http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/sports/8470683.htm?1c Kurt Warner set to hit the open market NEW YORK - Kurt Warner spent the first part of his career looking for an NFL job. And after winning two MVPs and a Super Bowl MVP in his first three seasons as the Rams starter, he's looking for work again. On Monday, Warner was informed by Rams coach Mike Martz that he will be cut after June 1, his agent Mark Bartelstein told the New York Daily News. Bartelstein said the Rams had given Warner permission to contact other teams; the agent said he has started the process. An announcement from the Rams that they are parting ways with Warner could come as early as Tuesday. The Warner story is one of the most amazing in NFL history, not only that he came from nowhere - actually the Arena League - to throw for 4,353 yards and 41 TDs in leading the Rams to the Super Bowl title in 1999, but that his fall was just as quick and dramatic. Warner must now prove he wasn't just a shooting star. He must show he has something left, that he hasn't been so banged up over the years he no longer can be effective. "He's not the MVP anymore, but he's still good," one GM said Monday. "Looking at him last year, some say he is done. What is he now? There is a gray area with the guy. Where is he and what will you be willing to spend to find out?" So, where does he wind up? The Cowboys are looking for a veteran QB, but prefer Vinny Testaverde over Warner to compete with Quincy Carter until Drew Henson is ready. The Chargers have no interest in Warner. Perhaps the best fit might be with the 49ers, who cut Jeff Garcia and have Tim Rattay as their starter. Maybe it's a reunion with KC's Dick Vermeil backing up Trent Green, the same situation where it all started for him in St. Louis five years ago. "We're trying to find the right place and the right situation," Bartelstein said. "Kurt is in great shape, he's as healthy as can be and ready to have a terrific season." 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." Starting with the Super Bowl following the 2001 season, Warner lost his last eight starts for the Rams. He was 0-6 in 2002, limited by hand injuries. He started the season opener against the Giants last year. As it turned out, he suffered a concussion early in the game. He never came out and wound up fumbling six times. He clearly was not himself. Martz went to Marc Bulger the next week and Warner never got on the field again until throwing 11 passes in a backup role in the final game of the regular season. When Bulger, a restricted free agent, didn't come back with an offer sheet from another team by Friday's deadline, it ended any question that he wasn't Martz's starter. Martz recently signed veteran Chris Chandler as a backup and could take a quarterback early in the draft. Having Warner around moping as a backup was not going to work for anybody. "Kurt had a great career in St. Louis. He's still a young guy and he has great things ahead of him," Bartelstein said. "I think there will be a lot of interest. I'm going to talk to everybody and not assume anything and see what is the best situation. "He had great success with the Rams and great memories," Bartelstein went on. "Just leave it at that. One thing to be sure of is Kurt Warner is at his best when the bottom hits. His whole life has been that way " By waiting until after June 1 to cut him, the Rams split the salary cap charge over two years: $4.6 million this year and $6.7 million next year. He was counting $9.5 million this year, so the '04 savings is almost $5 million. Warner will be 33 in June. In quarterback years, he's still young. But now he must show he can still play. "He has more people saying he's done than feel good about him," the GM said. SHOOTING GALLERY: Multiple sources said Monday that Iowa LT Robert Gallery will be off the board by the second pick, whether the Raiders take him or make a trade. So, if the Giants stay put at No. 4, they will have to make a decision between QB Ben Roethlisberger, Texas WR Roy Williams and Miami S Sean Taylor. The Giants are trying to get to No. 1 for Eli Manning. If that fails, they are trying to get to No. 2 for Gallery. If all fails, don't be surprised if they take Roethlisberger at No. 4.
I am a Rams fan, that 99 season was just magical. I really wish Warner wouldn't have gotten injured... but I don't know if there's much left of him. The team needs to move forward... but I think overall the Rams window is closed... Now go Chiefs!
wow cool. So I grew up in mid-Missouri. Everyone likes the Chiefs there... some like the Rams too, not as much because they moved in recently. Why do you guys like the Chiefs? Just randomly?
