My Warner Rant

[Mitch]

While I am still seething about the Fitz debacle...

Kurt Warner is getting screwed. Period. And now the Cards are asking him to restructure his contract? Why should he?

I was one of Warner's most ardent critics before this past season...but, he proved me wrong. I didn't think he had what it took to still win games...and I didn't think he was clutch enough in the red zone to give the Cards a chance to win. In both cases, he proved me wrong...and now I think he should be given what he deserves: an equal shot to win the starting QB job in 2008.

The fact is: the Cardinal offense thrived under Warner, scoring close to 30 points a game over the last ten games of the season (when have we Cardinal fans ever seen scoring numbers like that? Not since Jim Hart and Mel Gray). Better yet, the Cards were 3rd in the NFL in red zone efficiency. Warner was decisive this year and he delivered.

And let me remind everyone: Warner played with a dislocated left elbow for most of the games.

Yes, the fumbles are an issue...and yes, he does throw some illl-advised passes at times, even in key situations. But...he has a short memory and he keeps on passing his way down the field.

My contention is: with a better defense and what Warner was putting up in terms of points, the Cardinals would have made the playoffs, easily. The defense was just plain horrible late in too many games...and it certainly didn't help that Neil Rackers cost the team at least two wins.

Warner, at the very least, should be afforded the opportunity to compete for the starting job. Yes, Matt Leinart may well be the QBOF...but what if Warner gives the Cards the best chance to win now? based on what I saw from both of them last year, Warner has the edge. Hopefully Leinart will look much improved...but, still the job should be open.

 

[joeshmo]

While I am still seething about the Fitz debacle...

Kurt Warner is getting screwed. Period. And now the Cards are asking him to restructure his contract? Why should he?

How is he getting screwed? Restructure doesnt mean taking less money it means taking 3 mill of his 4 Mill base salary and turing it into a signing bonus. Thus spreading it out over this year and the 2 year extension that is rumored to be offered. So we save 2 Mill in cap space this season. Warners once none gauranteed base salary is now mostly gauranteed and he gets paid for another 2 seasons for what ever they negotiate. Warner isnt getting screwed in such a deal he is getting rewarded with more gauranteed money all the while still making the same amount of money.

This isnt a Berry restructure where he turns 3 mill of his base salary into incentives and wont get it unless he reaches those incentives.

 

[Mitch]

How is he getting screwed? Restructure doesnt mean taking less money it means taking 3 mill of his 4 Mill base salary and turing it into a signing bonus. Thus spreading it out over this year and the 2 year extension that is rumored to be offered. So we save 2 Mill in cap space this season. Warners once none gauranteed base salary is now mostly gauranteed and he gets paid for another 2 seasons for what ever they negotiate. Warner isnt getting screwed in such a deal he is getting rewarded with more gauranteed money all the while still making the same amount of money.

This isnt a Berry restructure where he turns 3 mill of his base salary into incentives and wont get it unless he reaches those incentives.

I didn't mean contract-wise. I meant not having an equal shot at winning the starting QB job, as Whiz has already tabbed Leinart.

 

[MoeIsBetter]

But he also said the best player would play. You have to listen...Matt WAS the starter before he was injured. He said you can't lose your job to injury (which basically means "I'm not replacing him cause he was injured but if Kurt is the better player, they Kurt OUTPLAYED him for the spot and won it rightfully")

 

[azcards55]

I'm getting tired of hearing you bitch and moan about everything cardinals related. I mean i understand the Fitz rant, but seriously with Warner. I thought we were past this Warner vs. Leinart crap. Leinart is the starter until Whiz otherwise states it. The quicker you realize that the quicker i can read more sensible threads.

 

[redheat]

If he would learn to dump the ball off I'd be all for him starting next year.....

 

[Skkorpion]

I'm getting tired of hearing you bitch and moan about everything cardinals related. I mean i understand the Fitz rant, but seriously with Warner. I thought we were past this Warner vs. Leinart crap. Leinart is the starter until Whiz otherwise states it. The quicker you realize that the quicker i can read more sensible threads.

Whoa, whoa. Welcome to ASFN.

Now, understand several things:

1. Mitch is a longtime member, poster and writer here who, contrary to your impression, is usually very upbeat and positive about the Cards. And he still is despite a couple of recent rants.

2. Please refrain from insulting those who disagree with you. I do understand this is difficult here lately.

 

[DutchmanAZ]

I rarely post here (like that means anything), but I thought Warner did a darned good job last year. Yep - bonehead mistakes, fumbles, and all.
I must agree with Mitch - he played very well and gave us a chance to win.
Maybe we all forget too quickly boneheaded defensive calls or play that resulted in a loss, not to mention the missed field goals. Warner caused us 1 loss that I can think of .
Regardless - may the best QB start.

