Well, looks like another day of soap opera. Matt, I hope you're ready...

Just tell Kurt that Jesus bleeds Red and Gold. Ouch! Anyhow, has anyone asked themselves whether Warner's born-again Christian status would even fit in SF?? I can already read and hear the rumblings about it. I bet there is severe buyer's remorse if he is signed by SF. Furthermore, Warner had a great year last year (his first great year in many years) and it just so happens to have been a contract year. Can you say "Ray Durham" ?? ...I say draft Pat White in this year's draft and let's see what Shawn Hill can do as the named starter and a full season under his belt. Ditch this Warner nonsense already.

Man I love this drama. Looks more and more like Warner is leaving Arizona and making the Cardinals look like the bad guys to boot.

I'm opening to the idea of Warner, i just have a bad feeling that he's using us here..

I would imagine that he is saying the 49ers have a chance so that Arizona gives in, but who really knows.

Ender: Kurt wouldn't be the only Christian player on the team, we actually have several. Furthermore, there are many many Christians in the league, it's just that Kurt is far more open about it.

He started 11 games in 2007 before the 2008 season and played very well in those games.

Warner playing great had NOTHING to do with it being a contract year. It had EVERYTHING to do with just getting a chance to play (in 2007 he started because Leinart got injured . . . 2008 because he beat out Leinart for the job).

The Cards have been bending over backwards to start Leinart over Warner since Leinart got to Phoenix in 2006.

That's like trying to keep Jeff Garcia under center and Steve Young on the bench. Or Alex Smith over Jeff Garcia. Kinda stupid.

I have never had a strong feeling that he will leave Arizona, but I would think the longer it drags out the better the odds that he would leave.

I bet that Arizona wants to make it a one year deal so they can see what they have in Leinart the following year.

Can we just say that no one knows what is going to happen, and maybe, just maybe, this is one of those movies where you really don't know how its going to end?

He will probably retire, which will again make the Niners look bad (i.e. he would rather quit than play for SF), but it would hurt AZ either way.

If SF did get Warner, do you think York and McCloughan would try to make another big splash in free agency while they have cap space and a potential uncapped year to try to actually put the best possible team on the field? Capitalizing on the potential 2 year deal for Kurt?

BTW, whats up with the Evans visit?

Where else on the web can an NFL fan get the soap opera play by play on "As Warner Turns." ?

Great work as always MM. Thanks for keeping us informed.

If we get Warner,we would be the holiest team on the planet. Singletary, Warner, and if we could get Bruce to come back, we could get sponsored by all the local churches.

I have a sick feeling warner is going to end up with the 49ers...WE DO NOT NEED WARNER!

LOL that was good!

If we get warner which i really hope we dont we are going to have to make a trade for a big play wideout cause if not warner is gonna back 2 his NY giants days..

You're right. Who needs a Pro-Bowl, HOF type QB, who's a former league AND SB MVP, who just led the sorriest franchise in the NFL to their first SB, and had them two minutes from victory in that game.

You're right! Who needs guys like that on your team! OMG. You should have to pee in a cup before you post nonsense like that!

Matt --

I read on Somers blog that the Cards DO in fact have issue with the guaranteed money that Warner is asking.

Do you get the feeling that if the Cards counter-offer at all (which is pretty much certain), it's going to drive Warner away?

Or do you get the feeling that even with a counter, they will continue to inch closer to a deal?

I guess I'm wondering how fed up you think Warner is, especially when he knows he' got the money and unquestioned desire waiting for him in SF.

Personally, I think Warner loses a LOT of leverage if he continues to back down and lower his demands. I feel like unless the Cards' counter is REALLY close to what he is asking, he can't continue to give them the benefit of the doubt.

PS - I bet it's a breath of fresh air when Bartelstein talks to us, since we're giving him "straight talk". The Bidwill's seem like the biggest pains in the....

Can someone who is against getting Warner please explain to me how it would hurt us? I just don't get it. Just because we sign Warner, doesn't mean we can't still restructure Alex's contract. We could focus more on other positions this draft and then we can draft a QB next year, when the QB class is stronger with McCoy, Tebow, and Bradford.

--Dom

Please stop with the religious bigotry. I am asking you to stop offending me and my faith in Christianity Please.

I am getting the feeling that even if Warner doesn't like the next offer from Arizona he will let the 49ers know that he just isn't interested in coming here. The interest in the 49ers seems to feel like it is just agent generated.

