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Kurt Warner joked during his retirement news conference that Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt wanted to run the ball every play with three tight ends and two running backs.

Warner was using exaggeration to laud Whisenhunt's flexibility.

Now that Warner is finished, though, we should expect the Cardinals' offense to become more run-oriented.

Matt Leinart will start at quarterback unless the Cardinals sign a free-agent veteran to compete for the job. Leinart was the player Arizona envisioned as its starter when Whisenhunt arrived as head coach for the 2007 season. The team was assembling personnel as though Leinart would be leading an offense with a power running game. Tackle Levi Brown, drafted fifth overall in 2007, lined up on the right side in part to protect the left-handed Leinart's blind side.

The plan changed when Warner emerged as the starter right before the 2008 season.

While Whisenhunt changed the offense to suit Warner's strengths as a shotgun passer, the Cardinals have continued adding personnel with the longer-range future in mind. Beanie Wells, chosen 31st overall in 2009, gave the Cardinals a big, physical running back to pair with Tim Hightower. Tackle Herman Johnson, a promising fifth-round choice in 2009, also fit the power mold.

Whisenhunt and the offensive staff generally did a good job blending those power elements into a pass-oriented offense.

Arizona still has the wide receivers in place to spread the field and pass the ball frequently. Anquan Boldin is entering the final year of his contract, though, and the team could trade him. Leinart isn't nearly as adept as Warner at anticipating throws and throwing accurately against pressure.

Whisenhunt and the coaching staff deserve credit for getting the most from Warner. They named him the starter in 2008 only after Warner demonstrated he would not be so careless with the football. In retrospect, naming Warner the starter unconditionally would have been a mistake. Warner learned to adapt his freewheeling, Mike Martz-inspired mindset to an offense with more conventional philosophical roots.

The next coaching challenge for Arizona becomes finding a way to get the most from Leinart. Leinart has talent. The Cardinals won three of his final four rookie starts in 2006, with Leinart posting passer ratings of 100.3, 89.3 and 137.3 in those games. Leinart completed 23 of 37 passes for 299 yards, one touchdown and one interception during a 23-20 victory over the Seahawks in Week 2 of the 2007 season.

Injury wrecked Leinart's 2007 season. Warner took over and threw more touchdown passes than any NFL player, even Tom Brady, during the second half of that season.

Leinart has started only one of the Cardinals' past 43 regular-season games. He didn't look good in relief this past season.

Warner's retirement dramatically lowers outside expectations for the Cardinals. The 49ers will emerge as favorites among some, but as Warner pointed out during his retirement news conference, perceptions aren't always correct.

Leinart is no Warner, yet I'm not sure the Cardinals would trade him for any other quarterback in the division, either.

Rams owner Chip Rosenbloom released the following statement following Kurt Warner's retirement announcement:

"Kurt Warner epitomizes the finest qualities that can be attributed to any athlete. He is a gentleman, competitor and, most of all, a winner whose achievements and contributions go far beyond the field of play. Kurt is one of the most compelling success stories in the history of sports. His well chronicled journey included two NFL MVP awards, a Super Bowl Championship and countless honors for his philanthropy. In a time when many shun the label of role model, Kurt embraced it and exemplified it. He is a man of our time and for our time. We all learned great lessons from Kurt's humility, dignity and grace. We will forever be thankful for the success he brought us and the unparalleled generosity he has shown the St. Louis community and beyond. On behalf of my sister, Lucia, our partner, Stan Kroenke, and the entire Rams organization, I want to wish Kurt, Brenda and their beautiful family the very best as they move ahead with their lives. We are honored and privileged to have Kurt as a treasured member of the Rams' alumni family."

Warner took time during his announcement news conference to thank the Packers, Rams and Cardinals for giving him a chance.

Kurt Warner leaves the Arizona Cardinals following their first 10-win season since the 1970s.

He leaves at the peak of his powers, on his terms, health apparently intact, less than three weeks after throwing five touchdown passes in a playoff game.