 

[PoolBoy]

lol who is azcards55?

 

[BigRedRage]

Warner played well but we need Lienart for the future, I understand the move and hope it works. I don't see a reason to be mad about it.

 

[Rats]

*Sigh*.....I miss the good old days when less bandwidth was used on this board and by members that have been here more than 5 minutes. Now those were great beat downs and Mitch took his share. That is just trolling to me when newbs sign just to rip on someone. Just my 2 cents

 

[PoolBoy]

newbzz... go make me a sandwich. lol

 

[CardNots]

Whoa, whoa. Welcome to ASFN.

Now, understand several things:

1. Mitch is a longtime member, poster and writer here who, contrary to your impression, is usually very upbeat and positive about the Cards. And he still is despite a couple of recent rants.

2. Please refrain from insulting those who disagree with you. I do understand this is difficult here lately.

I agree. Mitch has been hit and miss over the years but he tends to call it like he sees it. He is a passionate Cardinal fan.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I didn't mean contract-wise. I meant not having an equal shot at winning the starting QB job, as Whiz has already tabbed Leinart.

I completely disagree. We drafted a franchise QB that everyone, and I mean EVERYONE was happy to have on draft day.

We still don't know what we have from Leinart. We need to find out. If anything, you should be happy that we have a player of Warner's caliber waiting in the wings if Leinart were to get injured again for example.

What do you think would have happened if Favre, or Brady would have been hurt in their second season of playing time?

 

[DaisyCutter]

1) Warner isn't renegotiating his contract out of the goodness of his heart. For giving the Cards the honor of extending his deal and giving them some cap space, Warner is likely to make up the $1 million bonus that he just missed out on at the end of the season. He'll get more money now than he would on his old deal (not a ton more money, but a little), and the Cards will get cap flexibility. Funny how fans are mad when Fitz wants to do the same thing, but gives Warner an attaboy.

2) Warner isn't going to get this team more wins. I think that Warner did a pretty good job last season, but he can't execute the offense that Whis wants to run. He doesn't like play action, he doesn't like deep drops, he doesn't like making multiple reads, he doesn't like watching the play develop in front of him. If you want the most present reason why Fitz hit his incentives, you're likely looking squarely at the guy with #13 on his back. The Cards changed their entire offense to play to Warner's strengths because wasn't flexible enough to run the designed offense.

That's the main reason that Warner wasn't named the starter on this team. Whis doesn't want to pass 35 times a game. Warner does. Leinart will probably do whatever he's told. That's the difference.

 

[red desert]

newbzz... go make me a sandwich. lol

And make it quick! Grab me a cold draft while you're at it.

 

[slanidrac16]

I didn't mean contract-wise. I meant not having an equal shot at winning the starting QB job, as Whiz has already tabbed Leinart.

Mitch, Warner is 1 Leinart injury away from being the starter again. In addition , Leinart has been named the starter , but do you realy believe Wiz will sit back and watch this team crash and burn because of poor QB play by Leinart?
Leinart will perform or he will lose his starting role.

 

[moklerman]

Leinart certainly seems to be in a literal make or break situation. On the field, I think he can "get it" mentally. I thought that he had enough physically but after last year, too many of his throws looked like floaters so I really don't know how he's going to pan out. The stat's certainly don't show that he's progressing or even worth putting on the field but between his footwork and mechanics being fiddled with, new system and high expectations I just can't guess as to what the real problem is or the likelihood of him getting it all together.

Considering the possibility that the legend of Kurt Warner's GSOT days is something he can never live up to again, I give you some stat's that suggest he just may have been reborn by wearing the gloves:

1999 - 41td/13int 8.2% 2.6%
2000 - 21td/18int 6.1% 5.2%
2001 - 36td/22int 6.6% 4.0%

2007 - 27td/17int 6.0% 3.8%

Just a tidbit to consider when ol' Warner says things like he's playing the best football he's ever played or he feels like he can still be a starter.

 

[cardsfanmd]

I agree with you to an extent Mitch, but we have to find out exactly what we have with Matt. The sooner we know the better.

I think Leinart is more than capable of being a PBer in the future, but not without us investing more in some pass protectors. I am pretty positive we will see Warner at some point this year, but hopefully not until we have clinched the division.

 

[Fiasco]

Leinarts the future.

That is said alot. With the Cardinals record the majority of most football seasons is spent looking to the future.

How about we go with the guy that can help us win right now and maybe the future we look towards will be a deep round in the playoffs instead of the next draft lottery.