QB Kurt Warner visits 49ers has 0 comments

Mar 3rd 2009, 11:23 | FFN-Score: 4 points

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Kurt Warner is being courted by an eager division rival of the Arizona Cardinals.

The San Francisco 49ers sent a private jet for the two-time MVP quarterback, who traveled from Phoenix to the team's training complex on Monday for a physical exam and a meeting with top officials.

Warner led the Cardinals to the Super Bowl last season, but he became a free agent when he didn't re-sign with the team. Arizona has offered a two-year, $20 million contract to Warner, who will be 38 years old when training camp opens.

But Warner is seeking a deal worth at least $14 million per season, and he seems willing to leave the Cardinals for the right offer.

NFC West rival San Francisco, which finished two games behind Arizona in second place last season, has enough salary-cap room to accommodate Warner's salary wishes. With no established starting quarterback on their roster, the 49ers have rolled out their red-and-gold carpet to entice Warner.

After flying into the Silicon Valley, Warner arrived at the 49ers' training complex by limousine with his wife, Brenda. He had lunch and a meeting with general manager Scot McCloughan, head coach Mike Singletary and likely team owner Jed York before traveling to Stanford Hospital for his physical exam.

Warner returned to the complex in a Cadillac driven by 49ers athletic trainer Jeff Ferguson at about 4 p.m. Warner mouthed the words "I'm not talking" through the window to reporters as the car went through a security gate.

The Warners were expected to fly home Monday night.

Warner proved he's still at the top of his talents last season. After claiming the Cardinals' starting job from Matt Leinart, Warner passed for 4,583 yards and 30 touchdowns, leading the franchise to its first division title since 1975. He also starred in four playoff games, completing 68 percent of his passes for 1,147 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Singletary has been unwilling to designate veteran Shaun Hill as his starter for next season, even after Hill led San Francisco to five wins in its final seven games and a 7-9 record that convinced the team to knock the interim tag off the coach's title.

Alex Smith, the injury-plagued former No. 1 draft pick, is working on restructuring his contract to stay with the 49ers, who will release him if they can't reach a deal with a much lower base salary than the $9 million in his current contract.

The 49ers might not be the ideal fit for Warner, who would leave a lineup with star wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin to join a run-based offense with no proven pass-catchers -- although the quarterback's arrival might persuade longtime St. Louis Rams teammate Isaac Bruce to put off retirement for another season.

The 49ers also signed fullback Moran Norris on Monday to a three-year contract. Norris, an eight-year NFL veteran, played for San Francisco from 2006 to 2007. He was the lead blocker for Frank Gore when the running back led the NFC in rushing with 1,695 yards in 2006, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl.

Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press