Need a QB? Kurt Warner's Available

[Guest FrigidSoul]

Two-time NFL most valuable player Kurt Warner, whose career deteriorated over the past two seasons because of a series of injuries and inconsistency, will be released by the St. Louis Rams after June 1.

 

Warner's agent, Mark Bartelstein, was informed Monday by Rams coach Mike Martz of the team's decision.

 

League and team sources confirmed the move to ESPN.com. It was first reported by the New York Daily News and St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

 

The Rams also granted Warner and his representatives permission to begin talking with other teams, although the six-year veteran won't technically be freed from his contract for at least six more weeks.

 

"We're trying to find the right place and the right situation," Bartelstein told the Daily News. "Kurt is in great shape, he's as healthy as can be and ready to have a terrific season."

 

Bartelstein said Warner doesn't necessarily have to go to a team where he can start.

 

"Does he have to find a starting job to be happy? We're going to keep an open mind," Bartelstein said. "Most teams today have their starting quarterback set."

 

But, Bartelstein told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "He's too good of a quarterback to sit on the bench," and he expects a lot of interest in Warner from other teams.

 

Despite a spate of non-denial denials from team officials this offeason, the decision to cut ties with Warner is hardly surprising. St. Louis is currently in negotiations with the agents for three-year veteran Marc Bulger on a long-term contract and this month signed veteran Chris Chandler to serve as a backup.

 

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that Martz did leave a sliver of hope that Warner could return, contingent on the Rams' ability to sign Bulger. The paper reported that Jay Zygmunt, Rams president of football operations, has met on a preliminary basis with Tom Condon, Bulger's agent, Tom Condon.

 

"We could hold on to this and hold on to this, but we're trying to be fair with Kurt," Martz told the Post-Dispatch. "I made a promise to him that we would let him know as soon as we knew. ... We've just taken the first step. That's all this amounts to. Now, we'll see where it goes."

 

The move will free up approximately $4.85 million in 2004 cap room for the Rams. The club will still have to carry $4.61 million in so-called "dead money," cap room devoted to a player no longer on the roster, against its spending limit for 2004. Warner's current cap number, however, is a whopping $9.467 million, an exorbitant amount for a player who was not going to win the starting job.

 

St. Louis will also have to absorb a cap hit of $6.723 million in 2005. Warner is under contract through the 2006 season.

 

The Rams also will likely select a quarterback in this weekend's draft.

 

Warner, 32, proved an incredible rags-to-riches tale. The one-time journeyman out of Northern Iowa emerged from stints in the Arena Football League and the NFL Europe League to lead St. Louis to a Super Bowl XXXIV victory in 1999. He captured league MVP honors that season and also in 2001.

 

But injuries caught up to Warner the past two seasons, his playing time was reduced and his productivity waned. He started only one game in 2003 and made two appearances.

 

He lost his starting job to Bulger after fumbling six times in the Rams' opener against the New York Giants last season. It was learned after the game the Warner was playing with a concussion.

 

Martz replaced Warner with Bulger the next week, and Warner never returned to the starting lineup.

 

His career includes 1,121 completions in 1,688 attempts, for 14,447 yards, with 102 touchdown passes and 65 interceptions.

 

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

I still feel Werner can be a very good QB. I blame his fall on Mike Martz, since whenever Martz had Warner in it was Pass 80% hand off to Marshall 20%. Teams just knew when Werner was in there to go Pass Rush full force. With the Steelers head coach wanting to go defense in the first round I could see him headed to Pitts.

[Guest webmasterofwrestlegame]

If they have the cap room, the 49ers might be a good option for Kurt.

 

But then why would they release Garcia if they had the cap room.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

With the Steelers head coach wanting to go defense in the first round I could see him headed to Pitts.

 

Nice idea, but no chance. The Steelers wouldn't pick up an aging QB to replace their aging QB. They need youth.

[MrRant 0]

Have him go down to Arizona.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

I imagine he'll go to the Cards where he'll immediately fail and McCown will be starting by the 6th game.

[Just John 0]

I hope Kurt goes to the Cardinals to see how good he truly his. With Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Ricky Prohel, Az Hakim, and Marshall Faulk, Ryan fucking Leaf could be an MVP. I want to see how Kurt can do with nothing around him. I'm sure he would be exposed as a mediocre QB who was in the right place at the right time.

 

That would stop the media from jacking off to him once and for all.

[razazteca 0]

Most overrated QB ever. Send him to the Chargers but I fear that Bill Parcells will make a trade for him.

