Maybe it's just some pre-free agency posturing, but it sounds like one team rumored to be very interested in signing Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander is not so big on the idea. That team would be the Arizona Cardinals. They have plenty of room under the salary cap to do some things in free agency and were put into the mix for Alexander because of their cap space and their struggles with a running game last season. Running backs Marcel Shipp and J.J. Arrington did not produce the way the Cardinals had hoped, and Alexander will be a free agent unless the Seahawks can reach an agreement with him before Friday. But comments from Arizona coach Dennis Green and Rod Graves, vice president of football operations, at the NFL combine indicate the Cardinals aren't too willing to make the big splash. "A blockbuster deal in my opinion is one that eats up most of your cap space," Green said. "It means you get one player and one and done. And we're not going to do that. If you ask me if we're going to go after one of the incredible backs that might be available in a blockbuster deal, that probably will not happen."

Mike Martz had taken a renewed interest in Kurt Warner?s career. As head coach of the Rams, Mad Mike had assured us that Warner was toast. That is why he elevated Marc Bulger to the starting role and jettisoned Warner to the New York Giants. But as the new offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions, Martz eyeballed all those 300-yard passing games Warner racked up for otherwise hapless Arizona last season. He figured the former MVP could help lead the underachieving Lions offense to respectability. Suddenly, Martz seemed covetous of No. 13. Compared to current Lions quarterback Joey Harrington, Warner looked like Joe Montana in his prime. Warner offered the potential of a quick fix in Motown.

Throughout last season, quarterback Kurt Warner expressed a desire to finish his career in Arizona. That doesn't mean he didn't need some reassurances from team officials that the franchise was headed in the right direction. Last week, Warner talked with Rod Graves, vice president for football operations, about the team's plans for free agency and improving the roster. Apparently satisfied with the answers, Warner agreed to terms Tuesday on a three-year deal. "I accepted his visit as typical of one you get from a veteran player who has a strong interest in seeing his team in a better position to win," Graves said Tuesday evening. "In my opinion, it was a great discussion we had." advertisement Warner was not available for comment Tuesday, but the team has scheduled a news conference for today. Financial terms were not released, but Warner's agent Mark Bartelstein said the deal will pay his client a minimum of about $15 million if Warner plays through end of the contract. "If Kurt plays the way he played last year, he'll wind up making between $22 (million) to $23 million over three years," Bartelstein said. Warner was due to become an unrestricted free agent on March 3, as is backup quarterback Josh McCown.

The Arizona Cardinals have re-signed veteran cornerback Robert Tate. Tate, 32, played in 13 games for Arizona last year, starting five. He made 27 tackles, intercepted two passes and forced a fumble. The University of Cincinnati product was drafted in the sixth round by Minnesota in 1997. Tate spent his first five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and played for Baltimore in 2002. In 108 career NFL games, Tate has 163 tackles, five interceptions and three forced fumbles.

Just what direction the Arizona Cardinals go in the first round of the April draft is still up for debate within the organization. But the Cardinals could eliminate one position of need by finally going out and offering a great player the big bucks that Michael Bidwill had said the team would spend once they got a new stadium. That player is Indianapolis running back Edgerrin James, who said this week that he does not expect to be back with the Colts. James is one of the best running backs in the NFL. He is 28 years old and coming off of a 1,506-yard rushing season. And unlike the signing of Emmitt Smith, which was done for publicity purposes, James actually has plenty left in the tank and would be worth a three- or four-year deal.