Warner will go down in NFL history as the owner of a remarkable legacy, having gone from supermarket shelf-stocker to the leading figure in the restoration of two inept franchises. It's an upset if Warner doesn't land in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

"It's been an amazing ride," Warner said at his retirement news conference Friday. "I don't think I could have dreamed that it would play out the way it has."

Warner retires with two league MVP awards, one Super Bowl MVP award, four Pro Bowls, a Super Bowl title and a legacy that extends far beyond the field.

"I want people to remember that anything is possible," Warner said.

Hey, if the Rams and Cardinals could become Super Bowl teams and an undrafted quarterback from Northern Iowa could lead them there ...

"Wow, man," Warner's former Rams teammate, Aeneas Williams, said Friday morning. "I don’t know how to put in words having an individual be a part of historically changing the fortunes of two franchises. But when I think of Kurt, I can’t think of any other player that has the potential to impact you just as much off the field as they do on the field. His philanthropy and what he does in community, to be able to say that it is parallel to what he does on the field, I believe is a rarity."

Williams, three years older than Warner, had six Pro Bowls on his NFL résumé when the Cardinals traded him to the Rams. It wasn't long before Williams, himself a legitimate Hall of Fame candidate, came to view Warner as a mentor. He also quickly came to view Warner as a great quarterback.

"When I was traded here (to the Rams), our first practice, and I’ll never forget this, we’re playing the Cover 2 defense in practice and I am the rollup corner, so my coverage area would be the flat and I would also have to alter if they ran a deep corner route behind me," Williams said. "Prior to me coming here, I could tell whether quarterbacks were throwing in the flat or throwing behind me. I can remember the first day of practice and it took me a little while to realize, I could not tell and it was very difficult to stop the route behind me because I had no idea initially of seeing any distinction of the level of his shoulders. Typically, when a ball is thrown deeper, the quarterback's shoulders are tilted. With Kurt, that wasn’t the case. That was when I began understanding the difference between the average and great quarterbacks."

Warner clearly could have played at least one more season at a high level.

The hit he took against the Rams in St. Louis left Warner with a concussion and another reminder that the timing for retirement might be right.

"I won't say that was a determining factor," Warner said. "But all those things go into it."

Warner expects to spend more time with his family, get more involved in Christian ministry efforts and find a way to remain involved in football as well.

It was clear in listening to him Friday that Warner was at peace with this decision, and that the decision had been a long time in the making. I highly doubt he would ever consider returning.

"There is something to be said for being able to leave on your terms and playing at the level that you want to play at," Warner said.

ESPNEWS plans to carry the Kurt Warner news conference live at 3 p.m. ET.

I'll be blogging analysis here as events unfold.

The Cardinals recently sent out a news release announcing Kurt Warner's scheduled appearance at a Friday news conference.

The news release doesn't mention anything about what Warner will address.

It's a given that Warner will address his future and likely he'll announce his retirement.

Now that Kurt Warner is expected to retire, the 49ers can proceed with plans to win the division and march toward Super Bowl 45 in Arlington, Texas.

It's a foregone conclusion, right?

I'm having some fun with this angle, but let's face it. This becomes the No. 1 debate on the NFC West blog the minute Warner makes his retirement official. Seahawks and Rams fans have to like their chances more as well, but the 49ers appear closest to overtaking Arizona for the division title.

The 49ers swept the Cardinals last season and that was with Warner under center for Arizona. They were 8-8, pushing Minnesota and Indianapolis to the brink, both on the road.

As I wrote during the season, "This division is the Cardinals' to lose until the minute Warner walks away."

Who wins the division in 2010 if Warner isn't playing?

I can't imagine Kurt Warner calling a news conference to announce plans to continue playing.


That's why Adam Schefter's report about a news conference scheduled for Friday supports the idea that Warner will likely retire, however illogical that might seem for some.

