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As initially reported by the Associated Press, Cardinals head coach Dennis Green confirmed Wednesday what had been believed since Kurt Warner signed a one-year, $4 million contract with the team in early March: The veteran signal caller will open camp as Arizona's starter.

Warner, who will turn 34 next month, has said he expected to start, but Green had stated the former Super Bowl MVP would have to compete with Josh McCown for the job.

"My mind-set going in was that I wanted to earn a starting position at some point in time, and so I never really thought of it any other way," Warner told Arizona Republic staffer Odeen Domingo. "Not that I'm (not) excited to be named the starter, it's just business as usual. I know what goes into that position.

"I know what I still have to prove."

McCown sounded more disappointed than surprised.

"I was hoping it was something we would battle out through camps and training camp and the preseason," he told East Valley Tribune beat man Darren Urban. "The coach wanted to go a different direction.

"The timing to me was a surprise. The decision doesn't surprise me so much."

Warner, the NFL MVP in 1999 and 2001, led the St. Louis Rams to the Super Bowl after each of those seasons. He was chosen the game's MVP when St. Louis beat Tennessee in the first game.

But he lost the Rams' job to Marc Bulger in 2003 and signed with the Giants last year, competing through training camp with Eli Manning, the first pick in the 2004 draft. He started New York's first nine games but was replaced by Manning after a loss to the Cardinals.

After the season, he voided the second year of his contract with New York and eventually signed with Arizona.

This time, the decision to make Warner the starter came earlier.

Green told reporters that he saw enough in early workouts to make his decision, even though training camp doesn't start for another two months.

"I think the reason to do it now is that I feel he is the right guy for us, the right guy to lead our team," Green said. "I think across-the-board leadership is going to be crucial for us."

Green was quick to add, however, that experience wasn't the only factor here. Warner, Green said, is a good fit for the offense and he's been throwing the ball well.

"[The Cardinals offense] has some similarities to the prolific offense he ran when he was at St. Louis," the coach explained. "I just think that he's ready to have a superb year."

Green said he spoke with Warner, McCown and second-year quarterback John Navarre on Wednesday morning. McCown, entering his fourth NFL season, will be the backup, with John Navarre at No. 3.

"In the National Football League you need more than one quarterback," Green said. "We feel confident that Josh and John can play if called upon. We are very confident that this will work out."

Of course, Green was pretty confident that McCown was his quarterback of the future this time last year. In fact, the coach said last summer that he had a quarterback who was "going to set the NFL on fire." He also compared McCown with Brett Favre.

"McCown can be like Brett Favre; he reminds me a lot of Favre," Green told San Diego Union Tribune staff writer Jerry Magee last July. "He is a tremendous athlete, 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, with 4.6 speed and a vertical leap of 39 inches."

Yeah. ... Sure coach.

In case you missed it, any comparisons to Favre went by the wayside nine weeks into the season, after the Cardinals offense struggled. Green benched McCown for three games, all losses. He returned to start the final four games of the season, but seemed to have lost the coach's confidence.

Still, McCown signed a $1.4 million tender offer with Arizona three weeks after Warner was signed.

It's worth noting that Green's sudden decision to announce Warner as his starter came just days after NFL Network insider Adam Schefter reported that McCown had a legitimate chance to unseat Warner as the starter this offseason.

According to Schefter, sources inside the organization have been impressed with McCown's resolve to win the job during the offseason. Schefter went on to suggest he's reportedly been the better quarterback thus far.

I'll also remind you that Warner has by no means proven he can return to that MVP level. He lost the starting job the past two seasons with the Rams and the New York Giants, where his tendency to hold onto the ball too long resulted in critical fumbles and sacks.

Bottom line? I'll believe he's the Warner of old the minute he looks even remotely like the Warner of old. ...

Other Fantasy-specific news and notes of interest from around the NFL. ...

In Denver. ... Jerry Rice, the NFL's career leading receiver, signed a one-year deal Wednesday with the Broncos, where he'll compete for a spot as a reserve.