I don't completely agree, but it wouldn't surprise me if he was playing with "light pockets and a heavy heart" as Deion Sanders says on NFLN. But when you have several Superbowl appearences and MVP trophies, you have the right to get what you want. I think the Niners should show Kurt the Money! 2 years of Warner would be just what I need to get my fix and then they can go back to purgatory. If they play their cards right(no pun intended), they can get the other QB's on their roster some much needed Hall of Fame advice.

Ender-the Jesus remark was simply tasteless!!!

Retire, retire, retire.

:D

Look do we have any receiver half as good as boldin or fitzgerald??? do we have a good strong O-line?? Do we even have a offensive coordinator that suits warner style???? Warner is a great player and im sure he would help our young players and provisde great leadership...but if any of you think warner is going to turn this franchise around and take us 2 a super all of you are smoken crack rocks cause it aint gonna happen!!! Atleast with the moves they have made so far i dont see any improvements at any of the positions we need...

Forget Tebow, we will not make it as an NFL QB. If McCloughan has not already done so, he needs to make a call to Pioli and see if he will take a 3rd or 4th round pick for Tyler Thigpen.

The interest from US is real, no question.

But you make a valid comment about Warner. I don't know if that's true or not, but I'll tell you what...

If I'm the Niners and Warner ends up geting into talks with a third team -- I pull the offer and slam the door, because he OBVIOUSLY isn't interested in being here.

Good to see you finally got that caps-lock key fixed..

http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers/2009/03/warner-lowers-his-demand-to-cardinals.html#comment-17915

I concur John-Ender's remark abot Jesus bleeding Red and Gold was particularly offensive...simply tasteless!

Yeah i took them off...

Thigpen ain't happening either. They are making a push for Warner because he is a big upgrade over Hill and Smith. Thigpen is not as significant of an upgrade in their minds. Jeff Garcia would be an upgrade, but they don't think so. If they don't think Garcia is an upgrade, they won't think Thigpin is either. They will draft a QB if the Warner thing falls through. It will either be, break the bank on a HOF QB(Warner), or add depth with a mouth breather(Gradkowski). No inbetween(I think?)

Matt, do you think Warner will actually have a contract with Arizona today or will he just drop the 49ers off of the list because he doesn't really want to go anywhere?

Dude. It's real simple. Obviously, the Niner receivers aren't as good as the Cards. The line, that's a different story. The Cards line is average, at best. They've gotten better coaching (from Russ Grimm) the past two years and Warner has done a real good job of getting rid of the ball quickly (to avoid sacks). I live in Phoenix. I know all about the O-Line there. It's long been one of the biggest weaknesses on that team since they moved to the desert.

The Cards had the worst running attack last year (and now have almost nobody to run the ball). The Niners have Frank Gore. Anybody that doesn't think that an effective running attack doesn't help the passing game doesn't understand football.

Would Warner signing with the 49ers turn that offense in into the Cardinal offense? No. Would it make it a lot better? Absolutely.

Look at the 86 Giants SB XXI win over Denver. Phil Simms under center on a ball control team coached by Bill Parcells. Simms set a SB record by going 22-25 (88%).

Please tell me about all the great WR"s on that SB winning Giants team?

Signing Warner hurts us because it takes 24 MILLION dollars from our cap space over the next two years, and adds 24 million dollars to Arizona's cap space. During the next two years the 49ers can use that money to help rebuild the team into a real, multi-year franchise (like New England, a franchise that spends very cautiously). Spending that money now is, POSSIBLY, a short term trip to the first round of the playoffs and then, the 49ers are back to looking for a young QB. In the mean time, they have to change any scheme or"vision" they had to accommodate a short term QB, that will put fans in the seats. It's about money and image.
The whole idea is just another blunder by an inept management team that's hungry to make a slash and keep their jobs another year or two, til they sneak out of town to move the team to L.A.

South Carolina's Chris Smelley will be in the draft this year. Think the 49ers could draft a Smelley? Oh wait, they already did that with Alex. LOL.

I just don't see the Warners wanting to uproot their 7 kids and move to the Bay Area. That's a big move. Huge adjustment. They already tried the NYC life and didn't like it. He's a midwesterner and feels better somewhere in the heartland.

Hello Matt! Do you think the 9ers are offering the 19mill guaranteed Kurt is asking of the Cardinals? That's a lot to commit to a grey beard over 2 years but I say take a shot!

Holy hell I'm sick of hearing "We don't have Fitz and Boldin" and that type of nonsense...

