QB Warner to stay with Arizona

TEMPE, Ariz., March 4 (UPI) -- Quarterback Kurt Warner, who guided the Arizona Cardinals to Super Bowl XLIII, has agreed to a two-year contract to stay with the NFL team.

The Arizona Republic said the deal was worth $23 million. Warner is to be paid $4 million each season and an additional $15 million as a signing bonus, the report said.

Warner was a free agent following last season and, despite saying he wanted to stay with Arizona, was far apart in contract negotiations. He visited the San Francisco 49ers this week before Cardinals officials and Warner met Tuesday and Wednesday to come to terms.

Warner, 37, won the starting quarterback from Matt Leinart and responded with one of the best seasons of his 11-year NFL career. He completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 4,583 yards and 30 touchdowns. He was selected to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time in his career.

The 2008 Cardinals scored a team-record 427 points and won the NFC West title. Warner helped the team to playoff wins over Atlanta, Carolina and Philadelphia before Arizona lost in the final second of the Super Bowl to Pittsburgh.