Thus ends the 42-year-old's search for a place to play his 21st season and add to his totals of 1,549 catches for 22,895 yards and 197 touchdowns -- all league records.

Agent Jim Steiner told AP sports writer Eddie Pells that Rice believes this will be his last season and that the he wants to go out at a place where he can win and feel comfortable. That's why the Broncos make sense. Head coach Mike Shanahan was San Francisco's offensive coordinator from 1992-94.

"This happens to be the right fit with the right coach," Steiner said. "Mike is a coach who will manage him better than anyone else in the league. Mike views him better than anyone else would. It all just works."

Before Rice signed, he met with Shanahan and the two agreed that the receiver would have to compete for his spot -- nothing would be handed to him.

Rod Smith, who wears Rice's No. 80, and Ashley Lelie are the expected starters. Darius Watts has a good track on the third position. Rice will compete for the remaining spots with unproven youngsters like Triandos Luke, Nate Jackson and Charlie Adams, among others.

"I told Jerry that I don't know if he's lost a step or two steps, but you're going to come here for one reason and that's to compete with the other guys," Shanahan said last week. "And if you're one of our top five guys at the end of camp, then you're going to be on our football team. If you're not, I said I'd have one of the toughest jobs in the world."

According to Steiner, Rice had a chance to sign with Tampa Bay, but it wasn't the right fit. Steiner also said his client wasn't afraid or ashamed of having to come in and compete for a job despite his resume.

"He knows there are no guarantees," Steiner said. "He knows that at this point in his career, he can't fight the politics of age."

No he can't. Nor is he likely to be very productive as a Bronco this season.

As ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli reminded readers last Friday, in the 10 seasons in which Shanahan has been Denver's head coach, the Broncos' fourth wide receivers have averaged 6.6 catches. Only twice in that stretch has the No. 4 wideout in the Denver passing offense registered more than 10 catches.

The last time a fourth wide receiver had double-digit catches was in 1996, when Smith and Mike Sherrard, alternating as the Nos. 3 and 4 wideouts, had 16 receptions each. Over the ensuing eight seasons, the Broncos' No. 4 wideouts averaged a paltry 4.8 receptions.

What if Rice somehow beats out Watts for the No. 3 role?

Well. ... Over the last 10 seasons, Denver's third receivers have averaged only 19.2 catches. Just three times since Shanahan arrived in 1995 has the third Broncos wide receiver posted more than 20 catches in a season.

Last year, when Watts pulled in 31, was one of those occasions.

Rice, meanwhile, caught 30 balls in 2004, splitting time between Oakland and Seattle. And as Pasquarelli opined: "The bet here is that, no matter what he is promised in Denver, he'd have a difficult time matching that reception total with the Broncos in '05."

I'm with him. ...

In a related note. ... Jake Plummer, when ask his reaction to Rice's signing, told reporters: "I'll be in the parentheses for some records."

In Atlanta. ... FOXSports.com reports the offensive staff's top goal entering the offseason training program is to improve the perimeter passing attack. Doing so would give Michael Vick more confidence in his receivers and improve the team's third-down passing problems.

FOX went on to suggest that Vick, who completed just 32.1 percent of his third-down passes for first downs, and Peerless Price, who had zero 100-yard games, don't trust each other enough.

Price believes Vick should give him more chances. Vick believes Price could work a lot harder to get open, but the quarterback has no issues with job security.

The same can't be said of Price. At least not after Michael Jenkins was moved to flanker, where coaches expect him to challenge the former Bill for a starting job. ...

In New York. ... Amani Toomer and Ike Hilliard were together for eight seasons as Giants wide receivers, so Toomer has found it "definitely weird" since Hilliard was released March 3. But according to New York Newsday staffer Neil Best, that is not the strangest thing for Toomer, though.

It's this: "I'm the short guy now," he said yesterday.

Of course, that's because newcomer Plaxico Burress is 6-5 and stands two inches taller than Toomer. They will join tight end Jeremy Shockey, who is 6-5, to form what Best characterized as the league's "most vertically gifted receiving trio."

