Warner will start in Cardinals preseason finale, has 0 comments

Aug 28th 2008, 08:41 | FFN-Score: 2 points

Kurt Warner is the Cardinals’ starting quarterback – against Denver in the preseason finale.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt still has not said whether Warner or Matt Leinart will be the team’s starter in the regular-season opener Sept. 7 against San Francisco. Warner said even the quarterbacks remain in the dark to what Whisenhunt’s decision will be.

“We all want to know,” Warner told azcardinals.com after practice Wednesday. “For Matt and myself, it’d be nice knowing what the situation would be and be able to move forward with it. The way I look at it more than anything, the sooner it can happen, the sooner we can get past the (interviews and media coverage) that goes with it, and you can prepare for the game.

“We know it’s getting close and you get that anxiety and excitement knowing the decision has to be made soon. I am sure coach understands that and he’ll make the decision as soon as it’s necessary.”

Whisenhunt said Warner would start Friday because of the difference in playing time between Warner and Leinart in the preseason.

Thus far, with Warner sitting out the preseason opener, Leinart has taken 57 preseason snaps and Warner just 30.

“Hopefully we’ll get in enough snaps with the first (offensive) line that both can play,” Whisenhunt said. “I just wanted to make sure Kurt gets his timing with the ones for this game, much like we did in Kansas City.”

Warner also started the Kansas City preseason game. Leinart started against New Orleans and Oakland. Once Warner did play against the Raiders, he threw just four passes – completing two – as the Cards’ run game proved effective.

Afterward, Warner said he thought he needed more preseason work. He expanded on the thought Wednesday, saying he asked Whisenhunt if he could throw “a few more” passes against Denver.

“You go in and lead and manage and that’s part of the deal, handing the ball off and getting your guys to play,” Warner said. “But when it comes to the preseason, I want to get comfortable in the pass game because that’s what they are going to need me for. Anybody can hand it off.

“I don’t think it will take long. But there is always something a little different about playing games. That’s what I am trying to get out of this week.”

Whisenhunt said he wasn’t sure how long – or if – he wanted Leinart to play with the second-unit offensive line.

Whisenhunt said exact playing time has yet to be determined.

“It’s the same mindset (as Kansas City),” Whisenhunt said. “If (fans) had been at training camp, they saw us rotate quarterbacks in practice. It’s the same thing.

“There is a disparity of snaps between Matt and Kurt. I had a suspicion of that, but I did check it out. Kurt has not had a lot of snaps with the first line and the first receivers in a game situation. That’s what we are trying to accommodate with this.”

Whisenhunt still has not said when he will announce who the starting quarterback will be for the regular season.