[Vyce 0]

Oh god.

 

As a Redskins fan, let me say now: please don't let Dan Snyder hear about this.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Why not?

 

He'll need another QB when he trades away Ramsey to get the 1st overall pick.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

I hope Kurt goes to the Cardinals to see how good he truly his. With Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Ricky Prohel, Az Hakim, and Marshall Faulk, Ryan fucking Leaf could be an MVP. I want to see how Kurt can do with nothing around him. I'm sure he would be exposed as a mediocre QB who was in the right place at the right time.

 

That would stop the media from jacking off to him once and for all.

...name one AWESOME QB who had no weapons around him. I mean, someone who has put up amazing stats in a season.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Favre, Marino his whole career, McNabb, Young when Rice got knocked out for a season, Kozar several seasons to name a few.

[NoCalMike 0]

Why not?

 

He'll need another QB when he trades away Ramsey to get the 1st overall pick.

isn't happening.

[NoCalMike 0]

I find it funny that they are cutting Warner, even though Martz had no confidence in Bulger during the postseason last year. My only reservation about Warner in 2004(until we see him play of course)is: will he ever be the same QB after having his thumb surgically repaired?

[Kahran Ramsus 0]

I find it funny that they are cutting Warner, even though Martz had no confidence in Bulger during the postseason last year. My only reservation about Warner in 2004(until we see him play of course)is: will he ever be the same QB after having his thumb surgically repaired?

There is talk of Martz picking J. P. Losman in the first round Saturday.

[Just John 0]

Most overrated QB ever.  Send him to the Chargers but I fear that Bill Parcells will make a trade for him.

As overrated as Warner is, he's probably still better than Quincy Carter. Although, Quincy is younger and has less injuries, I suupose.

 

Tyler: Dan Marino put up great numbers for some time and not only did he not have big name receivers, he didn't even have a credible running game.

[Guest jpclemmons]

maybe the Chargers should sign Warner rather than trade for little arm Jon Kitna.

[sfaJack 0]

As overrated as Warner is, he's probably still better than Quincy Carter. Although, Quincy is younger and has less injuries, I suupose.

The Cowboys should stay the hell away from Warner, period. As much as I hate Quincy, the last thing they need is a broken-down Kurt Warner who hasn't produced in 2 years.

 

This would be almost as disastrous as the rumor that was running around about the Cowboys bringing in Vinny Testaverde.

 

Besides, they DID trade for Drew Henson. Focus your energy on trying to turn him into something, instead of wasting it on an old guy like Warner.

[sfaJack 0]

maybe the Chargers should sign Warner rather than trade for little arm Jon Kitna.

No. They've already got Flutie; what good would Warner do them? Might as well just draft Eli and play him from Day 1. You'd get a similar (or better) result.

[razazteca 0]

The Cowboys have no real QB on the team! So far its Quincy who is only on the team because Jerry Jones loves running QBs and then there are the TWO baseball players Hutchingson & Henson. Warner would just become another player to worry about considering that he has done nothing in the past 2 years other than get injuried and confused. With all of the unproven players on the Cowboys staff, I think Parcell is going to have a heart attack.

[Guest Nanks]

Chargers does sound like a good idea. They could probably use an experience QB to have around while Eli gets his head around NFL. Assuming they take Eli that is...

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

Favre,

 

 

Oh please, his talent has been fine.

 

Marino his whole career

 

Never won a Super Bowl. Was best when he had decent talent around him.

 

McNabb,

 

And half of the people on here think he's overrated. Yawn.

 

Young when Rice got knocked out for a season,

 

Still had a running game.

 

Kozar several seasons to name a few.

 

Care to put up stats? And who was surrounding him in these "seasons"?

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

FYI, I'm not saying Warner is an amazing, HoF quarterback. But the way people "hate" on him for being surrounded by talent is absolutely absurd; the guy threw a pretty ball during those years he won big with St. Louis. He threw one of the prettiest balls I've seen in a while, in fact. He hit his recievers in stride and was never rattled by pressure. Did he have a lot of talent? Hell yeah, he did. But don't take anything away from what the guy did; he was a damned good quarterback before he started to get old and creaky.

 

 

99.9% of quarterbacks couldn't do anything without talent surrounding them. It shouldn't be held against him if he fails in Arizona or something (who actually has great talent in their reciever corps, especially if they draft Williams or Fitz).