"[Opponents] definitely can't come with the short corners," Toomer told Best in his first public comments since Burress signed. "I don't know what they are going to do, really."

So the good news for Toomer is he might have complementary threats to ease the double-teaming that has frustrated him in the past. But how will he react to not being the clear No. 1 receiver anymore?

I'm just excited about having Plaxico playing on the other side," he said.

In no way, he said, did he feel slighted by the Giants' pursuit of Burress. He knew that in searching for an upgrade over Hilliard, a new high-profile receiver was inevitable. "I felt regardless of what type of year I had, they would have done the same thing," Toomer said.

The fact Toomer had the season he did in 2004 surely raised the stakes, though. He had 51 receptions for 747 yards and no touchdowns, his worst numbers in six years as a starter.

During the season, Toomer was reluctant to cite a right hamstring injury that nagged him starting Oct. 24 against the Lions. But yesterday he said that after that day, "you could see everything kind of go downhill." He said he now regrets playing through the injury rather than resting to allow it to heal properly.

"We had a chance to make the playoffs, and as hurt as I was, I was helping the team," he said. "But it was a lot worse than I thought. ..."

In a related note. ... Shockey, who skipped most of the first two months of the voluntary offseason program, participated in full-team, on-field workouts last week and is expected to do so again this week. The three-day, mandatory mini-camp begins June 1. ...

In Baltimore. ... Jamal Lewis, the 2003 NFL offensive player of the year, will be discharged from Federal Prison Camp at Saufley Field in Pensacola, Fla., two days ahead of his scheduled release date of June 4, prison spokesman David Fagan announced Thursday.

Under the guidelines of his sentence handed down by a federal judge in Atlanta, Lewis must return to Atlanta for a two-month stint in a halfway house, according to his lawyer, Jerome Froelich. That means Lewis cannot be involved in the Ravens mini-camps currently going on through June 12 and will not be able to report to training camp when veterans are due on July 31.

There had been speculation that Lewis would apply to have his halfway house stint moved to Maryland so that he could rejoin the Ravens. But federal prosecutors in Atlanta frowned on that idea, a source with knowledge of Lewis' case told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio.

So, Lewis will have to remain in Atlanta until Aug. 2.

Of course, at this point in his career, missing a couple of days of camp would be the least of Lewis' worries -- especially if he hits the field in "prison condition. ..."

Also in Baltimore. ... A source close to the Ravens told Pro Football Weekly that Kyle Boller, after looking shaky early in the May mini-camp, picked up his play as it progressed. ...

In Minnesota. ... One day after signing former Chicago Bears place-kicker Paul Edinger to a one-year, $540,000 contract, the Vikings released kickoff specialist Jose Cortez on Wednesday.

Cortez signed with the team last November after Aaron Elling suffered a broken ankle. Cortez kicked off in the final eight regular-season games and both playoff games.

According to St. Paul Pioneer Press beat man Don Seeholzer, head coach Mike Tice said Edinger was signed to create competition for Elling but that the starting job is still Elling's to lose.

"Aaron is our kicker unless somebody beats him out," Tice said. "If Edinger has a weakness, besides the fact he had an off year last year, it's that he's not a great kickoff guy. Edinger needs to work on his kickoffs, and Aaron needs to work on his field-goal accuracy. It will be quite a competition."

Edinger, who has converted 75.3 percent of his career field-goal attempts, can earn an additional $150,000 in incentives if he makes 80-85 percent of his attempts this season and $250,000 if he makes more than 85 percent.

Also in Minnesota. ... According to the team's official web site, Tice said Daunte Culpepper was "in the zone" during the team's recent practice sessions. "He certainly now is a top notch, top flight, NFL quarterback who happens to be a brilliant athlete," Tice said. "He's going to be able to lead our offense."

In New England. ... The Patriots plan to use Ben Watson as their primary receiving target at tight end this season. The 2004 first round pick is likely to start along with Daniel Graham this season.

