In the AZ Republic Warner was discussing what Peyton brings to the table and what the Cards can learn from the current SB teams. Some interesting quotes (I'm sure no one will be surprised, but it was surprising to hear it from Warner himself):
"I think the biggest lesson you learn in this business is when you have a core group of guys that have been successful for you, you've got to keep them," Warner said. "You can't just say, 'We'll replace that guy.' When you have a guy like Anquan Boldin, you say, 'Well, I can find a guy who can run faster, a guy who can do this (better).' But he's a special piece to the puzzle.
"You've got a guy like Antrel Rolle. You say, 'He's not as fast, maybe he doesn't cover as much ground, blah, blah, blah.' (But) he's a playmaker and he's in the Super Bowl again making plays for his team. Karlos Dansby, myself ... these are guys that change the complexion of the game. "
and:
Yes, Warner chose to retire. But he said the load the Cardinals put on him wore him out, a load that would've been lessened by keeping some of their core players.
"Any time a team starts to do that, losing pieces they say are replaceable ... you don't replace great players," Warner said. "They don't come around a dime a dozen. You have to hold on to them. If you can't hold on to all of them, you have to make a committed effort to hold on to some of them and build around them.
"They still have Larry (Fitzgerald), of course, but you need more than that to win in this business. And that's the biggest lesson the Cardinals, and any team, can learn. It's very difficult to replace guys who are integral to a team's success."
I've always wondered what Warner thought, not what people said he thought, but what he actually thought when he retired. I assumed (wrongly it seems) that the game against the Saints took his will away, the will to take that type of punishment for this team. Turns out it was a lot more than that, he just felt like they were putting too much on him and letting core dudes go.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/car...-xlvi-valuable-lessons-arizona-cardinals.html
"I think the biggest lesson you learn in this business is when you have a core group of guys that have been successful for you, you've got to keep them," Warner said. "You can't just say, 'We'll replace that guy.' When you have a guy like Anquan Boldin, you say, 'Well, I can find a guy who can run faster, a guy who can do this (better).' But he's a special piece to the puzzle.
"You've got a guy like Antrel Rolle. You say, 'He's not as fast, maybe he doesn't cover as much ground, blah, blah, blah.' (But) he's a playmaker and he's in the Super Bowl again making plays for his team. Karlos Dansby, myself ... these are guys that change the complexion of the game. "
and:
Yes, Warner chose to retire. But he said the load the Cardinals put on him wore him out, a load that would've been lessened by keeping some of their core players.
"Any time a team starts to do that, losing pieces they say are replaceable ... you don't replace great players," Warner said. "They don't come around a dime a dozen. You have to hold on to them. If you can't hold on to all of them, you have to make a committed effort to hold on to some of them and build around them.
"They still have Larry (Fitzgerald), of course, but you need more than that to win in this business. And that's the biggest lesson the Cardinals, and any team, can learn. It's very difficult to replace guys who are integral to a team's success."
I've always wondered what Warner thought, not what people said he thought, but what he actually thought when he retired. I assumed (wrongly it seems) that the game against the Saints took his will away, the will to take that type of punishment for this team. Turns out it was a lot more than that, he just felt like they were putting too much on him and letting core dudes go.
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/car...-xlvi-valuable-lessons-arizona-cardinals.html
