The National Football Post is reporting that Kurt Warner is, “really giving some thought” to retiring.

I really hope Warner comes back and plays, but based on what I’ve heard, he is really going to give retirement some thought. This is not a negotiation ploy, this is Warner being very serious about his life.

The thought of Warner retiring might come as a surprise to some considering he’s coming off one of his best seasons as a pro and just led the Cardinals to the Super Bowl. But he is 37 years old, is a major contributor off the field to various charitable groups and he already thought about retiring once this season when teammate Anquan Boldin was seriously hurt against the Jets in Week 4.

But it’s doubtful he walks away now. He’s a free agent and there’s no doubt the Cardinals will make a push to retain him in order to make another Super Bowl run. He might consider retiring or leaving Arizona if the team makes major changes this offseason, but that’s doubtful considering they’re coming off a Super Bowl appearance. If I were to make a guess at what happens with Warner, I would say he re-signs with the Cards for one-year and makes it his last.

Cardinals’ quarterback Kurt Warner is getting ready to face the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII this week, but by next week he could be shopping himself around to other teams.

Following Sunday’s Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa, Warner becomes a free agent.

Meanwhile, here in Chicago, Mark Bartelstein is hatching an all-inclusive plan that would give other teams a chance to make an offer to his client.

“The Bears obviously have to figure out which direction they want to go with the quarterback thing,” Bartelstein said. “It has, obviously, been a point of contention for quite a while. We have to wait and see what they decide they want to do.”

The Cardinals will have to decide whether they want to commit to Warner while young first-round pick Matt Leinart sits in the wings.

“Look, Kurt has had a great time (with Arizona). He loves the coaching staff and the guys on the team. He has built great connections with his teammates. So certainly I think he would love to get something done,” Bartelstein said.

“My view with players is always that once you get to free agency, you have earned the right to find out about yourself. You would be silly not to have an open mind.”

With the way he played this season, Warner does deserve the right to test the free agent market. And considering Arizona still has Leinart in its back pocket, Warner might get offered more money elsewhere because the Cardinals do have another quarterback on the roster with (albeit limited) starting experience.

But Warner has had a multitude of success in two places: St. Louis and Arizona. And in both situations, he played indoors and in a passing offense. Not that he couldn’t succeed elsewhere (like Chicago), but maybe the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t. In other words, I think Kurt’s place is back with Arizona if the Cardinals make him a reasonable offer. (Regardless of what happens in the Super Bowl.) Arizona just seems like a good fit for Warner.