Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner has been declared the backup in Arizona, but he’s hoping to negotiate a contract extension worthy of a guy who at least has a chance of being a starter.

“I want to be in a situation where I’m comfortable. I kind of want to know my future,” Warner said. “A lot of it will be dictated by what kind of plans they have for me here. I think the contract is going to allow me to see what they’re thinking for me moving forward.”

Cardinals General Manager Rod Graves said he hopes to have an extension done by the start of training camp.

Warner is entering the final year of his deal, and ordinarily, backups don’t have much leverage in contract negotiations. But when the backup is coming off a season in which he out-played the starter, that changes things.

If the Cardinals give Warner a new deal with a hefty salary, that won’t only be a sign that they have confidence in Warner. It will also be a sign that they lack confidence in Matt Leinart.