Kurt Warner is a Cardinal.  Well … duh.

In the history of duh’s this has to be in the top ten.

Were you actually worried about Kurt Warner signing elsewhere?

Did you allow those who peddle panic and deal in fear convince you that there was actually a chance that Kurt Warner was going to leave the Cardinals and the Cardinals were going to allow him to go?

The ultimate irony of this story is that it happened exactly the same day that Manny Ramirez signed with the Dodgers.  I’ve said for a week now, that their two situations were almost exactly identical.  Neither player had any other reasonable option; neither team could run the risk of infuriating their fan base.  I guess irony can be pretty ironic sometimes (the best line from one of the worst movies of all time, Airplane 2).

The truth is he was never, ever, ever (ever to the nth degree) going anywhere.  And everybody knew it.   Once you removed emotion from the equation and just concentrated on common sense…there was no choice.  He had to come back and they had to have him back.

The big winner in this process is Warner, but even more so, his agent Mark Bartelstein.  Some agents (see Drew Rosenhaus) negotiate like nuclear bombs.  They come in with Uzi’s in both hands and just start firing away.

Bartelstein was like a roof top sniper.  Quiet but just as deadly.  And he used the perception of the Cardinals against them, just like I had thought he would.

Warner’s counter offer was for less than what he wanted, less than what the 49ers had offered, and even included money he would give back to Anquan Boldin.  By doing that, the national talking heads on ESPN all universally proclaimed the Cardinals would be fools – even worse than that – they’d be the  Same-Old-Cardinals if they didn’t  accept this deal.

Slaves to their own reputation, the Cardinals had no choice and finished the deal late last night.

Focus now turns to Matt Leinart.  Seems unlikely he’ll just sit around and be a backup for another year.  Brian St. Pierre is telling his hometown newspaper he’s going to have a chance to compete with Leinart for the number two spot.  Between that and the Warner extension, it’s not exactly happy birthday for People magazines favorite benchwarmer.

And of course, Boldin.  Will Warner’s plea force the Cardinals to alter whatever their plan is with Q?

Wish I was as sure about that one as I was about Warner.

The positions have been taken:

Kurt Warner believes the Arizona Cardinals need him more than he needs them.

The Arizona Cardinals believe Kurt Warner needs them more than they need him.

In the middle are the San Francisco 49ers and a difference of roughly $5 million in base salary

So, you are the final arbiter, and have to make to the call.  Who is right:  The Arizona Cardinals or Kurt Warner?

The Case for the Cardinals:

Kurt Warner wasn’t supposed to be in this position.  He was even supposed to be the Cardinals starting QB; Matt Leinart was.  Warner did get the job, but not by much according to Ken Whisenhunt.  So, if Warner gets the slight edge in the QB competition, why does he get such a big edge in payment?  Leinart makes $1.1 mill next year.   Does Warner deserve 14 times that much???

OK, Warner does deserve a lot of credit for his 2008-9 effort, but here’s one thing he won’t have in 2009-10 with the 49ers; Larry Fitzgerald.  There are no such playmakers in San Francisco at the WR position.  In fact, the 49ers most dangerous receiver might be their RB.

Let’s also talk about age.  Warner will be 38 next year.  Same age as Rich Gannon in 2003, when he lasted exactly 3 games for the Raiders following an MVP year at age 37.

How about Phil Simms?  Played just four games for the Giants at that age (1-3 record).

Dan Marino?  His age 38 season was his worst- with a career low 67.4 passer rating.  He retired the year following year.

Steve Young also retired following his age 38 season, one that saw him play in only 3 games, before a season ending injury.

But we’re sure Warner is the exception to the rule.  After all Warner has played in back-to-back full seasons exactly……never.  But we’re sure that will happen next year with Cardinals…At age 38…and age 39.  That’s when we’re supposed to be playing Kurt 14-15 mill, right???  Sorry, we won’t do it.  Kerry Collins makes 8 mill, Matt Leinart makes 1.1, and $10 mill per year is more than fair market value for Kurt Warner.

The case for Kurt Warner:

Let’s talk firsts.  First division title since 1975, first home playoff game since 1947.  First time a team had 3 starters in the Pro Bowl.

Now, without Warner, the Cardinals may be left with one only of those players.  Couple that with Todd Haley’s departure and the offense in the “capable” hands of…Matt Leinart.  The same guy who basically had the starting QB job handed to him, only to lose it to Warner?

But we’re sure he will do better next year.  Without Boldin.  Without Haley.  Without someone challenging him in camp.

Or is there another option that the Cardinals have yet to unveil?

Kerry Collins?  Nope, he’s off the market.

Jeff Garcia?  He doesn’t have the arm strength.

Jay Cutler?  It would take a higher draft pick than the Cardinals have and/or Boldin.

Face it, just like last year, Warner gives the Cardinals the best chance to win football games in 2009.  The Cardinals still have great weapons, and play in a bad division, with San Francisco as they only viable threat.  Want to strengthen that opposition?  Be our guest.  If not, pay Kurt Warner what he wants.

In the end Burnsy sides with the Cardinals.  He feels $10 million is fair value for Warner, and that something is going to be worked out in the near future.  It has to.

 

 Cards or Warner? [7:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (37)