Just minutes before Kurt Warner announced his retirement, another "aging quarterback" was just finishing up practice across town. Steve Nash and Kurt Warner are very different people off-the-court but the similarities exist in what each means to his team. Both are the engine that makes the offense go but don't panic Suns fans, Nash is not ready to hang 'em up.
Nash said he was holding out hope that Warner would keep playing but he does understand Kurt's decision, "I'm not ready but I can understand what that would be like. For the most part once you decide and it's over there's no going back. It's not like a CEO retires for two years and decides he wants to get back in."
Nash is picking the Colts to win the Super Bowl and while Steve acknowledged that 'offense wins championships' he was quick to point out that the Colts defense has been good this year.
Suns coach Alvin Gentry was also very complimentary of Warner and talked about his improbably career and accomplishments.
"I think he's one of the most amazing stories there was in sports to think that he was bagging groceries and playing for the Barn Stormers," said Gentry who spent some time talking to Warner at Phoenix Mercury games this summer." I think he's just one of the most wonderful people you could meet. I think he's an unbelievable leader and just a competitor. I do think that he should enjoy himself now. I don't know what more in football he can do."
Gentry is also a big Payton Manning fan and was on the staff at CSU with Colts head coach Jim Caldwell many years ago. But Gentry also lived in New Orleans at one point in his long career and is pulling for the Saints in what he called a "feel good story".
You can read more about Kurt Warner's retirement at Revenge of the Birds.