Kurt Warner's Deal is Done, Welcome Back to the Arizona Cardinals
by Hawkwind on Mar 4, 2009 12:14 PM MST
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PrintHat tip to one of our newest members, ianbbc02, for beating me to the breaking news.
The drama is over and everyone is happy. Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals have agreed on a two year contract, believed to be in the neighborhood of $23 million. The exact terms of the deal are not yet known but the guaranteed money (which has been the problem area), is expected to be around $12 million. The deal includes a $15 million dollar signing bonus and base salaries of $4 million dollars each season. That means that KW will get $19 million in cash this season (although that won't all count against the cap).
We'll add more details as soon as they're known. For now though, it's time to dance in the streets.
Update: After looking at the contract and checking with some who knew the inner-workings of the salary cap well, we've got a better understanding of how Warner's contract could play out. First the cap hits both years will be $11.5 million but the actual money out of the Bildwells pockets will be $19 million this season and $4 million in 2010. Ok so how does that effect Leinart and his future?
The Cardinals could find themselves in an interesting situation next off season, especially if Warner is either ineffective or injured next season. If there's a cap in 2010 (which at this point there is not) and the Cardinals decided to cut Warner, they'd be on the hook for $7.5 million (bonus money), but the $4 million in salary wouldn't count against the cap. If there isn't a cap, then obviously the cap hit won't matter and the front office just has to decide if their willing to lose the $7.5 million in bonus money that they've already invested. The bottom line is that it's conceivable that they could sell the idea to Leinart that this is really a one year deal and it's his team after 2009. The club would have to eat some money, but it's not an exorbitant amount.
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Yeah....
so what happens with Matt?
We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan
Chester Taylor
I wanted the Cards to trad Leinart for Chester Taylor BEFORE the Vikings traded for Sage. I think we could have done that deal straight up. That would have been HUGE.
Not even, though.
That’s a much better deal for them than for the Cards.
We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan
how so?
how is that a much better deal for the Vikings? Chester is a very good running back and stuck behind AP with out much wear and tear. Leinart is unproven… at best.
The guy
like hasn’t even rushed for 4500 yards in his career — also, RBs are much easier to replace than QBs. I still think Leinart has what it takes to be a star QB in the NFL.
We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan
Very glad this is finally over
I’ve been on board with bringing Kurt back since the beginning, and I think that if the Cards hadn’t had the blowout games of ‘08 he’d have been MVP.
Also, as a fan I wanted them to build on the momentum of last year. Trying to do that without Warner just didn’t seem like as much of a possibility in my narrow thoughts.
Im split.
I want to get back to the SB and win it in ’09 but repeating is very hard. I think Leinart will be gone in couple years, if not this year, and then were back at step 1.
Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds
yea great deal
I know some are excited about it and we all may be regretting this two years from now, but today I’m all for it. KW has the power to get this team back into the playoffs and then we all know that he’s turns into Super KW and all bets are off. He’ll have to 3 picks, 2 fumbles games every now and again but over the course of a full season, there are few better.
They made their choice.
I don’t think Leinart will be happy riding pine for two more years. Trade him, draft a QB this year and hope Brian St. Pierre can step in if needed. Who knows, maybe you can package Leinart with Edge and get some decent options.
I love to travel, but hate to arrive.
Big Mistake on this deal
On this day of .3/04/2009 I will forever be on the record that this contract deal is a worse decision than letting Warner go. There is not a future in Warner and any person can look at his back to back seasons and realize he goes downhill. The team has many other needs to look at before Warner. The history of the NFL doesn’t fare well for 2nd place teams to get back to the Super Bowl. So it would have been a better investment for Leinart to take over and work with the team for at least one year and build a future for this team. Just remember that I have warned people about this deal and how bad it will be. I am sure most of the fans will disagree with me but at this point I don’t care. This is a bad day for the Cardinals.
by kj197728 on Mar 4, 2009 3:26 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
BUT WARNER = TEH AWESOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1111111111
We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan
Yeah but keep this in mind...
Our original offer was 2 for $20 mil. That’s $10 mil a year and very high for a 38 year old. Now we got him for him for $11.5 mil per year. Take into account the salary cap went up by $4 mil this year. Its kinda like paying him $7.5 mil this year. Sorta. Anyone understand what I’m trying to say.
What Kurt takes away from the "party fund" (aka salary cap) at this point is less significant that what to do with the "other guy"
It’s not like the Cardinals would start mimicking the Broncos or Redskins if they didn’t sign him. The big money talent is pretty much all bought up already.
Giving Kurt the nod for ‘09 is what many of us figured back in October thinking ’10 would be the “transition” year for Leinart. That’s if Matt is still here. That’s the big ? at this point.
