me he was going to retire at the end of last season," said former 49ers quarterback Steve Young, who spoke with Warner late in 2007. "He said he didn't want to be a backup any more." After all, the Cardinals had drafted Matt Leinart with the 10th overall pick in 2006. Leinart started the first five games of 2007 before being injured, and the plan was to hand the offense over to the 25-year-old quarterback this season. It turns out that Warner, 37, was not as washed up as he thought he was. Leinart struggled badly in the exhibition season, especially in an August ..."

Warner will test 49ers' defense

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November 9

San Francisco Chronicle

"As if a morning walk-through, noontime weightlifting and cardiovascular training and a two-hour practice weren't enough, Nate Clements regularly puts himself through additional work at the end of team drills on most days. The cornerback, who signed a contract worth a theoretical $80 million in 2007, is assiduous about keeping in top shape in order to earn all that money. That's why he pushes a heavy wooden sled in 10-yard bursts and slips into a harness to backpedal while pulling another weighted sled. "It's nothing new," he said. "I'm doing it to be the best cornerback in the league. It definitely helps to be in condition. I get stronger in the fourth quarter and as the game progresses." ..."

Warner has Cards' passing game in high gear

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November 2

East Valley Tribune

"The main story line in Flagstaff little more than two months ago now seems ancient. Remember? Matt Leinart was trying to hold off Kurt Warner in the spirited quarterback competition at training camp. Because Leinart had been the team's starter last year when he went down with an injury at St. Louis, coach Ken Whisenhunt deemed it fair that Leinart be designated the starter heading into camp. Warner overtook Leinart, though, and look at the results: The Cardinals have the NFL's No. 2 passing offense at 288 yards per game. Warner is No. 1 with a 70.2 completion percentage. He's No. 3 with a passer rating of 102.1. "He's playing great," general manager Rod Graves said. "He's having an ..."

Warner glad to be there for Vermeil honor

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October 30

Arizona Republic

"It's no coincidence that former Rams coach Dick Vermeil will be inducted into the team's ring of honor at halftime of Sunday's game against the Cardinals. Vermeil requested the date because he knew Cardinals quarterback - and former Rams star - Kurt Warner would be in town. Vermeil happened to be in Phoenix on Tuesday for a speaking engagement and he and Warner had dinner Tuesday night. "It's nice I'm going to get a chance to be there," said Warner, who played for Vermeil and was the starter on the team that won Super Bowl XXIV in 2000. "He's a special man. It's neat to be going back on the day that he's honored.""

Leinart's future tied to Warner's

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October 28

Arizona Republic

"After losing the Cardinals starting quarterback job to Kurt Warner in late August, Matt Leinart dropped out of society, grew a long beard and is now working the graveyard shift at a convenience store in Quartzsite. At least it seems that way. When an NFL starting quarterback is healthy and playing well, the backup quarterback is equivalent to the crazy uncle at a family reunion: No one pays much attention to him unless he acts up. Warner is making headlines, and Leinart is staying out of them. Not that Leinart is content with his role - he wants to play - but after the notoriety he gained last off-season, a little quiet is a good thing. "It's nice from that aspect, just to be under the ..."

NFL Europe QBs Delhomme, Warner reunite

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October 26

Charlotte Observer

"Quarterbacks Kurt Warner and Jake Delhomme, former teammates in NFL Europe, are getting ready to compete against one another for the first time as fellow starters. Warner, the NFL's third-leading passer, leads the Arizona Cardinals (4-2) into Sunday's game at Bank of America Stadium against Delhomme and the Carolina Panthers (5-2). A decade ago, they were little-known undrafted players trying to break through with the Amsterdam Admirals. Warner was the starter and Delhomme the backup. Delhomme recalls wondering about his future since he couldn't beat out a quarterback whose only previous pro experience was with the Arena League's Iowa Barnstormers. "I'd call back to my girlfriend - she's ..."

Boldin doesn't want hit to affect Warner

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October 21

Arizona Republic

"The hit suffered by receiver Anquan Boldin against the Jets three weeks ago prompted Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner to contemplate retirement, but Boldin said he didn't want that to factor into Warner's decision about his future. "I talked to him," Boldin said, "but I really hope that doesn't play into his decision. It's football. Unfortunate incidents happen whenever you play this game. That's a risk you take. We all know what we're getting ourselves into when we sign up for this game, and I hope he (Warner) doesn't let anything like that end his career." Changing times No team in the NFL should dwell on what people think of it, because opinions are sure to change quickly. Two weeks ..."