THE NINERS DON'T EXPECT HIM TO THROW FOR 4,000 YARDS AND 30 TDs.

They expect him to be better than anyone we have on the team right now, period.

And while Singletary might want to be run-dominant, there will be plenty of games where we're behind, or the run isn't working and will need to fall back on our QB (think Collins or Roethlisberger.)

People discounting Warner over our talent, or our OC, or our philosophy are really missing the point.

Question: do you think Warner will actually have a contract with Arizona today or will he just drop the 49ers off of the list because he doesn't really want to go anywhere?

My response: We should know in a matter of hours where Warner will play football in 2009. It's either going to be Arizona or San Fran. The onus is on the Cardinals to get it done. They are still the overwhelming favorites to sign Warner, but the 49ers are hanging around as Option No. 2. --Matt M.

Next year is uncapped. It makes us instant NFC West winners. This team has been terrible for a long time for niner fan standards. The Yorks have destroyed this franchise. We've been crying about them long enough. I'll always be a fan no matter what, but I'm all for winning now. That is todays NFL. That is todays 49ers. I know Singletary has a vision, but we all know how impatient we've become. Sing knows he won't be here long enough to carry out his vision if he doesn't address the QB situation. The Colts, Steelers and Pats are the exception. We are not a very good team anymore. The Yorks don't want to bring in a front office genius. If this is the best I can hope for, then sign me up. Give us a possibility for a year or two. I'm not going to blow up if it turns out the way the Favre thing did last year. I will be happy to know that Jed is serious about his promise of January football, or at least the pursuit of January football.

I just can't imagine the 49ers having a real shot because I don't believe that Arizona will screw things up so bad that Warner will decide to leave. He is giving Arizona every opportunity and then some to sign him.

Option 2 or Option 3? Where does retirement fit in?

I wholeheartedly agree with you , my friend. Well said.

Unfortunately, you hit on a KEY point. Patience. I know it's hard but look at the Steelers. The most patient team in football. Three coaches in 40 something years.

The Niners have the right HC in MS. Now, draft well. Coach well. Play well. Manage the cap well and so on and so forth.

Do that and you almost can't help but succeed. Maybe not to the degree of days gone by with Walsh and Company, but it would be a HUGE improvement over what's been happening lately.

Yeah you have some very good points GeoMak...but our defense is no where close to that Giants defense with lawrence taylor and carl banks, we can go back and forth but i just feel like warner is not the answer for the 49ers.

sandip FTW. Retire, Kurt.

This is way off-topic, sorry. I was wondering if anyone remembers a very obscure play back in the late 80s or early 90s. Joe Montana throws an interception on a long ball. The defender returns the pick and John Taylor, running full-speed, literally strips the defender of the ball and without breaking stride runs 30-50 yards back the other way for a TD. I've been searching for a video clip of this for several months. If anyone remembers this, and knows where I can find the video, a million thanks in advance.

Guys, Guys. I've bled gold and red since I was 8yrs old. I've been a patient and dedicated 49er fan since our teams decline starting in 04'. Honestly, signing Kurt Warner would be a blessing for a few different reasons. One, we would get an instant upgrade at the QB position. Two, think of what this would do for Franks running game having a known threat at the healm throwing the ball. Third, we should draft a QB this year and let him learn from Kurt on what it takes and hand the team over at that time. I do very much like Shaun Hill, however he just doesn't seem to be a Super Bowl caliper QB. And i've been watching this team since the Joe Montana days. He actually reminds me of a little upgrade from Tim Rattay. Hate to say it, but its true. If Kurt signs with us, we should automatically be picked to win the west division this year. We have a pretty solid team with the exception of a few positions. QB being one of them. I don't understand why we have all these Kurt haters when everyone knows he killed us last year and it would be great to have him on our side of the ball this year. Just my thoughts :) GO NINERS

49er fan 4 life

John Taylor was so much the man.

Question: Option 2 or Option 3? Where does retirement fit in?

My response: Retirement has to be Option 3. It pays a lot less. --Matt M.

Just sign Jeff Garcia and lets roll to the playoffs. Come on 9ers he would be perfect for this new run first offense. Jeff Garcia has taken 2 differnt teams to the playoffs in the last 3 years. He has heart, big heart! Let Smith, Hill and Garcia battle it out for starter.

