Warner Expected to Start

Kurt Warner should be back for the St. Louis Rams’ improbable playoff drive.

Warner sustained a concussion and missed all but one series in the second half Sunday in the Rams’ 26-21 victory over the New Orleans Saints. But after a trip to the hospital for a CT scan he was able to return in time to take the team flight home.

Doctors cleared Warner after a checkup and all that was left was a headache. Coach Mike Martz said Warner would start Saturday’s wild-card game against New Orleans--the third game in six weeks against the Saints.

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Eight-time all-pro Cortez Kennedy said his 11-year career with the Seattle Seahawks is probably over.

Kennedy’s statement came a day after the Seahawks’ season-ending, 42-23 loss to Buffalo. He said he wanted to give the team a chance to rebuild.

Kennedy earned a selection to the All-Decade team for the 1990s, but salary-cap constraints and a subpar season led to rumors that he may be released, even though his contract does not expire until after next season.

“I had fun with this organization. But I said a long time ago, winning’s everything,” Kennedy said. “I’ve been around this league 11 years. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to understand what’s going on. When you get older, it’s time to rebuild the football team. I understand that, and I respect that.”

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Houston Texan owner Bob McNair said he budgeted about $125 million preparing for his franchise’s inaugural season two years from now, including paying millions to enable a dozen scouts to compile dossiers on every NFL player and many of those in college. That’s after paying a $700-million expansion fee just to be allowed to join the NFL.

“The purchase price just gets you in the door,” said Dean Bonham, president of a Denver-based sports franchise consultancy. “By all accounts, McNair is trying to build something that’s first class.”