The Cardinals haven't announced anything publicly. And until Warner says something, he could always change his mind. But if he does follow through with a news conference Friday, the only surprise would be if he announced plans to fulfill the two-year contract he signed before last season.

The vicious hit Kurt Warner took Saturday from the Saints' Bobby McCray left Arizona's 38-year-old quarterback gasping for air.

Television close-ups showed Warner on his back, eyes glassy, the expression on his face revealing the sort of primal fear a wounded animal might exhibit.

Surely this would be the hit that pushed Warner over the edge and into retirement. The Cardinals' veteran quarterback only reinforced that seemingly logical conclusion during a recent interview with ESPN's Rick Reilly. The resulting piece takes readers inside Warner's thought process as the quarterback wrestles with a decision that will affect the 2010 NFC West race like no other this offseason.

Not many quarterbacks have been in Warner's position. Precedent is scarce.

Only six others in NFL history have thrown at least 20 touchdown passes in a season at age 38 (Warner threw 26 this season). As Warner contemplates whether it's time to walk away, he should know that only two players -- Brett Favre and Hall of Famer Warren Moon -- have thrown 20 or more scoring passes in a season at age 39 or older (Favre and Moon each did it twice).

The more one weighs the evidence, the more likely retirement seems, right?

"Not at all," Moon predicted during a phone conversation Tuesday. "In a month he'll be healed up and ready to go again."

There will be some drama, of course, as Warner works through the emotions most older players feel after a rigorous season extended by the playoffs. The Cardinals will cross their fingers and hope Warner comes back. The rest of the NFC West will hope for a quick and permanent retirement.

And it's always possible Warner will walk away.

But Moon, 53, can't envision Warner retiring unless a medical issue prevents the quarterback from playing or Warner simply loses his fire for the game. Moon points to Derrick Mason last offseason and Ed Reed this offseason as older players feeling what older players often feel for moments that are ultimately fleeting.

"If you polled guys over 30 or 32 years old in the league, I guarantee 60 or 70 percent are considering retiring when the season is over," Moon said. "Ask those same guys in March and that would drop to maybe 10 percent."

Moon played 17 NFL seasons after a six-year run in the CFL. In 1995, a 39-year-old Moon tossed 33 touchdown passes for the Vikings. No quarterback had thrown so many scoring passes at that age until Favre matched that total at age 40 this season.

"What is so impressive about Brett Favre is the way he moves and buys time," Moon said. "Did you see that play Sunday where he moves out of the pocket, gives a ball fake, double-pumps and throws the touchdown? You just don't do those things at 40 years old. His legs are still so live in the pocket. As long as you can move, you can play. Your knowledge is so keen at this stage."

Warner has never had the mobility that helps Favre improvise so well, but he's been in the Cardinals' offense long enough to make it second nature. And his legs were good enough for Warner to play his finest game of the year -- arguably his finest game as a Cardinal -- 19 weeks into the season. Warner completed 29 of 33 passes for 379 yards and five touchdowns in the wild-card round.

"Legs have never been one of his assets as far as movement," Moon said, "but he is on his toes, he knows how to bounce to one side, set his feet and reset. He doesn't need to run out of the pocket, but he does need to have that bounce in his legs and he still has that, too."

Favre's stretch-run troubles with the Jets last season stemmed at least in part from a torn biceps. The Jets were 8-3 and coming off a dominating performance at previously 10-1 Tennessee when Favre's game deteriorated. Warner's arm appears fine. He told Reilly he was as sore this week as he could remember feeling, but the soreness will eventually subside. Warner has shown he can still make whatever throws the Cardinals need him to make.

As training regimens continue to improve, more quarterbacks should remain productive into their late 30s and beyond.

"As I said many times during Brett Favre's back and forth, as long as you can still play the game, you play it," Moon said. "If you can and if you want to, play it. Once it is taken away, once that ability leaves, it is not coming back. It goes and it goes fast. Take advantage of every year you can get out of this thing because you will miss it no matter how long you have played it."

