Cards to make serious play for Warner
Feb. 26, 2005
By Pete Prisco
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Arizona Cardinals, in search of a veteran quarterback, will make a strong push to sign two-time MVP Kurt Warner this week, according to a league source.
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Warner, who exercised an out in his contract with the New York Giants in order to become a free agent, wants to go to a team that would make him the starter, which is a role the Cardinals can give him.
Josh McCown, Arizona's starting quarterback in 2004, did get a qualifying offer from the Cardinals this week as a restricted free agent. He received the highest tender of $1.4 million, which will essentially keep him on the roster.
McCown also has high praise from coach Dennis Green, although he hit on just 57 percent of his passes last year while throwing 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. McCown was benched for a time in favor of Shaun King.
Green has had success in his career with veteran quarterbacks, including Brad Johnson and Randall Cunningham with the Minnesota Vikings, which is why the source indicated the Cardinals would move in the Warner direction.
Much of the talk here at the NFL's scouting combine has Warner ticketed to Chicago to play for the Bears, but it appears the Cardinals are willing to make a push to keep that from happening.
At 33, Warner started nine games for the Giants last year, going 5-4 before being replaced by rookie Eli Manning. Giants coach Tom Coughlin said at the combine that he strongly believes Warner can still be an effective starter.
If he does sign with the Cardinals, Warner would be throwing to a heck of a receiving group in Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Bryant Johnson. The Cardinals will add a top back in the draft, possibly with their first-round pick.
Warner led the St. Louis Rams to Super Bowls in 1999 and 2001, winning the first one.
