Kurt Warner announces retirement

As expected, Arizona Cardinals QB Kurt Warner announced his retirement from football today at a press conference. Saying he wanted “clarity,” Warner’s age certainly had the most to do with it. Getting knocked around in the playoffs by the Saints probably wasn’t very fun either.

“You always enjoy when you get between the lines on Sunday,” Warner said the day after the season ended. “That’ll never change. What gets harder is the preparation, the expectations, the pressure, physically when you aren’t healthy and having to manage your body. All that stuff takes away from the excitement and fun you have in the game.”

His teammates certainly don’t want to see him go anywhere.

“It’s his decision,” wide receiver Steve Breaston said. “I would live for him to come back but he’s been playing for a number of years. Family comes first, family is important and you have to understand that, especially with Kurt. It’s difficult to walk away from the game, but if you do it for your wife and kids, that’s understandable.

“But me being the selfish person I am, I want him around.”

Warner played for 12 years and accrued two MVP trophies, three Super Bowl appearances, a Super Bowl title and more than 32,000 passing yards. He was always at his best when surrounded by great weapons (Cards and Rams) and not so much when he was around crap (Giants).

It’s now Matt Leinart’s job to lose (if he hasn’t lost it already) and there is a chance that the Cardinals will be on the phone with new Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman to inquire about the availability of Donovan McNabb.