Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
After what has been an extremely taxing and emotional week, I feel as if the sun is shining and order has been restored to the kingdom of Denmark, if you don't mind the allusion to Hamlet.
While I still harbor highly mixed feelings about the way in which the Cardinals do their business, I praise them for understanding the gist and gravity of Warner's situation, to the point where they seized the new opportunity that was presented to them yesterday following Warner's admission that his heart was still and now will always be in Arizona, by moving with alacrity and decisiveness to get his contract signed.
Quite frankly, I was worried that they would continue to draw a hard line with Warner...but, as it turns out, when Warner and Bartelstein came down from their $29M perch and settled in at $23M...that was the number the Cardinals were satisfied with. And they wasted no time getting the contract finished.
As for Warner, one could readily tell that he has been an uncomfortable and conflicted man throughout this process. During his ESPN interview with Trey Wingo, it was painful to see Warner come across as greedy...for it was a posture that few of us have never seen from Warner...because Warner has always been the epitome of the humble, pious and considerate soul...in fact, his story has inspired so many...let's just say that humble fits him to a tee.
But, what he said in his press conference resonates very serenely and emphatically tonight...he conceded with an awed shrug that "yes, the numbers are staggering"...and he added that "I have been blessed to work in a profession where there is a high value on what I do"....and furthermore added that he feels "it's my responsibility to do what God wants me to do with what I have been given." To me, I have no doubt that Kurt Warner will do even MORE than that.
It also was delightful to learn that within 45 minutes of his interview with the 49ers, Warner knew his heart remained in Arizona. He said he tried to keep an open mind, which was his intention all along, but that it was clear to him when Mike Singletary was outlining his vision of the 49ers, that he thought of Coach Whiz's vision in Arizona and how much he shares in Whiz's vision.
Both the Cardinals and Warner deserve praise at this precious time in Arizona Cardinal history. Both Coach Whiz and Warner kept referring to their excitement in continuing to build on the momentum of they have been building all along...and that, my good friends, is the sweet sweet music that we can go to sleep with tonight.
Halleluiah!
P.S. When Warner went on his visit to SF, I kept thinking of the novel Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse...a wonderfully written allegory about a man who travels the globe and succumbs to temptations in search of spiritual bliss...only to find that his "ohm" (or spiritual bliss) was right there in his own backyard the entire time. To Kurt: thanks for being wise enough to see what's in your own backyard.
While I still harbor highly mixed feelings about the way in which the Cardinals do their business, I praise them for understanding the gist and gravity of Warner's situation, to the point where they seized the new opportunity that was presented to them yesterday following Warner's admission that his heart was still and now will always be in Arizona, by moving with alacrity and decisiveness to get his contract signed.
Quite frankly, I was worried that they would continue to draw a hard line with Warner...but, as it turns out, when Warner and Bartelstein came down from their $29M perch and settled in at $23M...that was the number the Cardinals were satisfied with. And they wasted no time getting the contract finished.
As for Warner, one could readily tell that he has been an uncomfortable and conflicted man throughout this process. During his ESPN interview with Trey Wingo, it was painful to see Warner come across as greedy...for it was a posture that few of us have never seen from Warner...because Warner has always been the epitome of the humble, pious and considerate soul...in fact, his story has inspired so many...let's just say that humble fits him to a tee.
But, what he said in his press conference resonates very serenely and emphatically tonight...he conceded with an awed shrug that "yes, the numbers are staggering"...and he added that "I have been blessed to work in a profession where there is a high value on what I do"....and furthermore added that he feels "it's my responsibility to do what God wants me to do with what I have been given." To me, I have no doubt that Kurt Warner will do even MORE than that.
It also was delightful to learn that within 45 minutes of his interview with the 49ers, Warner knew his heart remained in Arizona. He said he tried to keep an open mind, which was his intention all along, but that it was clear to him when Mike Singletary was outlining his vision of the 49ers, that he thought of Coach Whiz's vision in Arizona and how much he shares in Whiz's vision.
Both the Cardinals and Warner deserve praise at this precious time in Arizona Cardinal history. Both Coach Whiz and Warner kept referring to their excitement in continuing to build on the momentum of they have been building all along...and that, my good friends, is the sweet sweet music that we can go to sleep with tonight.
Halleluiah!
P.S. When Warner went on his visit to SF, I kept thinking of the novel Siddhartha, by Herman Hesse...a wonderfully written allegory about a man who travels the globe and succumbs to temptations in search of spiritual bliss...only to find that his "ohm" (or spiritual bliss) was right there in his own backyard the entire time. To Kurt: thanks for being wise enough to see what's in your own backyard.
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