I’ll need to figure out what the Cards’ remaining cap space is, deduct rookie contracts, and see what’s left to tie up Wilson, Dansby, Boldin, and Rolle long term.
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
You guys this isn't just about the Cardinals
Think of Jerry’s Kids, March of Dimes, and the MDA. This money is going to help thousands of people in need.
I say this was a good signing for everyone, especially non profit charity organizations that are tax deductable expenses.
I agree - But I'm used to it. I've been a Cards fan forever.
Long term this is horrible. But, the decision has been made. Let Leinart and Edge go now. Sign Bolden. Hope that no team in the NFC West improves their roster over last year. — I need a new Avatar
I love to travel, but hate to arrive.
Welcome to RotB LAcardsfan, btw.
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
Thanks
It might be the only thing that gets me through the off season.
I love to travel, but hate to arrive.
Welcome LACardsfan.
Yeah im already getting you and kj197728 mixed up.
Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds
My avatar
Hey I changed my avatar so nobody else has to do this. I was looking at some new things anyways and decided on a new one. Now just hope no one else has this already. Thanks.
I think you have obtained the rights to this one.
Haven’t seen anybody else with it.
Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds
So long
as nobody else starts using Napoleon, I’ll be fine.
We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan
Sorry I meant Darn!!!
I wanted Napoleon.
I have no imagination. BTW – Heard TO out of Dallas and Dallas wants Q. Does Dallas have anybody we would want for Q?
I love to travel, but hate to arrive.
Cowboys
are reportedly trying to unload Roy Williams 1.0 (the safety)? Not that there’s any reason for the Cards to want a crappy overrated S who couldn’t cover a picnic table with a tablecloth.
We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan
They don't have a first rounder this year
but maybe next year’s first and this year’s 3rd? Maybe another pick too. Obviously any deal is unlikely to happen at all bu tjust throwing it out there.
by Brendan Scolari on Mar 5, 2009 2:38 AM MST up reply actions
Dallas would have to offer a lot to make them a worthy trade partner
They’re still a division rival in my mind. :P They’ve already shot themselves in the foot with their draft picks situation and player-for-player trades of this magnitude have only happened twice in the last quarter century. Besides, Warner and Fitz are paying Q to stay, remember?
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
Yeah
I don’t think Q will be traded. I would be very surprised if something goes down.
by Brendan Scolari on Mar 5, 2009 11:28 AM MST up reply actions
Im pretty sure I have seen somebody with it
Luckily you had it first.
Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds
Los Angeles
I grew up in Mesa. No Haters please. — Thanks KJ I feel like family.
I love to travel, but hate to arrive.
I won't hold the LA connection against ya ;-)
Plenty of good souls getted sucked into that…place. Some even survive. :P Hope you have NFL Sunday Ticket as local TV games stink from what my buddies in Santa Monica tell me.
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
Plus I hear they're...
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!!!
Awesome, nice to see another SoCal Cards Fan.
I’m in San Diego. If you’re interested in going to any games this year I’ll be unloading some of my tickets at cost to fellow ROTBers.
Also, Hawk is totally right. Until I got Sunday ticket there were only a few bars I could get to tune in to a Cards game.
But “On The Rocks” in Redondo Beach always had hot ladies and a big screen with the Cards game on it.
I'm with ya buddy
I know I stated my case yesterday, but there are 3 things about this that are working against the Cards
1. This was a move made loking at the past, not the future. It doesn’t make a lot of sense, the idea that with Warner, you got to the Super Bowl last season and it could happen again as the main reason for the signing. It doesn’t work like that, not unless you have a dominant team. Sorry Cards fans, but you had to beat 3 teams favored to win to get there. You had a 9-7 record in a division where the next best team was the 9ers, and you were blown out in 3 regular season game. Not the mark of a powerhouse team. All in all, thinking you’re going back to the big game is not a safe bet, especially with the Super Bowl hangover and all. It would have been much better to work on the foundation and develop Leinart, then come back as a serious contender, not just a team riding a dream.
2. There aren’t many free agents left on the market who can help you, but that can likely change next season. Even forgetting about free agents, the Cards can’t keep thier own guys happy. Signing Boldin would have been a much better way to spend the money. I’m an Eagles fan, so hopefully the situation gets to the point where he wants a trade. It would have been much better for you to spend the money on him instead and have some reserves to patch holes that everyone will be gunning to exploit next season.
3. No doubt about it, Kurt Warner has had a rocky career. The Cards just put a lot of eggs in his basket, and it likely left Boldin and Leinart a little sour. Look at how the Cutler/Denver situation is unfolding. And that was just over talks of a trade. The cards, in essence, just picked Warner over both of those guys. I bet that will come back to bite them, almost certainly in the case of Boldin, but likely Leinart too. And people are saying to trade Leinart and draft the future of the team? You guys gotta wake up. Leinart was a gift, and it was likely squandered with this move. You won’t have another shot at another possible franchise quarterback for a while if this one falls through.
