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Source: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=74948
Warner takes responsibility for loss
By Matt Simpson, Tribune
September 24, 2006
Nearly an hour after one of the ugliest games of his Cardinals career, Kurt Warner was still signing autographs for members of the same crowd that had earlier booed him off the field.
Knowing that about Warner, it’s not surprising that he accepted every bit of blame for Arizona’s 16-14 home loss to the Rams. There wasn’t much blame to go around, as the loss rested squarely on the shoulders of the quarterback who turned the ball over four times.
Warner threw three interceptions, then capped his frustrating afternoon by fumbling a snap after the Cardinals had moved into field-goal range with less than two minutes to play.
“It’s one of those plays you never want to happen and it happened,” Warner said. “We had a chance to win the game. That play along with three other plays I made cost us this football game.”
The three other plays were interceptions Warner tossed to kill three straight possessions. Two of the picks came in the red zone at the end of long Cardinal drives.
Warner, who began the game 8-for-12 with 83 yards and a touchdown, had a convenient excuse for his downfall, if he were the type of guy to make excuses. Midway through the second quarter, Rams linebacker Will Witherspoon was flagged for roughing the passer after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Warner.
Warner’s next two passes were intercepted and the Rams took a 13-7 lead into halftime.
But Warner said the hit did not affect him, and coach Dennis Green said, “I don’t think we’d ever send someone out to play that we didn’t think could play.”
Warner recovered in time to complete 7-of-9 passes for 56 yards on an 87-yard scoring drive that got the Cardinals within two points with just over four minutes to play in the game.
The Cardinals reclaimed the ball in St. Louis territory with 1:58 remaining after a Marc Bulger fumble, but Warner gave the ball back on a fumbled snap at the Rams’ 18-yard line.
Warner, who has eight fumbles this season, said the snap was good.
“I just snapped the ball like I always do,” center Alex Stepanovich said. “I did my assignment. The next thing you know the ball was on the ground.”
Though players were obviously disappointed in the outcome of the game, no one in the locker room called for rookie backup Matt Leinart to ascend to the starting job.
However, not every player offered up ringing endorsements of Warner.
Running back Edgerrin James, for one, sidestepped a question regarding his confidence in Warner.
But others came to his defense.
“We’re going to do what we always do, be supportive,” receiver Anquan Boldin said. “Kurt’s the leader. He’s going to continue to (be the leader). He’s our guy.”
Asked which quarterback he would start next week if he were the coach, Warner laughed.
“I’m not Coach Green. I’ll let Coach Green make that decision,” he said. “Of course I know what I would do, but that’s not my decision to make.”
Contact Matt Simpson by email, or phone (480) 898-6497
Source: http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=74948
Warner takes responsibility for loss
By Matt Simpson, Tribune
September 24, 2006
Nearly an hour after one of the ugliest games of his Cardinals career, Kurt Warner was still signing autographs for members of the same crowd that had earlier booed him off the field.
Knowing that about Warner, it’s not surprising that he accepted every bit of blame for Arizona’s 16-14 home loss to the Rams. There wasn’t much blame to go around, as the loss rested squarely on the shoulders of the quarterback who turned the ball over four times.
Warner threw three interceptions, then capped his frustrating afternoon by fumbling a snap after the Cardinals had moved into field-goal range with less than two minutes to play.
“It’s one of those plays you never want to happen and it happened,” Warner said. “We had a chance to win the game. That play along with three other plays I made cost us this football game.”
The three other plays were interceptions Warner tossed to kill three straight possessions. Two of the picks came in the red zone at the end of long Cardinal drives.
Warner, who began the game 8-for-12 with 83 yards and a touchdown, had a convenient excuse for his downfall, if he were the type of guy to make excuses. Midway through the second quarter, Rams linebacker Will Witherspoon was flagged for roughing the passer after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Warner.
Warner’s next two passes were intercepted and the Rams took a 13-7 lead into halftime.
But Warner said the hit did not affect him, and coach Dennis Green said, “I don’t think we’d ever send someone out to play that we didn’t think could play.”
Warner recovered in time to complete 7-of-9 passes for 56 yards on an 87-yard scoring drive that got the Cardinals within two points with just over four minutes to play in the game.
The Cardinals reclaimed the ball in St. Louis territory with 1:58 remaining after a Marc Bulger fumble, but Warner gave the ball back on a fumbled snap at the Rams’ 18-yard line.
Warner, who has eight fumbles this season, said the snap was good.
“I just snapped the ball like I always do,” center Alex Stepanovich said. “I did my assignment. The next thing you know the ball was on the ground.”
Though players were obviously disappointed in the outcome of the game, no one in the locker room called for rookie backup Matt Leinart to ascend to the starting job.
However, not every player offered up ringing endorsements of Warner.
Running back Edgerrin James, for one, sidestepped a question regarding his confidence in Warner.
But others came to his defense.
“We’re going to do what we always do, be supportive,” receiver Anquan Boldin said. “Kurt’s the leader. He’s going to continue to (be the leader). He’s our guy.”
Asked which quarterback he would start next week if he were the coach, Warner laughed.
“I’m not Coach Green. I’ll let Coach Green make that decision,” he said. “Of course I know what I would do, but that’s not my decision to make.”
Contact Matt Simpson by email, or phone (480) 898-6497
