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AP: 5607c1c3-c5f0-45d2-b8b5-0526b6267ffa
Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning throws a pass against the San Diego Chargers during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 15, 2012, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)
It is easy for fans to imagine what could have been if Peyton Manning opted to sign with the Arizona Cardinals instead of the Denver Broncos in the past offseason.

Former Cardinals quarterback and NFL Network analyst Kurt Warner told Arizona Sports 620's Burns and Gambo Friday that he thinks Manning is playing great football, but he may not have done so for the Cardinals.

"I think he would have been successful to a degree, but we got to be realistic," Warner said. "When you are getting hit and sacked and quick pressure like the quarterbacks here, it is going to be tough for anybody to succeed at an extremely high level."

The Cardinals have given up a league-worst 35 sacks and their quarterbacks seem to be running for their lives every play.

"He would have struggled like any quarterback due to the number of pressures and quick pressure that the Cardinals' offensive line has given up this year," Warner said.

listen Listen: Kurt Warner, NFL Network Analyst
Current NFL Network Analyst and former Cards QB Kurt Warner joins the guys to preview Monday night's matchup between the Cardinals and 49ers. Why are Cardinals receivers to blame for the sluggish offense? And, would Peyton Manning have succeeded if he came to the desert?

Manning has been impressive in his first season with the Broncos. The veteran ranks second in the league with a passer rating of 105.0 and is tied for fourth with 14 touchdown passes.

"I don't think there is any way he would have been as successful (in Arizona) as he is going to be somewhere else where the offensive line is better," Warner said.

However even though Manning may not have been as individually successful in Arizona, Warner thinks the team would have benefited from having the four-time MVP.

"With the way the defense was playing, do I believe that Peyton Manning could have manufactured some points and win some of these games that he didn't win? Yeah," Warner said.

Cardinals quarterbacks have not been impressive so far this season.

Kevin Kolb and John Skelton average just 196 passing yards per game and have a total of only six passing touchdowns.

"Peyton Manning is Peyton Manning, he would have been more successful than what they have here because he is a great quarterback," Warner said.

5 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
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  • Abuse
    CardzGoHard wrote...
    I Didnt Know Kurt Was A Rocket Scientist
    In Other News Kurt Warner Would Have Retired A Quarter Through The Season Due To Wifes Concerns Of Long Term Health!
  • Abuse
    mesa mad man wrote...
    never know
    had AZ signed Manning, who knows if Levi would have gotten hurt in the preseason blocking, and then who knows what our line would have looked like. Easy to play the hypothetical game
  • Abuse
    Fred T. wrote...
    Don't need to be rocket scientist
    The o-line is so bad that you don't need to be a rocket scientist to say any QB would have major problems playing here. How good of a coach is Grimm? Often, pro-bowl level players can't coach a lick. They assume others know what they knew. The o-line needs to be a major priority, then the running backs.... in that order.
  • Abuse
    Michael D. wrote...
    Enough Kurt!!!
    Kurt did it with this offense line,(with Levi Brown), injuries happen. Peyton is smart enough, he could have done it. Kolb and Skelton are too inexperienced to do anything. They hold on to the ball tooooooo long. Kurt knew where his receivers were and welcomed the blitz. John and Kevin do not. You cannot even compare quarterbaacks and Kurt knows that. By the way, Cleveland has one of the best left tackles and o lines and the still suck! It is a matter of a smart quarterback and we do not have 1!
  • Abuse
    AZ Hope wrote...
    Manning
    Good thing Manning didn't come here. We would have been labeled the team who put him out of football for good. Nobody can take the pounding our QB's have taken for very long. Russ Grimm has got to go. No more excuses for him.
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