I hope it works out for you, I really do, but I think it was a poor bet.
It took my two years to come up with an avatar and sig
and this is the best I could come up with.
Not at all. Boldin is likely to want to stay more knowing Warner is throwing the balls. After two more years when both contracts expire, that’s going to be a big void.
by Cardinal_Fang on Mar 4, 2009 9:44 PM MST up reply actions
Welcome to RotB Cardinal_Fang
Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds
Stumbled upon this through Yahoo. Looks like most of you know what you’re talking about making it worth the time to read. Pretty rare on most sports blogs.
by Cardinal_Fang on Mar 4, 2009 10:00 PM MST up reply actions
And....
the Yahoo! partnership demonstrably pays dividends.
We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan
Wow, a Python reference to boot
Welcome Cardinal Fang. Is Cardinal Biggles coming too?
We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!
Eh hem, mostly Fang, mostly!
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!!!
Like Terry Gilliam a lot and his character Cardinal Fang seemed like a natural for a Cardinals blog.
Mostly is better than hardly, boogatt66. There will always be a “douchebag” or two.
by Cardinal_Fang on Mar 6, 2009 10:40 AM MST up reply actions
I think Boldin
preferred Matt at QB.
Just a sense.
We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan
Because Leinart would dump it to Boldin underneath because he couldn’t read an NFL defense quickly. Do you think Leinart would have made that read and pass against Miami to Boldin for the long TD? Unlikely. He would have been panicking after two penalties to start the drive and handed it off for a five yard loss.
by Cardinal_Fang on Mar 4, 2009 10:18 PM MST up reply actions
disagree
I remember turning to a friend at the begining of the ’08 season and asking why Leinart just through to Fitz.
Warner preferred Boldin at end of ’08 and begining of ’09. After the injury he leaned a lot more on Fitz except for the “rush passes” to Boldin in the backfield.
HE HEARS SOMETHING
…AND THEY ARE CALLED FOOTSTEPS. Since the hit in NY Boldin has been hearing footsteps and has not been the same. I dont know if any of you noticed it but without a doubt I did. I respect him for coming back like he did and still playing hard, none the less he hears the footsteps.
+1, He's scared he's shook!
Somebody tell Boldin there aint no such thing as only halfway crooks!
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 don't think he cares who is throwing the ball
nearly as much as big his check is.
It took my two years to come up with an avatar and sig
and this is the best I could come up with.
?
1. I don’t think anyone was expecting a Superbowl last season or this season. Quit frankly Warner is the best option we have at qb and he gives us the best chance to win games.
3. Leinart and Boldin are both still under contract so i’m not sure how they “picked Warner over both of those guys”. They need to get in line, make them play for a contract. Leinart can wait a couple years and next year we can draft a back up.
I can see that point #1
In two years, when his contract runs out, we’ll see who you have left. Maybe it works out well for you guys. If you get a Super Bowl trophy because of it, that’s worth the sacrifice. If not, you will lose one, if not both, of those guys barring Warner sitting on the bench for an extended period of time for one reason or another.
It took my two years to come up with an avatar and sig
and this is the best I could come up with.
UH, Bills ringing any bells?
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 was supposed to be a reply to KJ's comment way up there, lol.
Seemed pretty random and incoherant out of context.
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!!!
Oh, good call.
They were like the Iggles, only better.
We are truly in the presense of greatness here…-- unnamedDBacksfan
He has a deal, and last I checked there's still two years on it.
I see no real urgency for a Boldin over guys like Wilson. I also want us to lock up Dansby long term so we don’t have to keep franchising him. Then we can worry about Boldin, let him throw all the tantrums he wants, he signed the deal!
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!!!
You make a good point. So, maybe we should make a threat for "If I were GM...."
In light of boogatts comment:
If I were GM I’d focus on extending Wilson, release/or trade Edge, trade Leinart, see if you can make a long term deal with Dansby, and then work on Boldins contract. I know he’s on contract but I think that he deserves a pay increase, not Fitz money, but a pay increase for his contributions and to end the damn flurry of tears.
I like Boldin and I would like to continue liking him, but if he turns into a TO because he signed a deal and is mad because he’s being expected to live up to it, then I won’t like him even if he is bringing down TD’s.
I like the philosophy of not discussing contracts until it’s your time. If you want a great deal, negotiate up front. Hopefully after this year the Cards can implement that.
yea they definitely need a change in policy
We can’t go through this crap with Q and Dockett every single year.
Agreed. I have enough drama at home, don’t need it in my football.
by Cardinal_Fang on Mar 6, 2009 10:42 AM MST up reply actions
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