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Sorry Arizona Cardinals fans, Kurt Warner is not walking through the proverbial door to save the team.

"I could not do anything for you; I've been sitting on the couch doing nothing for three years," Warner told ESPN Radio's Mike & Mike Friday. "Although people remember me on the football field I know I couldn't do any of that right now."

Warner, who now works as an analyst for the NFL Network, threw for 8,336 yards and 56 touchdowns over his final two years with the Cardinals. He led the Cardinals to a pair of NFC West titles as well as Super Bowl XLIII in his final two seasons as a player.

He retired in January of 2010, though, and the team has struggled mightily to replace him ever since.

Matt Leinart, Derek Anderson, Max Hall, Rich Bartel, John Skelton, Kevin Kolb and Ryan Lindley have all gotten an opportunity to be "the guy", but none have succeeded in the role.

Arizona's failed quest to find a quarterback has led to struggles on the field. The Cardinals, who went 24-18 with Warner as a starter under head coach Ken Whisenhunt, boasted one of the NFL's best offenses with him under center. Since he's left the team, the Cardinals have gone just 17-26.

"That's why it's so difficult to replace top quarterbacks when you expect a certain type of play," Warner said. "We've seen it around the league, when Hall of Fame quarterbacks leave it's very difficult to find that next guy.

"I think one of the reasons is because the expectation is always so high."

The team's struggles to replace Warner underscore the challenge a team has in finding a quality passer. The Cardinals have added options through free agency, the draft and trade, but have yet to find an answer.

"It's a very, very difficult position to gauge before you see somebody behind center in a football game," he said. "You can take a guy in a practice or you can evaluate a guy going into the draft and think you're getting something, and when you put him behind center and put him in some different situations they react completely different than what you expected."

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    AZSPORTFAN wrote...
    Keep Kolb
    There is no one who looks like a great QB this year. This is one of the worst QB drafts in recent history. Geno Smith, Matt Barkely, Aaron Murray, no one is even close to being impressive. Build the O-line with draft picks, pick up another running back and work with Kolb. Kolb's play this year was better than most think and his ability to change the play at the LOS and his progressions of putting the ball where it can be caught is proof enough that he is more than capable of being the Cardinals starting QB.
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    theuglytruth wrote...
    Graves
    Rod Graves is a big part of the problem. He has been a GM since 2003 and has yet to solve the QB or Offensive line problem. KW was a "stop gap" until ML was ready to play, not a key move by Graves...he got lucky. Graves highest priority of all his responsibilities is to acquire talent! He manages the scouts...coaches DO NOT SCOUT nor to they manage scouts, coaches do not go to college games or pick the players to scout...scouts do that ultimately under the direction of Rod Graves. It's been 9-10 years of Graves as GM...we've seen enough.
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    FitzIsMyHero wrote...
    @ AZSPORTSFAN
    What say you about Kolb's injury proneness?? Bcuz its easy to say "stay with Kolb", but, those of us who actually acknowledge the concern about his injuries, arent so sure that drafting a O Lineman with our 1st rd pick is the right way to go. Have you thought about the time it will take for a young lineman out of college to adjust to the NFL? The defensive ends from STL, SEA, and SF will be licking their chops. R u willing to allow a rookie Tackle time to adjust while ur injury prone QB takes hits from our divisions defensive ends and OLB's 6x's a year? NFC West Defenses arent a joke nemore.
  • Abuse
    FitzIsMyHero wrote...
    @ AZSPORTSFAN 2
    My opinion is to bring in veteran O linemen. Not over the hill linemen like Snyder, but good veteran linemen. Guys with experience that can step in and help right away. Because, you said it urself, the line is holding this team back. Everyone is ready to go now. Its gna suck to have to wait on a rookie's development in the most crucial and problematic position on our football team. They need to draft a QB in the 1st rd this year. There wont be any good QBs in FA that will want to play with the Cards bcuz of the O Line situation. Therefore, you need to draft one and force him to come here.
  • Abuse
    AZSPORTFAN wrote...
    FitzIsMyHero
    It could go both ways.... Wait for a QB to develope or wait for a young O-line to develope. First of all I don't see a QB in the draft this year worth taking a chance on in the 1st rd. Another thing is why bring in a veteran o-lineman for big bucks when we can possibly draft a top one or two this year. The o-line has been doing alot better and with the draft and Levi coming back I believe we will be set. I get tired of everyone saying Kolb is injury prone. His injuries are due to being sacked at a record breaking pace.
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    AZSPORTFAN wrote...
    FitzIsMyHero 2
    I believe he is still among the top 10 or maybe top 15 most sacked this year and he hasn't even played in the last 9 games. Kolb also has a passer rating better than Philip Rivers, Andrew Luck, Jay Cutler, Sam Bradford, Matthew Stafford, Ryan Tannehill and even Eli Manning at this point. When Kolb isn't being rushed he's precise with his throws and his ability to change the play at the LOS is unreal. Look at Tom Brady.... He's unreal until they start pressurring him...... Then he's just another average QB.
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    AZSPORTFAN wrote...
    FitzIsMyHero 3
    This goes for all QB's Why do you think Peyton didn't come here? He knew he wouldn't make it through the year. Everyone wanted Skelton last year and they got what they wanted. If the AZ Cardinals let Kolb go it will be a huge mistake. They need to build the O-line and work with Kolb as the STARTER without the back and forth BS and I bet we will be in the playoffs next year.......... Maybe even the SB.
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    mesa mad man wrote...
    Kolb
    I still think he could be the answer. Everyone sites his injury proneness, but if he wasnt getting sacked as much dont you think he has a chance at staying healthy? How many hits did he take without getting hurt this year? Its not like hes really made of glass, i think he got unlucky a few times getting hit awkwardly and then got destroyed this season. also, a good tackle doesnt necessarily need time to adjust. Sure, Massie did, but matt kalil seemed to hold his own alright. if theres a talent like him available, youd have to take him.
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    BLUWATR wrote...
    Warner
    Of all people Warner should understand the Psyche of a QB an how much confidence it takes to play. The best of them make mistakes and if you have to worry about being benched it does affect your play. It also takes time to develop a QB. Whiz in my opinion has done a terrible job working with our QB's. Kolb was a mess last year and thru preseason. Skelton is playing tight and so is Lindley. YOu can't be afraid of failure and the consequences when you are playing QB.
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    FitzIsMyHero wrote...
    The line is playing good enuf
    to where someone Warner played good enough. We're not missing a line as much as we're missing a QB.
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