Kurt Warner Says Football Isn't Fun Anymore

by Hawkwind on Jan 20, 2010 11:55 AM MST in General Arizona Cardinals News

We all knew that the days, weeks or maybe even month immediately following the Arizona Cardinals final game of the 2009 season would be filled with one big, gigantic, monumental question. Will Kurt Warner come back in 2010? Will the great Gloved One, who's turned one of the league's most pathetic franchises into a not only a consistent winner but a perennial contender, return for one more glorious run at immortality? As of today we don't have an answer to that question and it may still be several weeks or maybe more than a month before know for sure, but for now Warner sure doesn't sound like a man who wants to strap the shoulder pads back on and go to war. Speaking to ESPN's Rick Reilly, Warner sounded more like a guy with both feet out the door.

"The three hours on Sundays are still fun. But it's the whole week, the whole commitment, the ability to sustain it to your fullest, day in and day out.......You feel the pressure. You have a game that isn't that great and people are like, 'What's wrong with Warner?' That wears on you. You don't have the joy and the fun and satisfaction of having one of those great games because everybody expects you to have one of those games. You never get to exhale.....It's kind of been: if I didn't play well, we lost. And that's a lot of responsibility. It wears you out.""

Now to be honest we've heard almost these exact quotes before from an aging quarterback who was contemplating retirement, Brett Favre. It seems as if every year for the past decade he's lamented the rigors of showing up to work seven days a week and putting his mind and body through the grind of a 16 game season. Yet somehow every off season Favre's feelings turn from worrying about the grind to anticipating the enjoyment of stepping on the field with 52 other men. Will that same change of heart take place with Kurt Warner?

There's the million dollar question. On one hand, KW doesn't want to leave the game too early. He doesn't want to regret leaving the game while he still has a desire to play, but on the other hand he doesn't want this game to have any negative effects on the rest of his life. He fully understands that everyone who straps on a helmet and shoulder pads is one play away from a life altering injury and at 38 years old, Warner fully understands that his body has already taken it's fair share of punishment.

"This is the sorest I've ever been."

That was Warner's comment to Reilly, two days after the loss to the Saints. So what does the future hold for Kurt Warner? For now that's between him and God.

"I pray that God takes away the desire in me to play this game," he says. "I've loved it for so long. I need Him to take that away from me, so that I can be comfortable with this decision."

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i think kurt should at least come in as the back up…take is money and we can see if leinhart has what it takes

by DIEGOCARDSFAN on Jan 20, 2010 12:05 PM MST reply actions

no if he comes back he'll come back to play

at this point in his career, there’s no point coming back as a backup for him. if he doesn’t love the game, he won’t want to play, and if he does he’ll want to start. i’m okay with either decision because with his help, the franchise has been turned around finally

also, that would be a terrible situation for leinart. two bad games and the “start kurt warner” chants will start. we need him confident and willing to work, but competing against one of the most accurate qbs to ever play will kill his confidence

by najmsh on Jan 20, 2010 12:15 PM MST up reply actions

If the only part of the week that he loves are the 3 hours between the lines, there is no way he’ll do this.

by jallred350 on Jan 20, 2010 2:11 PM MST up reply actions

I'm happy either way..

Obviously, I’d love to see Warner come back for one more season and play for one final championship. I don’t want that Saints game to be Kurt’s last game as a Cardinal. However, if he chooses to retire, I’ll be happy with all he has done for this team and I’ll be grateful for having been able to cheer for him as a Cardinal.

If he does retire, I hope he doesn’t prolong the decision. Leinart is a questionable starter at best and he’s certainly in a do or die situation. If Kurt makes his decision quickly, it gives the team time to possibly find another quarterback solution whether it be via trade or via the draft.

by SundayBlitz on Jan 20, 2010 12:55 PM MST reply actions

Warner (and every other player) shouldn't make...

….quick decisions so close to when the season ended. They are beat up and worn out. Just go to Hawaii or St. Barts or wherever and recharge the battery. Make the decision in a months time and it will be a lot more sound.

When I get sad, I stop being sad and be awesome again. True story.
-Barney Stinson

by Red Reign on Jan 20, 2010 1:27 PM MST reply actions

+1 There is no rush

He and the wife should leave the kids with the nanny and go have some RR. Come back in a few weeks and then start thinking about what to do. He needs to let the cards know a few weeks before the draft so they can plan for it, but that’s about it.

by Drullin'OverDaCards on Jan 20, 2010 3:09 PM MST up reply actions

Just...

please don’t pull a Favre and drag the decision out until it’s too late for the team act accordingly based upon your decision…

by SundayBlitz on Jan 20, 2010 1:32 PM MST reply actions

I'm not worried about this dragging on too long...

Kurt has said that he never wants to do that to an organization.

by jallred350 on Jan 20, 2010 2:13 PM MST reply actions

I hope that he can stay for one more year.