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Favre never had anything around him until Ahman Green came along. He went to the Super Bowl with fucking Dorsey Levens in the backfield and Antonio Freeman as his go to guy. Hardly what I call weapons of any kind.

 

Marino still holds passing records and took a team to the Super Bowl despite the Fins flaws. Warner has on a team where every offensive player was a weapon the no.1 defense in the league. Hard to lose with those odds isn't it?

 

I could only find 2 seasons worth of stats on Kozar but he threw for 3854 yds. in 86 and then threw for 3033 yds. and 22 TDs in 87. The best receiver he had was Webster Slaughter and Kevin Mack was running the ball and I don't think he broke 800 on the ground either season. Kozar also couldn't run at all with the ball.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

He went to the Super Bowl with fucking Dorsey Levens in the backfield

 

1997 Green Bay Packers 16 16 329 1435 4.4 52 7 8 68

 

Not too shabby.

 

Antonio Freeman as his go to guy. Hardly what I call weapons of any kind.

 

He could catch and run. What else do you need? He wasn't a gamebreaker by any stretch of the imagination, but it wasn't like he was dropping the ball all over the place.

 

You can't say Favre had a lack of talent. He had plenty surrounding him. They had a solid running game, even if it wasn't the focus of their attack.

 

Marino still holds passing records and took a team to the Super Bowl despite the Fins flaws.

 

His recievers weren't too shabby, either.

 

Warner has on a team where every offensive player was a weapon the no.1 defense in the league. Hard to lose with those odds isn't it?

 

Who cares? He still had a rocket for an arm and was poised in the pocket. You still have to get the ball to those players.

 

I could only find 2 seasons worth of stats on Kozar but he threw for 3854 yds. in 86 and then threw for 3033 yds. and 22 TDs in 87. The best receiver he had was Webster Slaughter and Kevin Mack was running the ball and I don't think he broke 800 on the ground either season. Kozar also couldn't run at all with the ball.

 

Tommy Maddox threw for...

 

2003 Pittsburgh Steelers 16 16 519 298 57.4 3414 6.58 53 18 17 41/242 44 4 75.3

 

...when his top RB ran for less. And Maddox sucks. When your RBs are god awful, you throw the ball a lot. It's not like Cleveland won the Super Bowl, either.

 

Stop trying to hate on someone simply because he got old and creaky. He was a good quarterback who threw damned well.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

Since when does winning the Super Bowl mean shit in this argument? You asked to name a QB that put up amazing stats with no weapons. I named several for you.

[Guest Flyboy]

Have him go down to Arizona.

I think either Arizona or Oakland would be the best place for him.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

The point is that all but the very best quarterbacks need to be surrounded by talent to win it all.

 

You give examples of freaking warriors. Nobody's saying Kurt Warner is better than Dan Marino or Elway, but you're making it sound like he's some garbage quarterback because he happened to have an offense around him. He's not. He had a great arm and staggering poise in the pocket. He was a very good quarterback but not a Hall of Famer.

[Guest Salacious Crumb]

I think the guy is terribly overrated to be honest. He had an awesome running back and receiving core and a huge line that never let defenses touch him. I mean the guy did tend to get pretty rattled after he got hit a few times.

[LaParkaMarka 0]

Have him go down to Arizona.

I think either Arizona or Oakland would be the best place for him.

Oakland already has an aging/declining QB in Rich Gannon. I think Arizona makes the most sense. Arizona has a good young RB in Marcel Shipp, and a very strong receiving corps with Boldin/Bryant/Fitz (we all know Green is taking Fitz). They sign Warner and let McNown tutor under him for a couple of years. Warner actually looked really good last pre-season...I think his performance against the Giants was more due to the concussion that because he's "Rob Johnson"-suck.

 

With Warner, the Cards wouldn't be the weak team in their division anymore...poor San Fran. That's embarrassing for them.

[Dr. Tyler; Captain America 0]

I mean the guy did tend to get pretty rattled after he got hit a few times.

 

No, he didn't. You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

 

The scouting reports when you played the Rams were very simple: don't bother blitzing Warner because he stands in the pocket and fires the ball on target when you pressure him. That was what made him the league MVP and not Marshall Faulk back when they won the Super Bowl; he was stellar under pressure and he had pinpoint accuracy.

 

Note: was. Had.

 

I'm not arguing that signing him for most teams would be a huge mistake if they expected a miracle worker. He's banged up and he's not getting any younger.

 

However, diminishing his accomplishments is absurd and it shows that you know little about football. There's a reason why people were raving about him.