Warner tries to clarify 'inspirational message'

ST. LOUIS -- On Super Bowl Sunday, St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner said in a speech in Houston that his devout religious beliefs might have contributed to his benching last season.

But on Thursday, the two-time NFL MVP said the speech was almost totally about the power of positive thinking.

"It was my intention to give an inspirational message about keeping the faith and fighting through adversity," Warner said in a statement. "I simply wanted to encourage people to stay true to themselves in good times and bad."

The remarks are part of a story on the Web site www.baptistpress.com.

"I actually had (Rams) coaches say I was reading the Bible too much and it was taking away from my play," Warner was quoted as saying. "It was OK when we were winning, but now I was (messing) this thing up? People were saying I had lost my job because of my faith."

Coach Mike Martz was taken aback by the remarks. The Rams offer separate Bible study groups for players, couples, wives and coaches.

"That's so far off the wall, it's incomprehensible," Martz told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I can't imagine Kurt saying that. Nothing could be further from the truth. If he said that, it's a bald-faced lie. I'm just tired of dealing with this type of behavior."

Warner's comment in Houston was more specific than statements he made in a recent interview with Sporting News Radio.

Then, he said "off-the-field stuff" had been a factor in his benching after the season opener, a 23-13 loss to the Giants. Warner fumbled six times in that game while under the effects of a mild concussion, and Marc Bulger started at quarterback the rest of the season.

Martz does not believe Warner's comments are part of a plan to force a trade.

"We're not trading him," Martz said. "I can't foresee any circumstance where we would trade Kurt Warner, and he needs to understand that."

In his statement on Thursday, Warner made it clear he wants to be back with the Rams.

"I apologize that I made any mention of my relationship with my coaches in a public platform," Warner said. "In no way, shape or form do I feel I lost my starting job because of my faith.

"I regret any controversy this has created. My intentions were to send a positive and uplifting message."

Warner also said he was "excited about getting back to work."