It’s Just An Illusion
By Scott Allen
During the entire month of February Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals both said all the right things. Kurt said he wanted to stay and if he didn’t stay, he was retiring. The Cardinals said that Kurt was their man and they wanted him here.
I think the 80’s group “Imagination” put it best…
"Searching for a destiny that’s mine there’s another place another time.Touching many hearts along the wayYeahHoping that I’ll never have to sayIt’s just an illusion – illusion – illusion.Follow your emotions anywhereIs it really magic in the air?Never let your feelings get you down. Open up your eyes and look aroundIt’s just an illusion – illusion – illusion.Could it be that it’s just an illusion putting me back in all this confusion?Could it be that it’s just an illusion now?Could it be that it’s just an illusion putting me back in all this confusion?Could it be that it’s just an illusion now?Could it be a picture in my mind? Never sure exactly what I’ll find.Only in my dreams I turn you on. Here for just a moment then you’re gone.It’s just an illusion – illusion – illusion.Could it be that it’s just an illusion putting me back in all this confusion?Could it be that it’s just an illusion now?Could it be that it’s just an illusion putting me back in all this confusion?Could it be that it’s just an illusion now? . . ."
Kurt Warner has been playing us. I’ve been on both sides of this argument now over the course of the past four weeks. I’ve been more on Warner’s side until recently. I’ve said the Cardinals need to pay the man. Give him what he deserves. He put this team in the Super Bowl – THE SUPER BOWL!!! I mean, I thought I would be six feet under before they even got to smell a Super Bowl. That in itself speaks volumes.
Then I sat back and realized the economy we are in. Sure the Cardinals have the cap room, however, money is tight. They have other players they need to sign. Why can’t Kurt Warner instruct his agent to try to at least meet the Cardinals half way? The Cards want to pay $10 million, Warner wants $14 million per season. There has to be a little push and shove from both ends of the tunnel.
So, with that, Kurt Warner took a little trip to San Francisco today. I’d like to be able to tell you that the reason he went was for a family vacation. Not, not so much. He went to check out the 49ers. He met with Niners head coach Mike Singletary. Had lunch with the guy. That sounds like a guy ready to possibly leave Arizona. Or is he trying to up the ante from the Cardinals? I think the former. I truly don’t think Arizona is going to budge on this one and San Francisco is going to call their bluff.
Right now though, it appears Kurt Warner is playing a game of “Split Decision”, something Steve Winwood told us about 20 years ago.
"Sometimes I think he knows too much. His confidence never needs a crutch. One man is real, the other wants to hide. One man has made up his mind, the other can’t decide. By the time there’s nothing left to choose, one man puts the fire out, the other lights the fuse."
Sound familiar? If it doesn’t, then you’ll hear these words sung as well by Steve Winwood ring true:
"If you don’t have good words to say, don’t wake me up till judgment day. ‘Cause if nothing is the way it seems, then life is just a haunted dream"
I sure hope that’s all this is, a dream and tomorrow we wake up, Kurt Warner wakes up, and the Cardinals wake up and realize this is where Kurt needs to be to finish his career and take another crack at a playoff run.
Scott Allen