Warner enjoys career revival with Cards

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October 19

East Valley Tribune

columnist Scott Bordow

"There's something you should know about Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner: He doesn't like being told what to do. In 1996, a couple of Warner's teammates with the Arena Football League's Iowa Barnstormers were pressuring him to become a Christian. He also was hearing from the team pastor and his wife, Brenda. Warner resisted. He was stubborn and prideful, and how dare they tell him what he should believe in. "It was more my competitiveness than anything, trying to prove them wrong," he said. Eventually, Warner accepted Christ into his life, and today his faith permeates everything he does. But he hasn't changed completely. He still doesn't like being told what to do. Warner, 37, will take ..."

Warner may retire after this season

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October 7

East Valley Tribune

"Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner says that after this season, he will take his closest look yet at retiring from the NFL. The scary injury to teammate Anquan Boldin, combined with other factors, has led him to give more serious consideration to leaving the game. "I'm definitely considering retirement more than I ever have before," the 37-year-old Warner said Monday, "but that doesn't mean it's more than 50 percent or anything like that. I'm just going to consider it." The comments came after Yahoo.com reported Warner text messaged his wife, Brenda, shortly after Boldin's injury on Sept. 28 against the New York Jets, saying he had decided it was time to retire. She said he meant ..."

Warner has mixed feelings on future

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October 7

Arizona Republic

"Please, Kurt Warner said, don't stop the presses. Don't speed up the Internet traffic, either, he pleaded, by spreading rumors he is ready to retire. A day after he became the second most prolific passer in the NFL this season during the Cardinals' 41-17 thrashing of the previously unbeaten Buffalo Bills, the veteran quarterback just wanted to set the record straight about his future. And yet it appears he has no real idea how that will play out beyond this season. Responding to an online report Monday that said he contemplated retirement following the team's loss last week in New York - and the scary way it ended when teammate Anquan Boldin was hurt - Warner admitted he isn't so sure ..."

Warner's hard work pays off

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October 6

Arizona Republic

columnist Dan Bickley

"All week long, Kurt Warner was under heavy pressure. His two youngest children would chase him around the house, pretending they were Buffalo Bills. Their mission was to jar the football loose from daddy, who was holding on with two hands. Pop Warner's offspring weren't at all successful, and with the stakes slightly higher, neither were the real Bills. "He worked his tail off this week," Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said. Warner laughed about the anecdote after a 41-17 thrashing of the Bills on Sunday, but it tells you something about the man leading the Cardinals' offense. He is taking nothing for granted. He is doing everything possible to keep a grip on the football and the starting ..."

Warner still Cards' QB

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September 29

Arizona Republic

"Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner committed six turnovers Sunday, including four in the first half, but coach Ken Whisenhunt never considered bringing in backup Matt Leinart. Whisenhunt thought Warner's problems stemmed mostly from poor protection. "I didn't think we did the job offensively, especially in protection, in the first half, so that's the reason we stayed with Kurt," the coach said. Whisenhunt said he plans to stick with Warner as the Cardinals return home for their next two games, against Buffalo and Dallas. Warner passed for 472 yards and two touchdowns as the Cardinals tried to come back in the second half. "I thought he did a nice job in the second half," Whisenhunt said. ..."

Veteran QBs meet in this matchup

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September 28

Arizona Republic

"Kurt Warner looks at the changes many NFL teams have made at quarterback and suddenly feels kind of like the youngest guy in a retirement home. Trent Green, 38, is going to start for the Rams on Sunday. Gus Frerotte, 37, took over the Vikings job a week ago. Kerry Collins, 35, is leading the Titans now. And the guy across the field from Warner on Sunday at the Meadowlands, the Jets' Brett Favre, turns 39 in two weeks. In athlete years, conventional wisdom suggests those guys should wearing Depends, not Wranglers. "I'm the young guy now, aren't I?" said Warner, who turned 37 in June. "You can't call me old anymore. I like that." In most cases, teams made changes because they either didn't ..."

Gang Green Looks To Rattle Warner

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September 28

New York Post

"It's not often that, on Sept. 28 in the NFL season, the word must is associated with a game. But the Jets must win today's game against the Cardinals at Giants Stadium if they're going to develop into the team they think they're going to be. The last thing the Jets want to do is lose a third consecutive game (second consecutive at home) and stagger into their bye next week at 1-3. So there's pressure on the 1-2 Jets, who are coming off a sloppy 48-29 point loss to the Chargers Monday night, and need to assert themselves at home against the 2-1 Cardinals, who are playing their second consecutive East Coast game today after a loss in Washington last week. "It is important," Jets nose tackle ..."