Kurt Warner Makes an Offer to the Arizona Cardinals
by Hawkwind on Mar 3, 2009 12:22 PM MST
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PrintKurt Warner, through his agent, has made an offer to the Arizona Cardinals and it 
doesn't seem all that crazy. He's lowered his asking price from $28 to $30 million over two years to a much more reasonable number and according to Warner and his agent, it's less than the Niners are offering:
2 years at $23 million with $12 million in guarantees
The guaranteed money is split evenly over the two years of the contract which would lower his cap hit (good for the Cardinals) and give him some security in 2010 against the team releasing him (good for KW). But that's not all.....
He'd also give up $1 per season if the team agreed to a new contract with Anquan Boldin.
Ok, so the whole giving up money thing to sign another player may be out of his hands but the bottom line is, this is a reasonable deal (at least the way it's being presented from Warner's people). The Cardinals were first offering two years at $20 million and recently they upped the offer to two years at $23 million, but the added three million was based on incentives (that included reaching the Super Bowl again).
Bottom line, my confidence in Warner's return to the Cardinals was starting to wane, but it's clear that he wants to stay and the Cardinals won the stare-down. He's drastically lowered his asking price and it's time to get this done. Are you ready to get Warner's name on the dotted line? Sound like a fair deal?
Update #1: Ughh...Kent Somers has some more details of the contract and he's suggesting that it's not quite the 'no-brainer' that we originally suggested. Basically the guaranteed money ($12 million) doesn't include the salary in the first year of the contract. That's important because there's zero chance that KW would be cut before the season starts, so the guaranteed money could actually be estimated at $19 million. Is your head spinning yet......yea mine too.
Update #2: Here's KW's agent, Mark Bartelstein, on KTAR today after news of the contract offer. Pretty interesting stuff (click here to listen).
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You beat me to it.
But I just went to Darren Urban’s blog and saw that AZs original offer would actually cost SF over $17 mil with the cost of living. Basically our offer was better than first believed and this new offer really tips the scales in our favor. With the new salary cap of $127 mil ($4 mil more than expected) where does that leave us in cap room?
Not only that,
but Kurt gets to play at least 9 games a season in domes. (8 home games + 1 road game in St. Louis)
We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan
BOHECA Warner...
This needs to be done today so we can get rolling on all the other contracts!
Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!
BOHICA, sorry...
Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!
Bend Over Here It Comes Again
Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!
This doesn't seem so cut and dry to me
Regardless of the contract, Warner is 38 years old. Signing him, blowing up your cap space, and hoping he comes back as strong as he has been seems a little silly. You could use all of that money to sign some other people, like Boldin and a back perhaps? The big thing in my opinion is what message are you sending to Leinart if you sign Warner? You just chose your starter for the next two years at the expense of the rest of the team. When Leinart’s contract ends (can’t be more than 2 years from now, right?) and he’s been riding pine, you think he’s gonna want to stick around? I mean it just seems like you would be sacrificing too much. I’ve seen it with Seattle, when they signed Alexander to a huge contract against conventional wisdom simply because he helped get them to a Super Bowl. It made the fans happy for a summer, but they had to cut Hutchinson and others and it really hurt the team in the long run. The fans and the analysts (who are much better at analyzing the past than the future) are calling this a ‘no brainer’, but it’s a bad move in my opinion. It may help the team a little now (though is Warner that much of an upgrade over Leinart than the money you could have spent on Ward vs James) and in two years when you have 0 quarterbacks, you go back to where you were for the last few decades. Take it from me, focus on the future, not the past.
It took my two years to come up with an avatar and sig
and this is the best I could come up with.
When it all comes down to it,
the fans have no say in this. We’re just here to voice our opinions, but it’s the Cardinals organization that makes the decision. I see where you’re coming from with the Leinart situation and I think he all have that small worry in the back of our heads. The main concern I hear with fans is the short-term success and possibly getting back to the Super Bowl and maybe winning it is more important then a long term future of the team. But like I said, our opinions mean nothing.
Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds
Fans opinions mean a whole lot
This team is still trying to sell out the stadium with season ticket holders. It should be done this year, but that’s an assumption. They don’t want to get the fan base all up in arms. Besides, if it wasn’t for the fans and the analysts, there wouldn’t be a whole lot of outside pressure on the organization to get this done.
Anyway, I just don’t see this move as producing a Lombardi trophy short or long term. Sacrificing for a trophy makes sense, but only if you have a dominant team. The Cards weren’t favored in any playoff game. I’m not sure they wod have made it to the playoffs in another division with thier record. Those are not the signs of a dominant team. You can’t count on 3 upsets in a row again to make it to the big game regardless of your quarterback. I would think it makes more sense to move on, build a more solid foundation, and take your shots when you have a more stable base rather than put all your chips in a long shot and hope it pays off big time.
It took my two years to come up with an avatar and sig
and this is the best I could come up with.
Have two winning seasons in a row would be "long term" success for the Cardinals
Considering the last time they were stringing winning seasons together Ford was President. This is as “stable” a base as the Cardinals have ever had in Arizona considering the roster really didn’t change much from ’07 to ’08. Young players gelled and veteren players played full seasons healthy. The team will add through the draft and pick up FAs that will assure depth but not necessarily “star power”.
Kurt is certainly not the longterm answer at QB. Yet as Whisenhunt loves to say, “players that give us the best chance to win” will find themselves starting. Kurt gives the Cards the best chance to win still. That can all change very quickly in the Not For Long.
My gut is still thinking the Cards will continue to “low-ball” Kurt, now with the gauranteed money since $23 M seems to be an agreeable “big” number. If Kurt were to decide to retire, I doubt management would be horribly upset. Screw my gut though, I’m frakking sick of the Cards’ “once a decade” winning ways. Give me two winning years in a row!
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
Good point
I think the cards have a stable enought foundation to absorb a short term hit like losing Warner. However, I can certainly understand your thinking. I don’t think the cards made a big mistake in just trowng a boatload of money his way at the beginning of free agency, and where ever talks go from here could result in a good outcome.
It took my two years to come up with an avatar and sig
and this is the best I could come up with.
1st - Best player will start...
If Leinart wins the job in camp he’ll start, but he has to take it from Warner.
2nd – We’re not talking huge money here man. 10 or 11 mil. for a Pro-Bowl QB who took us to a super bowl and put together back to back the greatest season’s a Cardinals QB has ever done.
3rd – Lay off the pipe! Your starting to sound like “Tyrone Biggums”. Redballs gives you WINGGGSSSS!!!!
Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!
+1
for the Chappelle’s Show reference, -1 for your 2nd point. You don’t pay Warner based on what he’s already done. You pay him based on how you think he’s going to do for you in the future.
We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan
Why is everybody acting like he is getting hip replacement or something?
What makes everyone think he won’t produce the same as he’s done for the last two seasons? He’s always produced when he’s had blocking and decent targets to throw to.
Oh and IMO, I only want to bring him back for 1 season. Draft a late rounder or a UFA and groom him on the practice squad while we try to make another run at it. Either way, I think Warner retires or gets cut at the end of this next season.
Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!
Kurt
is inevitably going to suffer age-related decline. The BEST CASE SCENARIO is that his numbers next year are the same as this year, but he’s still on the downside of his career. I’d say we’ll see a production dropoff no matter where he goes next year.
Agreed on the 1 year idea. Let him start next season then finish his career as the Cards’ backup behind Matt Leinart in 2010. Assuming that Matt’s head doesn’t asplode first.
We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan
LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE!
REPORTS SAY THAT THE 49ers NEVER EVEN MADE AN OFFER! I asked Darren Urban if this meant Warner or his agent lied to the Cardinals and here is his response:
Well, I can’t say they lied to who counts (the cards) but he certainly doesn’t sound good after what he told the media. Some of it is trying to save face for both he and Kurt, but it doesn’t look good.