Three of four NFC West teams changed head coaches from 2008 to 2009.

Three of the four division teams could begin the 2010 season with starting quarterbacks different from the ones they had to open 2009.

So much for continuity.

We know the 49ers' opening-day starter for 2009, Shaun Hill, will not open next season as the starter unless something drastic happens. We can be pretty sure the Rams will not open the 2010 season with Marc Bulger under center (his scheduled salary of $8.5 million appears prohibitive). And it's possible the Cardinals will have a new quarterback, pending Kurt Warner's decision on retirement.

That makes the NFC West much tougher to forecast nine months before the season.

Rams fan Nicholas writes via Facebook: All Cardinals fans better appreciate the kind of player and person Kurt Warner is, because you will sorely miss him when he is gone.

Mike Sando: Amen to that, Nicholas. It's tough to call Warner unappreciated when he's earning more than $10 million a year, but it's also difficult to believe he wasn't even the starter heading into the 2008 exhibition season.

The rest of the NFC West appreciates Warner. This division is the Cardinals' to lose until the minute Warner walks away.

I've thought Warner would probably return in 2010 because it's tough to walk away from such a good thing. Warner spoke in terms of a two-year commitment upon signing his current deal in March 2009. A reporter had asked Warner about the free-agent visit Warner paid to the 49ers. Mike Singletary had been speaking to Warner about his vision for the 49ers when Warner realized he had the same hopes for the Cardinals.

"It was God basically telling me, 'That is exactly what I want you to do in Arizona,'" Warner said then. "Try to continue to impact that organization the same way that Coach Singletary was talking about impacting the 49ers. That is what I want to do is help impact this organization way beyond the football field. I am excited to have two more years to try and do that."

Two more years being 2009 and 2010.

Warner will never have another opportunity like the one that awaits next season. Once he's out of the game for a year, he'll be too far gone to reconsider his decision. This is probably the only time for the rest of his life that he'll have one good season left.

What would Michael Jordan give to average 30 points per game for one more season?

I think Warner would have a hard time sitting home during the 2010 season while the Cardinals struggled and he still had something left to offer. Not that the rest of the division would mind.

NEW ORLEANS -- Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner appeared finished when Saints defensive end Bobby McCray blasted him during an interception return Saturday.

I wondered if it would be the last play of his career.

It wasn't even his last play of the game. Warner avoided serious injury, returned to the game and seemed in relatively good spirits afterward.

Warner reported soreness in his ribs and chest after taking the hit from McCray during the second quarter of a 45-14 defeat to the Saints. The soreness made breathing uncomfortable. He laughed when a reporter asked whether a hit like that might influence his thoughts on retirement.

"A big hit like that makes you think twice about playing this game," Warner said lightly.

Warner said he plans to get away for a while and talk over his future with wife Brenda. He has one year remaining on his contract.

"I don't think it will be a long and drawn-out process," Warner said. "I think it's something I will discuss with my family and inform the organization about what I plan to do as soon as I have time to think about it."

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Green Bay Packers didn't know whether to blitz Kurt Warner or sit back and cover his receivers.

Not that it mattered.

That's what made the latest round of Warner retirement talk seem so utterly ridiculous Sunday.

Warner, retire?

The NFL should retire Warner's lucky No. 13 jersey after the 38-year-old legend completed 29 of 33 passes for 379 yards and five touchdowns during the Arizona Cardinals' 51-45 victory in one of the league's greatest games.

"Kurt Warner was lights out," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said.

Warner took a victory lap around University of Phoenix Stadium after Karlos Dansby's overtime touchdown ended the game. Warner waved goodbye to fans, then noted that it was his final home game of the season -- not necessarily of his career. The Cardinals can't play another home game this season even if they beat New Orleans in the NFC divisional round.

"Everybody, relax," Warner said.

Relax for another week, anyway. A trip to New Orleans awaits, and if the Cardinals lose, that could be the end for the only quarterback besides Peyton Manning and Joe Montana with six 300-yard passing games in the playoffs.

