Martz - Still a chance Warner may return

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz said Wednesday that Kurt Warner's agent overreacted to a conversation he had with the quarterback, emphasizing there's still a chance the two-time MVP could stay with the team.

Martz characterized his Monday conversation with Warner as a necessary "first step" in the process after he decided to go with Marc Bulger as his quarterback for next season. He said he had promised Warner and his agent, Mark Bartelstein, that he would inform him when he had made a decision.

"It was a very difficult conversation, the hardest one I've ever had with a player," Martz said.

Bartelstein said Tuesday his client expected to be released after June 1 and added he expected a lot of interest around the NFL in Warner.

-- AP