CARDS QB WARNER ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT

From inauspicious beginnings in the Arena Football league and a stint as a grocery store shelf stocker, Kurt Warner became one of the most dominant NFL quarterbacks of the past decade.  On Friday, the two time NFL MVP announced his retirement at age 38 leaving on the table a two year option worth $23 million dollars from the Arizona Cardinals.  Warner also won a Superbowl with St. Louis in 1999 and was named the MVP of that game.

Warner’s career statistics suggest that he could potentially be inducted in the NFL Hall of Fame.  Of the 14 quarterbacks inducted into the Hall of Fame in the past twenty five years, none have a higher completion percentage than Warner and only Dan Marino has more 300 yard plus passing games.   Warner finished his career with a 65.5 percent completion percentage good for 32,344 yards and 208 touchdowns. He and Fran Tarkenton are the only quarterbacks to throw for 100 touchdowns and 14,000 yards for two teams.

In announcing his retirement, Warner was optimistic about the future:

"Obviously, it's been 12 unbelievable years, some of the best years of my life. But I want everybody to know that I'm just as excited about the next 12, that I'm excited about what lies in front of me. I'm excited about spending more time with my family, and seeing what God's going to do next."

His Cardinals’ teammate Darnell Dockett had these thoughts:

"He has had a dominant career. He's a good person. He's got to do what's best for his family. He played long enough. He took us to the Super Bowl last year. We had a great season this year. It's a good thing. If you're going to go out, go out on top."

St. Louis Rams’ owner Chip Rosenbloom had this statement:

"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.”

Warner is also considered one of the NFL’s best role models off the field as well. Along with his wife, he operates the First Things First Christian charitable foundation. Last year, he was named the NFL's Man of the Year for his off-field and on field accomplishments.