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.