Don't agree with Warner
I will say first that Kurt had an amazing year. No one will take that away. I know the Cardinals feel like they owe Warner some more time. But I just don’t agree that bringing him back is going to be good for the team. Too many people want the right now and not the long term success of this team. By now the other teams know what Arizona did and it will be hard to duplicate another season like 2008-09 in 2009-10. There are still some major flaws on this team and bringing back Warner is not going to make them go away. Also if they can get the run game going next year it won’t fit in with how Warner wants to play throwing the ball as often as he did. Making this team more balanced on offense with running and passing will help them out more. Leinart certainly deserves a shot at a full season as a younger QB that could have years of success ahead of him. Through all of this between Warner’s comments and even going to visit another team doesn’t hold up well. If he was truly committed to ARI then he would have kept talking and take what was offered.
That's what I'm talking about!
I too think it’s a bad move. I don’t care what Warner does, and it would be tough for eather party to get out of negotiations and save face, but Warner hopefully made the process a little easier with his actions. I ultimately think he will sign with the Cards. I think they both have to at this point. But I think it’s just going to be a similar situation to what happened in Seattle with Alexander after he took the team to the Super Bowl when they were still trying to fill thier stands. It’s not gonna work out well in the end.
It took my two years to come up with an avatar and sig
and this is the best I could come up with.
"Fair deal"?
Yes. Good for the Cards? Certainly in the very near term.
We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan
Now it may be your best option
I would have thought
Ward > James >> Warner > Leinart
I still don’t know that Warner eating up your whole cap is a good idea, while 2/3rds of the league wold kill to start your back-up. Certainly there are some huge upgrades you cold have made at other postions for 12M a year.
It took my two years to come up with an avatar and sig
and this is the best I could come up with.
Would have like Ward too but he was more of a product of the system than he was...
a really good back. I could have rushed for a 1000 behind the Giants line and Jacobs and Bradshaw pounding the opposing team for a game.
Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!
And why go to the Bucs
They already have Graham and Williams. Too many starting quality backs over there. He would have fit in nice with this system.
I still think the Cardinals have a trick up their sleeves. They have all this extra money, aren’t offering Kurt a whole lot, and arent spending anything on free agents so far. Either they are going to make a push in the draft(dont see that happening) or a big trade, or theyre just being cheap as usual.
Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds
I think your right...
I smell a big trade. I don’t see them being cheap, they have held up to their agreement that they’d spend the money once they got their stadium.
Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!
I think having Warner for one more year is a great idea
But that’s because there isn’t very many good QB’s in the draft. If you don’t sign Warner then you have Leinart and BSP, if Leinart goes down or doesn’t work out, then you have BSP. Drafting a QB this year doesn’t really seem like a good idea. So I think the Cards should keep KW, and focus on drafting a QB next year so that they can have a Leinart backup or when KW retires.
Leinart
The guy needs a real shot. I was rooting for Cutler when they took Leinart and still feel that way (despite his hissy fit). Start Warner this year and push Leinart hard and let him into the games that are blowouts. Give he and Warner a battle in 2010 training camp but give the job to (unless he lays a serious egg) and see how he does. Only concern with that is that it will be a contract year. LEINART AND WARNERS CONTRACT END THE SAME YEAR. This is bad. Very bad.
Give Warner this year uncontested but let Leinart take most of the preseason work. Warner’s starting streak cannot last forever, Leinart will see the field more this year. Sign Leinart to an extension next offseason with the first year incentive laden but with an nice signing bonus that “vanishes” in an uncapped year. Draft another QB, relatively high. Tell Warner he has to compete for the starting job against Leinart and the rookie. Best QB starts. If Leinart flops, release/trade and put the chips in the youngster that has a year in the system. Pick up a reliable veteren QB to jump in if need be.
No worries. Kurt gives the Cards the best chance to win still. His WR corps love him. Happy offense is a scoring offense. Focus on the defense this draft and find some line depth on both sides of the ball. Oh, and a tight end. Ours stink and are hurt all the time.
by Cardinal_Fang on Mar 4, 2009 9:55 PM MST up reply actions
I'm am totally scoopin what this man is poopin! +1
Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!
Explains that picture of my stool in the TO thread.
by Cardinal_Fang on Mar 6, 2009 10:46 AM MST up reply actions
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