Warner mulls retirement

Before the regular season, Kurt Warner said he wanted to play out the three-year contract he had just signed with the Cardinals, and he thought he could play even longer. Now that he’s been sent to the bench in favor of rookie quarterback Matt Leinart, Warner acknowledged he’s considering retirement at the end of the season.

“How can you not?” Warner said Wednesday.

Since Warner has a manageable contract, the Cardinals have always thought he would make a good backup for Leinart heading into the next two seasons. But speaking to Sports Illustrated after Sunday’s loss to Kansas City, Warner said that may not work for him. “I really don’t know if I could be comfortable as a backup quarterback or if I’d go crazy in that role,” Warner said.

Warner also wondered if he would ever get a lasting chance to be a starter if he went to a different team, or if he would simply be in the same situation he has endured with the Giants (where he lost his job to Eli Manning) and the Cardinals.

That would only happen, however, if the Cardinals released him. And the Cards, with third-stringer John Navarre a restricted free agent at the end of the season, may not be willing to let go of a quality veteran backup. That would only leave the retirement option. Asked Wednesday about his one-time comments about playing far into the future, Warner said, “I feel great, I know I can still play.”

“But,” he added, “there become so many other factors.”

Warner declined to go into further details.