Tag: Kurt Warner (Page 16 of 19)

      Fountain of youth: Kurt Warner wants to play a few more years

      November 19, 2008 /

      The 2008 NFL Season has apparently rejuvenated Arizona Cardinals’ quarterback Kurt Warner.

      Kurt Warner“Kurt’s and my approach has been, ‘Let’s enjoy the moment,’ ” Bartelstein said. “Kurt does not want to be a distraction in any way with his contract. That’s not his personality.”

      Warner, 37, is in the last season of a three-year deal worth $15 million, not including incentives.

      Warner leads the league in quarterback rating (105.1) and completion percentage (70.9). He is second in yards (3,155) and touchdowns (20). More important, the Cardinals are 7-3 and could clinch the NFC West title this weekend.

      Clearly, it’s going to cost the Cardinals more to sign Warner now than it would have last summer, probably in the range of $8 million to $12 million a year.

      There is plenty of incentive for both sides to reach a deal. The Cardinals are still optimistic about Leinart’s future, but there will be a learning curve to endure if and when he be becomes a starter. With Warner playing the way he is now, the Cardinals will continue to be a force in the NFC.

      Warner knows, too, that he has found a place that suits him both professionally and personally. Not every team would give him the freedom and responsibility that the Cardinals have. And he’s not eager anxious to uproot his family to start all over again in a new city.

      I was wrong about Warner when I wrote this summer that the Cards were likely to sink with him at quarterback. He’s been one of the best surprises in 2008 and if he continues to play the way he has, there’s no reason to believe he can’t compete for another couple of years.

      But what do you do with Matt Leinart?

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Not the same old Cardinals?

      November 11, 2008 /

      In the wake of the their 29-24 win over the 49ers on Monday night, Paola Boivin of the Arizona Republic writes that these aren’t the same old Cardinals.

      Arizona CardinalsThe Same Old Cardinals wouldn’t have displayed fourth-quarter poise despite stretches of erratic defensive play. And then just like that, linebacker Karlos Dansby kept the Cardinals alive with an interception that gave his team the ball at the 49ers’ 5-yard line with 5:06 remaining.

      Are you kidding me?

      The Same Old Cardinals wouldn’t have scored two plays later, on a 4-yard pass to Anquan Boldin.
      Don’t dismiss this victory because the 49ers came into the game with a 2-6 record. They have shortcomings, but they also have taken on the personality of their high-energy coach, Mike Singletary. They’re nothing if not gritty. Their quarterback change, from J.T. O’Sullivan to Shaun Hill, too, has served them well.

      I wouldn’t go as far as to dismiss the victory and I get Boivin’s point, but the 49ers essentially handed the Cards a win. Hill’s underhand throw to Adrian Wilson was boneheaded and the decision to rush a handoff at the goal line instead of spiking the ball with four seconds remaining was ridiculous. Hill should have downed the ball and got a better play call in because he had time.

      San Fran gave ‘Zona a win by turning the ball over and mishandling the goal line situation at the end. Yes the Cardinals can score, but I don’t see them getting out of the first round of the playoffs with that defense. Not only that, but they won’t be prepared to face the best of the NFC East or South by beating up on the lousy teams in their division all year.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Top 10 Seasons by a Backup QB

      November 11, 2008 /

      RealClearSports.com ranks the top 10 seasons by a backup quarterback.

      #3 Tom Brady, 2001 New England Patriots

      Patriots 2001 Record Without Brady as Starter: 0-2

      Patriots 2001 Record With Brady as Starter: 14-3

      By now everyone’s heard the story: split time with Drew Henson while at Michigan, selected by the Patriots with the 199th overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, took over for Drew Bledsoe in Week 2 of the 2001 campaign, went 11-3 the rest of the regular season, pulled off the biggest upset in Super Bowl history, was named the MVP in that game and now, seven years later, he has three rings, a league MVP award and is dating a supermodel.

      #1 Kurt Warner, St. Louis Rams

      Rams Before Warner: 4-12 in 1998

      Rams 1999 Record With Warner as Starter: 16-3

      In 1998, Kurt Warner was signed by the Rams and was sent to NFL Europe. In 1999 he was brought in as the backup to Trent Green. But when Green was injured in the third preseason game, Warner had to step in. No one gave the Rams a shot with a 28-year-old quarterback who had never taken a snap in the NFL. But Warner and the Rams surprised everyone with their “Greatest Show On Turf”. It took Warner no time to get acclimated to the system. He became the first quarterback to throw for 3 touchdowns in each of his first three NFL games. Warner won the NFL MVP that year as he threw for 4,353 yards and 41 touchdowns. In Super Bowl XXXIV Warner threw for a Super Bowl record 414 yards as the Rams beat the Titans, 23-16, and Warner was named the MVP.

      The reason the site did this piece was because of Matt Cassel, who currently has the Pats at 6-3.

