ARIZONA CARDINALS

Former Cardinal Warner understands why Whisenhunt was fired

Jan 9, 2013, 6:09 PM | Updated: 7:24 pm

On Tuesday afternoon, NFL Network analyst Kurt Warner joined Arizona Sports 620’s Doug & Wolf to discuss his former team and the changes it has made.

Warner — being the player and man that he is — had strong feelings towards the hiring of Steve Keim and firing of his former coach, Ken Whisenhunt.

He understood the due process of head coaching positions in the NFL, and knew the reasoning behind the Cardinals’ immediate actions after a second 5-11 season in three years.

“When you’re struggling, that’s what people are going to remember first,” Warner said for the reason behind Whisenhunt’s firing, amongst others across the league. “That’s obviously why he (Whisenhunt) doesn’t have a job here in Arizona.”

While the firing was rightfully earned in Warner’s eyes, he says it doesn’t deplete the value of Whisenhunt’s stock.

“Look what coach Whisenhunt did here with this organization. No success for however long, he comes in, turns it around, wins a couple division championships, goes to the Super Bowl,” Warner said. “(He) did some amazing things that nobody has really done here before. That to me is why you have to give a strong look to somebody like Coach Whisenhunt.”

Outside of Whisenhunt and the Cardinals, the other six head coaching vacancies came due to lackluster performances throughout — or to close out — the season.

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