Restless Warner Plans to Leave the Giants

Quarterback Kurt Warner plans to leave the New York Giants after this season rather than remain a backup to Eli Manning.

“I am not going to be content being a backup, that’s just the bottom line,” Warner, a two-time league most valuable player, said Wednesday.

“I loved my year here, but I am not content being a backup. I think I showed people and did things here and won games and that I have proven I can play and start in this league.”

Warner, 33, said the Giants know how he feels.

“I think that everybody’s thought process right now is I want to be somewhere starting next year, and they know it’s not here with the New York Giants,” said Warner, who led the St. Louis Rams to two Super Bowl appearances, including a championship after the 1999 season.

*

Atlanta Falcon Coach Jim Mora said he expected Michael Vick to start this week at Seattle.

After watching Vick practice, Mora listed the quarterback as questionable for the game against the Seahawks.

Vick, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, injured his left, throwing shoulder late in the fourth quarter of an overtime win over Carolina two weeks ago. Matt Schaub made his first career start in Vick’s place last week against the New Orleans Saints, and the rookie threw two interceptions, took a sack on a safety and fumbled once.

*

St. Louis offensive tackle Kyle Turley, upset about a remark that the team hadn’t seen him since he injured his back in training camp, engaged in a recent shouting match with Coach Mike Martz.

Turley said in a statement that there was a “heated, unfortunately profane exchange” on Dec. 13. During the exchange in Martz’s office, he said the coach told him he had come to St. Louis “just to take the money and run.”

“I left his office and met with the [general manager] to reconfirm my commitment to the team and my return to it at the earliest possible time,” Turley said. “I am determined to return to the football field and contribute to the St. Louis Rams’ winning season in 2005, joining the teammates I respect and the organization I admire.”

On Wednesday, Martz called the flare-up with Turley in his office “a nothing deal.”

*

Cornerback Phillip Buchanon is so frustrated with the way the Oakland Raiders are operating that he wants to be traded.

Buchanon, the Raiders’ first-round draft pick in 2002 from Miami, said he spoke with team personnel chief Michael Lombardi to express his desire to go elsewhere.

“The way I am feeling about the Raiders, I am not happy,” Buchanon said. “I am just not happy with the organization right now. I am looking forward to a possible trade with somebody else.”

*

Jacksonville Jaguar quarterback Byron Leftwich was back at practice taking his normal number of snaps, but running back Fred Taylor remained sidelined and is questionable for Sunday’s game at Oakland.... Tampa Bay quarterback Brian Griese sat out practice because of a sprained right foot and is questionable for the Buccaneers’ season finale against the Arizona Cardinals.... Quarterback Carson Palmer practiced for the first time since spraining his knee, but it’s unlikely that he’ll play in the Cincinnati Bengals’ final game, against Philadelphia.... Bengal defensive end Justin Smith pleaded guilty to a drunk driving charge in Kettering, Ohio. His license was suspended for six months.