Warner Likely to Return to Arizona

With veteran Kurt Warner set to hit the free-agent market later this month after leading the Arizona Cardinals to their very first Super Bowl appearance, there has been much speculation as to where he will land next season. Just about ever team with needs at the quarterback position has been named as a potential suitor, as has the possibility that he will simply retire.

Warner has yet to make public his plans for 2009, and there is a chance he will hang it up. After all, he is 37-years old. But in my view, he knows he is in a great situation in Arizona with what appears to be an up-and-coming team and with all the weapons he has at his disposal. So if he indeed does play another season, it's hard to fathom he would want to start over with another team. Unless, of course, the Cardinals try to low ball him when it comes time to negotiate a new contract.

The Arizona Republic seems to share our opinion that Warner will be back. The issue was addressed Tuesday by reporter Bob McManaman.

"The general perception in and around the Cardinals' organization seems crystal clear. He will be back. And he likely will sign a new, two-year contract extension - possibly in the neighborhood of $18-20 million - to try and lead this once-woebegone franchise right back into glorious history."

So there you have it. Unless the notoriously cheap Cardinals try to stiff Warner when it comes time to start writing a number followed by a bunch of zeros on his paycheck, he will be back.

And teams like the Bears, Vikings, and Jets, who dream of having a competent QB at the helm next season, will have to keep on dreaming because, most likely, Warner is going nowhere.

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