Warner wants to remain with the Cardinals

[jev7452]

Kurt Warner apparently didn't leave his heart in San Francisco after a successful visit with the 49ers on Monday that could net him a rich two-year contract. Warner's heart is still with the Arizona Cardinals.



While he's pondering a more lucrative offer by the 49ers, Warner reached out to the Cardinals to give them a chance to sign him at a "hometown" discount.



On Tuesday, Warner instructed his agent, Mark Bartelstein, to make a two-year, $23 million proposal to stay with the Cardinals. According to Bartelstein, Warner's proposal would include $12 million in guarantees, $6 million each season.



To further sweeten the deal to the Cardinals, Warner, through Bartelstein, is willing to reduce his contract by $1 million a year if they can successfully renegotiate the contract of wide receiver Anquan Boldin.



According to a source, the Cardinals improved their proposal to Warner that had been stalled for more than a week at two years and $20 million. The Cardinals are willing to give him $23 million over the next two seasons, but they are making up the difference with incentives.

NFL.com Video

Highlights of the best moments from Kurt Warner in 2008.
On Monday, the 49ers made him an offer that is much higher than the $23 million. Though financial terms weren't available, the 49ers came closer to Warner's request to be paid among the top five quarterbacks in the league. He had been asking for a contract between $14 million and $16 million a year.



Warner is awaiting an answer from the Cardinals. He returned from his 49ers trip Monday night.



The trip to San Francisco insured that Warner could make more money by going to the 49ers or another team, but Warner wants to give the team he helped take to the Super Bowl the chance to keep him around for two more seasons.



John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

[BrandonCarr39]

Originally Posted by jev7452

To further sweeten the deal to the Cardinals, Warner, through Bartelstein, is willing to reduce his contract by $1 million a year if they can successfully renegotiate the contract of wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

It's been reported that Eagles CB Sheldon Brown is unhappy with his current contract. Sirius radio reported today that Philly is entertaining the idea of trading him to Zona for Boldin. Shawn Springs is in Philly tonight, and rumors are flying that a contract will be signed no later than tomorrow(when he'll meet with the media).

The next couple of weeks will be interesting in the entire league, that's for sure!

[jev7452]

oh most definitely!.. i'll be very interested to see what happens with springs

[NEPAsteeler]

I love the offseason and all of its juicy storylines.

[XxKnightxX]

Its amazing how the offseason of free agency and the draft gets more attention than the NBA and Baseball lol.

[revefsreleets]

This makes the most sense for both the Cards and Warner. It gives them both their best chance at trying to recreate the success of this past year (although they almost certainly won't anyway).

Boy, Warner sure looks pretty douchey, now, though doesn't he?

[SCSTILLER]

I can't beleive that Warner even entertained the thought of going to the 49ers. He has a good thing going in AZ and should stay there. They are somewhat established and are the strongest team in their division, and up there in the conference. 49ers are rebuilding and his age would limit what he could do for them.

If he did go to the niners, I see him being benched by the end of the season, just like when he was with the Giants.

[lilyoder6]

i thought kurt loved arizona... geez.. the man is going to be 38.. that would be a lot of investment u putting in...

[revefsreleets]

Well, to be honest, he'll be a young 40 years old at the end of the deal. How much damage did he really take while bagging groceries? Playing Arena Ball? Was he ever even HIT in the AFL?

[BrandonCarr39]

Originally Posted by revefsreleets

Well, to be honest, he'll be a young 40 years old at the end of the deal. How much damage did he really take while bagging groceries? Playing Arena Ball? Was he ever even HIT in the AFL?

Until the Pats figured out how to exploit Martz's pass-happy schemes in that 2001 Super Bowl(i.e. knocking their receivers around silly), ANYONE could have QB'd that Rams offense. I mean ANYONE with all that speed AND Marshall Faulk. He just happened to have an opporunity b/c their prized FA(Trent Green) went down in that 1999 preseason. Otherwise, who knows? To this day, Green could very well be ranked among the elite QBs.