As Providence Journal beat man Tom E. Curran reminded readers, when Watson was drafted last April, two years after New England took Graham with the 21st pick in the draft, the move appeared redundant and -- some theorized -- a vote of no-confidence in Graham's game.

But what the Pats had in mind was using the complementary skills of the two tight ends -- Graham's superior blocking; Watson's speed and fluid movement -- in a unique way.

The plan was to use Watson in the middle of the field to give the offense a commanding presence in the 8- to-15-yard range that would occupy safeties and linebackers. Because of his 4.4 speed, Watson figured to be too fast for most linebackers and a headache for opposing defensive coordinators.

As Curran summed up: "The role the Pats drew up for Watson last offseason is still very much there. Every line and maybe a few more added. ...

Also in New England. ... The Pats announced the re-signing of veteran wide receiver Troy Brown, who reportedly agreed to a one-year contract. Financial details were not immediately available.

Brown, 33, was released by the Pats earlier in the offseason for salary cap considerations -- a move that brought sharp criticism. However, the team saved a considerable amount by releasing and then signing him more than two months later, after he rebuffed overtures from several teams that sought to sign him as a free agent.

"In this era, it is very unusual for a player to remain with one team for as long as Troy's career as a Patriot," head coach Bill Belichick said in a statement. "Troy Brown is a special player and person and we are glad to have him back."

The 12-year veteran, who for years has been one of the premier slot receivers in the NFL, was avidly pursued by the New Orleans Saints in recent days.

In a semi-related note. ... The Sports Xchange reports that Bethel Johnson appeared at a recent Big Brothers of Massachusetts Bay charity event with a protective boot on his left foot while walking with the aid of a single crutch.

As per team policy, Johnson did not comment on the nature of his injury. ...

In Carolina. ... The Panthers are looking to reinforce their receiver position, but according to Sporting News columnist Dan Pompei, their hope is second-year man Keary Colbert will replace some of the production lost with the departure of Muhsin Muhammad.

As a rookie last year, Colbert played split end opposite Muhammad. This season, he'll move to Muhammad's flanker position, for which Colbert is better suited. The Panthers also believe Colbert will be helped by the return of Steve Smith because Smith's speed should draw defensive attention away from Colbert. ...

Also in Carolina. ... More than a few observers have been impressed with Drew Carter, who has drawn attention in off-season workouts with his quickness and speed. Some believe he could challenge for the No. 3 receiver spot in camp.

Carter missed his rookie season after re-injuring an ACL first torn in college last summer, but is said to be fully recovered and ready for action. ...

According to Sports Illustrated insider Don Banks, Tuesday's only headline at the owners meeting was the passage of the new rule that makes the "horse collar" tackle illegal and subject to a 15-yard unsportsmanlike penalty and potential fine.

By a vote of 27-5, owners followed the lead of the competition committee and outlawed a defender dragging down a ball carrier by the back of the collar, unless he's in the tackle box near the line of scrimmage or a quarterback in the pocket.

The tackle became synonymous with Cowboys safety Roy Williams, because Williams injured three different players last season -- Owens, Ravens running back Musa Smith and Tennessee receiver Tyrone Calico -- with just such a takedown.

Competition committee co-chairman Rich McKay said overall, there were six serious injuries league-wide attributable to the horse collar tackle.

"I don't like it being called the Roy Williams rule because he's a good football player and he did absolutely nothing illegal," said McKay, the Falcons general manager. "I don't like the perception that it's focused on one guy, because that was not our intent."

Maybe not. But somebody in Dallas certainly knows you're watching. ...

According to Pasquarelli, rumor has it Carolina's Jake Delhomme won the EA Sports Quarterback Challenge, which was conducted May 13 but won't air until July.

Rumor also is that Detroit's Joey Harrington finished last. ...

And finally. ... In an article published earlier this week, Denver Post columnist Jim Armstrong reminded readers that people who have recently seen Ricky Williams claim he weighs 190 to 195 pounds. That means he would have to gain 40 pounds to reach his ideal playing weight.

Or, as Anderson suggested, "To put it in terms Ricky can relate to, 18 kilos. ..."