"I never want to make an emotional decision," Warner said. "I think it's easy to do, whether it's after a game like this to say, 'Ah, gosh, I'm going to play forever,' or after a bad game just say, 'Ah, I'm done.' "

Forever looked like the favorite Sunday.

Warner, facing a Green Bay defense that ranked among the NFL's top five in multiple categories, finished with more touchdown strikes than incomplete passes. He made Early Doucet look like Anquan Boldin. Playing often with rookies in the backfield and the untested Doucet subbing for the injured Boldin, Warner proved he could win a playoff shootout without having multiple future Hall of Famers for a supporting cast.

The Cardinals led 14-0 before Fitzgerald caught a pass. Steve Breaston finished with seven receptions for 125 yards and a TD. Doucet caught six passes for 77 yards and two scores. Fitzgerald overcame the slow start to catch six for 82 and two TDs.

"What more is there to say about Kurt?" Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said.

Let Fitzgerald answer that one.

"When Kurt is playing at that kind of level, seeing the field and being able to diagnose what the defense is doing to him, getting the ball out of his hands so quick, he's hard to deal with," the receiver said. "He's a special player, Hall of Fame-caliber."

The case against Warner for Canton always hinged on the fact that Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce were on his side, or that Fitzgerald and Boldin were on the other end of his passes. Warner was the best player on the field Sunday, making zero mistakes. He finished with a 154.1 rating (158.3 is perfect).

Warner couldn't miss even when he tried. The pass Fitzgerald caught for an 11-yard touchdown came after Warner tried to throw away the ball while Packers defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins bore down on him. Jenkins roughed up Warner on the play, affecting the throw just enough to give Fitzgerald a chance.

Green Bay entered the game having limited opposing quarterbacks in the middle of the field, holding them to a 69.7 rating between the yard-line numbers, third-best in the league, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Warner completed 21 of 22 passes in this area -- that's 95.5 percent -- for 289 yards and five TDs.

Warner made the Packers pay on the outside as well. The fourth-quarter pass he arced over cornerback Tramon Williams for a 26-yard gain to Steve Breaston along the right sideline appeared indefensible. Warner's 17-yard touchdown strike to Breaston two plays later broke a 38-38 tie.

"He is one of the best playoff quarterbacks of all time," Whisenhunt said. "We thought going into today that would be an advantage for us."

The Packers' Aaron Rodgers was nearly as good, and better for stretches after overcoming a shaky start. But Warner was the only quarterback without a turnover.

Only Joe Montana, Brett Favre and Dan Marino have more postseason TD passes than Warner. No quarterback has averaged more yards per postseason game. Warner upped his career postseason passer rating to 104.6, second only to Bart Starr's 104.8. Montana ranks third at 95.6.

Warner, retire?

"We're not going there," Fitzgerald said. "Kurt's coming back. He's going to probably come back for another four or five years. That's the rumor around here. We're going to ride with that."

Expect Warner to come back unless the Cardinals win the Super Bowl. He's competitive and knows he could regret walking away too soon. He took some time to consider retirement last offseason, only to sign a two-year extension. At the time, he viewed the signing as a two-year commitment.

"I don't think you ever want to stay too long, but you never want to go out before it's time," Warner said. "The hard part is trying to figure that out, but right now it's about another playoff game. It's about New Orleans and then we'll go from there."

Warner's teams are 9-3 in playoff games.

Anyone care to bet against him next Saturday?

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- This isn't the first time Kurt Warner's NFL future has come into question.

Warner wrestles with the decision every offseason.

The likelihood of retirement increases with each season. The injury teammate Anquan Boldin suffered last season raised retirement thoughts in Warner's mind. The concussion Warner suffered against the Rams this season forced him to contemplate the risks associated with continuing to play.

I suspect Warner would have retired after last season if the Cardinals had won the Super Bowl.