Warner gets QB job back
Kurt Warner is a starter again.
Warner will replace Josh McCown as starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals for Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Coach Dennis Green declined to say why he was making the switch on Wednesday.
“That’s coach talk,” he said. “We’ve got a bunch of guys that were involved in that decision. We talk about it every single week and this week this is what we decided.”
Warner started the first three games, but was knocked out of the 37-12 loss in Seattle on Sept. 25 with a right groin strain. McCown started the last four games, including the team’s only two victories.
Warner said his injury is healed and his timing is fine.
“I’m just happy to be back out there,” he said, “ready to compete again and play and do whatever I can to help the team. That’s what it’s all about. That’s what I’ve been preparing for.”
Bills’ players back Holcomb
While Buffalo coach Mike Mularkey spends the bye week considering lineup changes, several veterans say journeyman quarterback Kelly Holcomb deserves to keep his starting job over J.P. Losman.
They claim that gives the Bills the best chance of climbing into playoff contention.
“It’s tough to take a guy out that’s played as well as he has,” tight end Mark Campbell said. “I understand the situation. J.P.’s obviously the future here. I don’t know at what point that is, but we don’t feel like we’re close to that point.”
Added top receiver Eric Moulds, “I don’t think Kelly has done anything to really lose the job. We feel like we still have a chance to win. Hopefully, they’ll still go with Kelly.”
Johnson unhappy as backup
Larry Johnson, still seething in his role as backup to Priest Holmes, said he’s decided not to rock the boat and will wait until he might get a chance with some team other than Kansas City.
“I can never swallow the situation right here,” Johnson said. “You can’t ask that of any back who’s been used to getting the ball in college like I was getting it.”
The Chiefs (4-3) have had success with a two-pronged running back strategy, generally giving Holmes two series and then Johnson one. Although the scoring on goal-to-go situations is down from last year, they are averaging 131 yards rushing, sixth in the league. Holmes, who missed practice Wednesday to get a second opinion on the blow he took last week to the head, has rushed for 451 yards on 119 carries.
Johnson, a No. 1 draft choice out of Penn State in 2003, has 75 carries for 399 yards.
Chatman feels Haslett’s wrath
New Orleans Saints coach Jim Haslett isn’t accusing anyone of quitting. He’s making roster moves nonetheless.
After threatening earlier in the week to cut anyone he believed wasn’t trying in the face of a 2-6 record, Haslett said he was benching right guard Jermane Mayberry and releasing former Eastern Washington Eagles running back Jesse Chatman.
The Saints acquired Chatman in a trade with Miami last month after Deuce McAllister was injured, but they will not have to surrender the seventh-round pick in the deal because Chatman didn’t rush for at least 300 yards. In fact, Chatman never carried the ball for New Orleans.
“I’m not going to surround our team with those kind of players,” Haslett said, refusing further comment.
Around the league
St. Louis Rams kicker Jeff Wilkins, in his ninth season with the team, signed a four-year contract extension. … Detroit Lions wide Charles Rogers practiced with the team after completing a four-week drug suspension. … The Chicago Bears placed rookie wide receiver Mark Bradley on injured reserve with a knee injury. … The Green Bay Packers waived second-year cornerback Joey Thomas. … Miami Dolphins linebacker Eddie Moore was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. The Dallas Cowboys signed former Bears tackle Marc Colombo. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed linebacker Wesly Mallard and released rookie fullback Rick Razzano. Mallard has appeared in 36 career games in four seasons with the New York Giants and New England Patriots.