Manning not following Warner's journey through free agency

The Bears are not in the market for a starting quarterback this year, so Peyton Manning need not apply.

They weren't in the market for Kurt Warner as a starting quarterback eight years ago, either. The Bears had Rex Grossman as their first-round draft pick from 2003 and Warner would be welcome to join the team, as a backup. Warner declined and went on to the Cardinals.

"The Bears had invested and made the decision that Grossman was their guy. So it's understandable," said Chicago-based agent Mark Bartelstein, who represented Warner. "They weren't looking for a starter at that point, just a backup. But I think because Kurt came down a different path (undrafted as opposed to Manning being a first-round pick), there was a thought that, 'maybe we can get him to come in as a backup.' But you would never approach Peyton Manning with that concept. That's kind of the Kurt Warner story. That's what makes it so special, that he kept proving people wrong."

Manning and Warner are future Hall of Famers, but their adventures in free agency will be very different. Bartelstein recalls the suspicions surrounding Warner, whose remarkable story does not have to be embellished.

"He went to Arizona and no one ever imagined that he could take that franchise to a Super Bowl," Bartelstein said. "He took two franchises — St. Louis and Arizona — that when he got there were probably two of the losingest franchises in the history of the NFL. St. Louis was at the very, very bottom. And no one would have every imagined them in the Super Bowl, and he took them to two Super Bowls. And Arizona was the laughingstock of the NFL."

The Cardinals are one of at least 12 teams reportedly pursuing Manning.

"We went through (free agency) a few different times with Kurt," Bartelstein said.

"Really the key thing each time with Kurt was just trying to make sure we found the right fit, the right situation for him. We did that with Arizona. We thought we had done that with (the Giants), but we didn't know they were going to wind up with (Eli) Manning the next year. That's just how that played out."

Bartelstein said he does not want to come across as giving advice to Peyton Manning and his advisers.

"I'm sure they will know what they're doing," he said. "But from Kurt's standpoint, it was about making sure that he could have people around him to make him successful — the coaching staff that was going to let him do what he does best and give him a lot of creative freedom. Kurt's mind was probably (stronger) than his physical ability. His decision-making ability and his ability to react quickly are really what made him so special."

Despite his prolific numbers and Super Bowl title on his resume, Manning will have to show free-agent suitors he can still throw with accustomed velocity after numerous neck surgeries. Warner had similar questions to answer.

"There was some concern about his hand, coming out of St. Louis," Bartelstein said. "Certainly he had to show people he could throw the ball like he always had. There are always questions you have to answer. Peyton is obviously doing that now. ... And I am sure people will do extensive physicals. But it looks like he is going to be fine."

fmitchell@tribune.com

Twitter@kicker34