      NFL

      NFL Week 9 Primer

      October 31, 2008 /

      Brad JohnsonSunday’s Best: Cowboys (5-3) at Giants (6-1), 4:15 PM ET
      This game has lost a lot of its luster with Brad Johnson starting at quarterback in place of the injured Tony Romo and the uncertainty of Jason Witten’s (ribs) status. But it’s still a classic NFC East matchup and the Dallas defense is coming off its best performance of the season in a win over the Bucs. Let’s be frank – the Giants should roll. Their pass rush should eat Johnson alive, which could mean we see Brooks Bollinger before the day is over. But the wildcard in this scenario is Marion Barber. If the Cowboys can get him going and Johnson doesn’t turn the ball over, Dallas might be able to play conservative and sneak out a win. But if they get down early, a second half comeback is unlikely and New York might post a double-digit victory. The Cowboy defense will have to produce an effort similar to the one they did last Sunday against Tampa or else Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs and the rest of the G-Men offense should have no problem putting up 30 points.

      Upset Watch: Cardinals (4-3) at Rams (2-5), 1:00 PM ET
      Since Jim Haslett took over in St. Louis, the Rams are playing more physically sound football. They hung tough against the Patriots last week in Foxboro despite not having Steve Jackson in their backfield and the defense is starting to show signs of life. The Cardinals are coming off a disappointing loss to the Panthers, a game in which they led 17-3 early in the third quarter. Arizona continues to struggle on the road and although he’s played well this year, Kurt Warner can’t seem to avoid costly turnovers. Jackson might not play again this week, but the Cards’ defense doesn’t post that much of a threat and the Rams should have enough offensively to pull out a win. Obviously they’ll need to keep Warner and ‘Zona’s prolific passing attack at bay, but this could be one of the better upsets in Week 9 if St. Louis keeps playing hard under Haslett.

      Indianapolis Colts      Intriguing Matchup: Patriots (5-2) at Colts (3-4), 8:15 PM ET
      Boy this game has lost a lot of pizzazz hasn’t it? Who would have thought that when this game was schedule, it would feature a Tom Brady-less Patriots and a 3-4 Colts team? Regardless, this is still the most interesting matchup on the Week 9 schedule. Indy has to win this game to at least keep within sniffing distance of a Wild Card berth and New England is in a great battle with the surprising Buffalo Bills in the AFC East. The Colts have major issues on the defensive side of the ball and things got worse earlier this week when it was discovered that starting CB Marlin Jackson would miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. Without Jackson and Bob Sanders in the secondary, the Colts are giving up big plays on third downs. If they sell out to stop the run, opposing quarterbacks are picking apart the beleaguered secondary. If they play not to get burned deep, opposing backs are having a field day running against Indy’s smaller front seven. A loss to the Pats on Sunday night could mean a Colts-less postseason in the NFL. That’s hard to imagine.

      Other Notable Games:
      Packers (4-3) at Titans (7-0), 1:00 PM ET
      With “Elbow Bad” Johnson starting for the Cowboys this weekend in New York, the Green Bay-Tennessee game might wind up being the best matchup on the Week 9 schedule. With the Titans coming off a short week and finally getting the monkey off their backs in beating the Colts, are they primed for the taking? Aaron Rodgers vs. the Titans’ D should be an intriguing battle.

      Ravens (4-3) at Browns (3-4), 1:00 PM ET
      Some believe that Baltimore is a legitimate playoff contender in the AFC and Cleveland is starting to resemble the team that many thought would take the next step this year. You gotta love it when Art Modell has to travel to Cleveland, too.

      Dolphins (3-4) at Broncos (4-3), 4:05 PM ET
      Miami continues to be one of the better surprises this year in the NFL and will look to build off their impressive win over Buffalo last Sunday. Denver needs to shake off its embarrassing loss to the Patriots two weeks ago on Monday night.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Cardinals choke away opportunity to make statement

      October 26, 2008 /

      Kurt WarnerMany have been waiting for the Arizona Cardinals to emerge as true playoff contenders for years. And after starting the season 4-2, the NFC West finally looks like Cards’ to lose, especially with the Seahawks struggling.

      But in order for Arizona to take the next step, pundits have often said that they have to play better on the road. What a better way to prove that they’ve arrived this season than to beat the Panthers in Carolina on Sunday?

      After building a 17-3 lead early in the third quarter, the Cards choked on applesauce and allowed the Panthers to come from behind for a 27-23 win. Kurt Warner once again lit up the stat sheet throwing for 381 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw a costly interception (not all his fault as the ball was thrown high, but tipped by a receiver), which Carolina turned into a field goal.

      ‘Zona still might be the team to beat in the NFC West with the rest of the division looking incredibly suspect, but they need to start winning games away from the desert. Even if they do make the postseason, how are they going to make a deep run if they can’t win on the road?

      Fantasy Football, NFL

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