Again, Patience isn't going to happen. I'm with you, but they need to at least get this jump started. Why couldn't they still plan for the future with Warner for two years? I bet Lienart is a much better option for the Cards now than he was two+ years ago. Why couldn't we use Kurt Warner as a band-aid for now. I love Shaun Hill as much as everyone else, but he isn't the future. WE ARE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR THE FUTURE QB REGARDLESS OF WETHER IT IS WARNER OR HILL OR SMITH STARTING FOR US NEXT YEAR. Might as well have the best while we carry out the plan.

Retirement is NOT happening.

Clearly he wants to play and you don't walk away when $23M-$30M is sitting on the table.

Like Matt said, it will be the Cards or us.

Yes--Warner wants to play.

Side trip (I just caught up on the day's comments):

Maybe some of the other Christians on this blog could lighten up a bit. Or even learn to laugh. Having a spiritual side doesn't mean you have to turn into a prune, and when a coach wears a crucifix around his neck on the sideline, you better be ready for some Jesus jokes. If you are not secure enough in your faith to handle them, maybe you could go to work on your faith--not on the rest of us.

OK First off I do not think Kurt Retires. Lets not stray from the fact that this is about money. If it wasn't he would've accepted ARI first contract. Since it is about money he wont retire and take $00,000,000 next year.

As for those who say "Warner is no good for our type of offense" come on. With Hill's arm (and I do respect Hill since he has done quite a bit for us) and our new run run run philosophy, defenses have more options of playing guys up to protect against the run. They know there is only so far Hill can throw with certainty and since his long ball has a tendency to float that gives them more time to adjust to a long pass. With a Warner they can't "cheat up" on us Not only that but now we signed another speedy guy who can add to this WR threat. Just the possibility of being burned can cause the running game to be a juggernaut.

Amen.

OK, Kurt Warner is not going to be our "saviour". If we sign him, he will upgrade our passing game. As noted by several, we don't have the WRs that he would be leaving in Arizona. But he does have a quicker release that Alex Smith and a stronger arm than Shaun Hill. He also has experience that neither can match. They might learn something from him.

But more importantly, what does this all do to the Cardinals as a team. First of all, he went public with his offer. Then he offered a better deal if they rewrite Boldin's contract. That has got to be seen as a negative by the team. At minimum, it says that he's willing to try to use the fans to influence team decisions. At worst, it can be seen as interfering with their ability to deal with contracts on their own terms. How the Cardinals deal with it can have a big impact on how management is viewed in the locker room.

This could get interesting even after he makes his decision.

Warner has poked the cards where it hurts--both dollars and public image by calling them out on Boldin. I really think he could get fed up enough to walk if they don't roll over.

You misunderstood. I am TOTALLY on board with Warner. I just referenced patience as a philosophy going forward.

I know that some people there, if the Niners lose the first game of the season, will be screaming for a new HC.

That's all I meant.

Ima give singletary this season lets see what he does i think hes a great modivator and leader...but if we go 4-12 who in here would be wanting a new head coach???I would!

Jimmy Johnson went 1-15 his first year. A few years later it was Super Bowl City!

PATIENCE!!!!!!!!!!

Shanahan or Gruden please.

I understand that whether an "offer" was made could be a matter of semantics to some, but Kurt Warner's agent is a lawyer. To a lawyer, the word "offer" has a very precise meaning. It is an expression of terms that would cause a reasonable person to believe they have the power to accept those terms, thereby creating a contract. Either the 9ers made an offer or they didn't. I, for one, am very interested in what the 9ers said to Warner.

Ah, I see. I did misinterpret. Thanks for clearing that up.

Yeah ur right he also got 8 picks for hershell walker lol...and made all 8 into significant players on his team...he also won a national championship as a coach and made great transaction....i dont think singletary is as good a talent evaluator as jimmy johnson...i have been pacient since we got rid of ericson and what have we done??

Matt,
I read the article on cnnsi today by Jim Trotter. He essentially paints the 49ers front office as a lost ship, adrift on the seas to nowhere. That is extremely disappointing. Seriously, it feels as if there is some truth to that sentiment, with the entire Warner debacle playing out in so many bizarre ways. My question to you--since you are around the execs--seems obvious: do these people really have a long-term plan? It really does seem as if they are cavalier about personnel, given whatever interesting circumstances may pop up.

I don't think Warner would help, but we already have some decent QB, instead of going out of Warner, we could sign some players in some more needed spots; such as right tackle or left tackle, pass rusher, free safety, wide receivers and etc. As good as we can get Warner, we could get a QB in the draft too.

Warner signs!

http://www.azcardinals.com/news/detail.php?PRKey=2924