I lived in Omaha from 5th grade until HS graduation. It was the closest pro team and when they got Montana in the 90's i jumped on the bandwagon and have been a diehard Chiefs fan from then on.
haha yeah... joe montana... i remember those days. also had marcus allen... too bad we had both when they were way off their peaks. although Montana took us to the conference finals... which is further than they've since gone. we lost to the bills, right?
why? raiders fan? i don't hate the raiders. maybe because in my childhood the raiders were never competitive enough to dash my dreams. only recently have they been good. who i hate are the broncos. I was actually a fan of the raiders. i really liked Jeff Hostedtler, and also Harvey Williams. Hard workers. Oh and the track team, Ismail, Jett, Brown... and someone else I don't remember.
Raiders fans are not welcome in this thread One of my best friends is a Raiders fan. The crap talking during the season is really fun.
Oop... I remember why I liked the raiders now. I had a Raiders sweatshirt when I was little. Couldn't afford a Chiefs one since we were poor, but the Raiders one was real cheap like 2 bucks or something haha... Oh man... serious flashback mode. Didn't Derek Thomas have 7 sacks against the Raiders once? Man what could have been.
Yes he did. It was against Jeff George. I had a raiders jacket when i was little and i feel bad about it
Up until a few seasons ago he should have had no crap to talk. I mean in my childhood neither of us were any good. But in the mid 90s the Chiefs dominated the AFC West. Plus the Chiefs are on the way up. Seriously though... isn't it funny how you become fans of a team and then it goes into your unconscious. Obviously I cheer for the Chiefs against the Raiders. But even that blizzard year I was cheering the Raiders against the Pats... and Boston's my adopted home.
The Raiders were still competative during the mid 90's even though they wernt always a playoff team. I pretty much hate them and will root against them in almost any situation but still somehow respect them.
Amen to that. Alexander Wright. Yeah that was the Raiders team I first remember watching as a kid, we had the 3 Jeff's Hoss the QB, then Jaeger and Gossett the Kickers. Then we drafted Nap Kaufman in the 1st round in 95, who was from my small little town of Lompoc CA. Derrick set the NFL record for sacks in a game but it wasn't against us. He did sack Jeff George 6 times in the 1998 Season Opener though. Great player, tragic what happened to him. Yeah I hated the Chiefs with a passion since you guys owned us from about 93 until 99 (I think it was just Marcus and his vendetta, not good karma) and It would take us lots of hours to name all the players that have been in Oakland and KC over the past few decades. I still remember Joe Nedney's kick at the end of the 1999 Season. tied 38-38, Chiefs Kicker missed like a 44 yarder at the end of regulation, then Nedney split the uprights to make sure we had a non-losing season and kick you guys out of the playoffs. I must admit I don't hate the chiefs as much as I used to. Priest Holmes is just amazing, and I really like watching him play, plus I don't want to make Dick break down and cry or anything I look forward to the upcoming NFL season, hopefully you guys will have some good takes, because I will be bringing it all season long.
Right! I remember that now. Man I'm really excited... haven't been able to talk about the Chiefs for a long time. I was actually a fan at the end of the Steve De Berg era, Dino Hackett, Dan Saleamua, J. J. Birden. Before that though I probably just moved to America and didn't know anything about sports. What I love to do is play Tecmo superbowl on emulator with the Chiefs. Blitz with Dino Hackett and run with Okoye... one time I got a 99-0, I think I still have the printout. I mean it's easy to do with the 49ers but tough when you didn't have Montana to Rice. anyway... blabble blabble...
haha... yeah I was struggling with the dates... but obviously it's much easier to remember when you're on the wrong end of getting owned. Man I wish the Chiefs would win it all but I think they're a few players away. Seriously the stars need to align for you to win a superbowl. That 2001 season... I mean the Raiders had it all and still lost. You're right lots of people go from KC to OAK and vice versa. One player I always liked was Rich Gannon... I always wanted him to start, but the people were enamored with Steve Bono and Elvis Grbac... jeez...
