Kurt Warner and his wife, Brenda
Kurt Warner resigned with the Arizona Cardinals for two years and $23 million after flirting with the San Francisco 49ers. His decision was made, Warner said, by a conversation he said he had with God:
“I told my wife probably 45 minutes into it that I just felt God say, ‘You’re supposed to be in Arizona.’ And I told her that. She tried to tell me to stay open [minded] but He just continued to confirm it and that’s why on the way back, I called [his agent] Mark [Bartelstein] and said, ‘Hey, let’s get this thing done.’ “
Warner did not say what percentage God takes for negotiations, but if he has a direct line to The Almighty, why does he need to pay Bartelstein? Warner’s constant public harping and promotion of his religion as the driving force in his life, while at the same time doing what we all do and chase top dollar, makes him the most insufferable athlete going (and the main reason and I thrilled the Steelers beat the Cardinals in the Super Bowl). Pro Football Talk nailed Warner’s hypocrisy during his protracted contract negotiations perfectly:
Warner supposedly was waiting for God to tell him to play for the Cardinals or retire. The issue of playing for another team only came up when Warner feared that the two-year, $20 million offer from the Cardinals might cause him to have feelings that fall squarely within the confines of one of the Seven Deadly Sins.
So here’s the question. If Warner’s ultimate motivation was driven in part by the possibility that he would be jealous of others making more than his multiple millions, would God really be all that concerned about aiding and abetting desires that are, at their very core, motivated by sinful objectives?
on Mar 5th, 2009 at 8:33 AM
So I guess God advised him to use the 49ers to halp leverage a deal out of the Cards. Would God have advised him to stay in Arizona if the offer was only, say, $5 mil a year?
on Mar 5th, 2009 at 8:42 AM
Freakin’ hypocrite….I wonder if “God” would have advised his minion to stay in Arizona if the offer was only $5 mil/yr…somehow I doubt it. So is God’s new slogan “Show Me the Money”? And something tells me the God I was taught about as a kid wouldn’t be too cool with using another team to drive up your price. Seriously, I wanna like Warner with the whole bagboy/Arena League backstory, but all this talking to God/God talking to him makes him sound like a simpleton bordering on mental illness.
on Mar 5th, 2009 at 8:44 AM
God told me to double-post!
Sorry I didn’t think my first post went through!
on Mar 5th, 2009 at 10:31 AM
I really doubt the entire 23 million is guarenteed. NFL deals are rarely for the entire amount unless the player meetsincentives and escalators that makes it the full amount. I also find it interesting that his mental acumen is called into question simply because he demonstrates his faith.
on Mar 5th, 2009 at 1:58 PM
Why so sensitive? It’s his right to believe what he wants and to express that belief. God seemed to negotiate pretty darn well for him regardless.
I don’t get the whole hypocrisy angle. You think Christians should be poor or compensated less? Why? Why can’t he negotiate the best deal he can get? At least he gives over 10% of his income to charity which is better than the vast majority can say.
on Mar 5th, 2009 at 2:30 PM
Nobody is begrudging Christians the right to earn money. The fact is he USED the 49ers to force a contract from the Cards. That is pretty manipulative am I don’t think God thinks that’s cool.
on Mar 5th, 2009 at 7:38 PM
I think it’s just annoying because the dude didn’t thank God after he lost the Super Bowl. If he would have won then it would have been gravy train of glory! If you are going to believe in any higher power, to me it’s not about cursing God or G-d or Allah when things go bad or giving credit when you are on top of the world winning with a football team that in affect keeps millions of potential Christians out of the churches because they are watching the big game. It’s about embracing the good with the bad because life is a journey, not a party. In that regard I think he’s full of horse manure. Also people quote the same God when they commit mass murder so the behavior of religious people is open to scrutiny because they often use their faith to try and shape social policy and do things like deny people equal protection under the law or commit mass murder.
on Mar 5th, 2009 at 9:48 PM
Warner would have never signed with the 49ers. The offensive system they have and the lack of receivers doesnt help a 38 year old QB. Cardinals had the cap room and just waited for Warner to name a price, which he did.
on Mar 5th, 2009 at 11:28 PM
I hate all his bogus God Crap!
I was rooting for Pittsburgh too. I guess GOD wanted the Steelers to win this year, huh~
on Mar 6th, 2009 at 1:21 PM
I like the comment that Warner should have thanked his god after the Super Bowl loss.
Two great books on the need to eliminate religion from our society: “God Is Not Great,” and “Faith No More.”
on Dec 7th, 2009 at 12:00 AM
He thanks God after every game. You guys seem to care a lot about what other people think. I wonder why that is. See this link for help, http://www.allaboutlifechallenges.org/what-does-the-bible-say-about-overcoming-jealousy-faq.htm