But if he wants to retire, I’ll respect his wishes. Over the last couple of years he has given this team the most success it has ever had.

Lifelong Arizona Cardinals/Chicago Bears fan.

I can't stand band-wagoner fans, stick with your team, throughout the good and the bad.

by JoeCB1991 on Jan 20, 2010 3:20 PM MST reply actions

Retire Gracefully and Gratefully

Maybe it was Warner, maybe it was the NY Giants offensive line, but he looked done here in NY, injury? bad hand? ball protection mistakes? Amazing how he rose like Lazarus from the dead in Arizona. Had his shot last year and this year. Has now gotten his due respect. Cards, the way defense played in playoffs doesnt lead me to believe that they have another shot at it. They over achieved to get to SB. Concussions arent worth it at this point. Linert is as ready as he will ever be to prove he was worth a number one pick., receivers are top shelf. Go out with class, and dont pull a Favre, there is nothing to prove. He is now an iconic QB in the NFL and the best Arizona has ever had. He made them relevant. It wont be pretty to see him when the Cards go back to their usual niche.

by sudden death overtime on Jan 20, 2010 5:16 PM MST reply actions

I don't think I could take a Trent Green shot on our guy

Kurt is THE man when it comes to AZ QBs. If he’s done, he’s done. That crack in NO was brutal. Brutal. I saw it live, and I can’t believe he got up. I have no doubt in my mind that if it was helmet to helmet he would’ve been carted off unconscious and on a stretcher. He’s a family man and has a ton of kids to think about, plus he’s got plenty of money (Not a death wish like Brett). I would love to hear him in the booth one day. Plus, with our WR core we might be able to entice a decent QB to compete with Matty Touchdown. Redmen? Volek? Maybe even Quinn might be available. Thoughts anyone?

by 3nOUT on Jan 20, 2010 9:44 PM MST up reply actions

McNabb or Vick????

Damn – there are some vets out there.

by 3nOUT on Jan 20, 2010 9:45 PM MST up reply actions

Both under contract

NO VICK EVER!

His style would ruin our offense…similar to what happened to the Suns when they brought in Shaq.

by WeDoThisTogether on Jan 20, 2010 10:39 PM MST up reply actions

No McNabb, please,

7 years ago, sure, but not now

http://undrafteds.com/

by Undrafteds on Jan 21, 2010 6:28 AM MST up reply actions

pressure on Warner

The most interesting comments to me were about the pressure that wears him down from the team depending on him so much. Kurt has had tremendous success the last couple of years without the benefit of a solid defense, unlike most of the other top tier QBs. Yes, he has offensive weapons, and occasionally the defense has come through, but for the most part Warner and the offense have had to be firing on all cylanders to get a win, so he hasn’t had much room for error. That shaky defense is also partly responsible for some of the interceptions that happen because Warner knows that if doesn’t at least try to make a questionable throw, they have no chance to win. It all adds up to big pressure on Warner, so I can see it wearing him down. Still, I hope he chooses to come back for a year if he gets some space and can get charged up for another year. When Kurt Warner gets into a zone there is no QB in football who is better. And that includes Manning, Brees, …. anybody.

by BPaul on Jan 20, 2010 8:11 PM MST reply actions

My two cents

Warner is a class act and I believe he will make his decision before the draft/free agency period…having said that, I hope he returns for one more year and playoff run. I am one of those not ready to sign off on Leinart as the starter. However, many feel if Leinart had to become the starter, we’d see a more run-based offense, which I’m okay with.

In regards to free agency at the QB position, I’m not really impressed with the names on the list, which includes:

Kyle Orton, Jason Campbell, Tarvarius Jackson, Kyle Boller, David Carr, Dante Culpepper, Rex Grossman, Jon Kitna, and Matt Moore.

I’d avoid spending a single penny on any of them.

by WeDoThisTogether on Jan 20, 2010 10:44 PM MST reply actions

You're right: none are worth it.

There was an interesting article by Bucky Brooks a few days ago that had the Cardinals picking Sam Bradford in the first round. I like Bradford, who is a great pure passer, but he seems a bit fragile for the NFL grind. I don’t know if that would work, but they need to line somebody up in case Leinart can’t do it. I’m skeptical of whether this offense can be successful being run-based, even with Wells.

by BPaul on Jan 21, 2010 8:39 AM MST up reply actions

Retires

Then comes back as a QB coach? hey just tossing ideas out there

by Will Smith on Jan 20, 2010 11:42 PM MST reply actions

Leinart would light himself on fire

by tw3kr on Jan 21, 2010 1:48 AM MST up reply actions

The guy wants to spend time with his family when he retires

coming back as a coach would defeat that purpose. Think about what he said, “the grind of coming to work day in a day out.” A QB coach is there everyday working the grind but never gets to step on the field and have “fun.” Why on earth would he agree to that?

Be careful....to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

by Bezekira on Jan 21, 2010 6:20 AM MST up reply actions