TEMPE, Ariz. — Kurt Warner wound up right where he wanted to be, with a hefty pay raise to return to the Arizona team he led to the Super Bowl.

The 37-year-old quarterback agreed to terms yesterday on a two-year, $23 million contract with the Cardinals.

"I love what we've been doing," Warner said. "I love what we've been building here."

The deal includes a $15 million signing bonus. Combined with a $4 million salary for the first year of the contract, $19 million is guaranteed.

"We're ecstatic about the commitment the organization has made to us," Warner said. "Now it's my job for the next two years to go fulfill my part of the deal."

He believes it's his final NFL contract.

"You never say never," Warner said, "but I'm old."

He had talked about needing time after the season to decide whether to retire, a thought that turned out to be fleeting.

"Probably two days after the Pro Bowl all that was on my mind was football," Warner said. "I told my wife, 'Sorry honey, it's not time.' "

He said he understands that he's getting a lot of money in a time of financial hardship for so many.

"You know the numbers are staggering, and to add to that the economy and where people are struggling, it's tough," Warner said. "But all I know is I've worked hard to get to the point that I'm at, to be in this position and have opportunities like this and I don't regret that fact."

Warner and his wife, Brenda, visited the San Francisco 49ers on Monday, but he said he knew quickly that he wanted to return to the Cardinals.

"I told my wife probably 45 minutes into it that I just felt God say 'You're supposed to be in Arizona,' " Warner said, "and I told her that. She tried to tell me to stay open, but He just continued to confirm it."

RAVENS

LEWIS SIGNS 3-YEAR DEAL TO FINISH IN BALTIMORE

Linebacker Ray Lewis will finish his career with the Ravens after reaching agreement on a three-year deal with Baltimore, which also agreed with center Matt Birk yesterday.

"From beginning to end as a Raven. ... Wow! To be with the same team with the same fans for an entire career, that doesn't happen in the NFL," Lewis said after concluding negotiations on a deal worth nearly $22 million. "I don't think an athlete can have a greater legacy than to be able to stay in one place for an entire career."

By keeping Lewis, the Ravens fill the void created at inside linebacker when Bart Scott signed with the New York Jets.

"We got better today. Our football team got better. I am very happy," general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "This will allow Ray to finish his career as a Raven."

Lewis earned his 10th Pro Bowl this season after leading the NFL's second-ranked defense with 160 tackles. He also had 3 1/2 sacks, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

Birk, 32, replaces last year's starting center, Jason Brown, who signed a five-year, $37.5 million contract with the St. Louis Rams.

MISSING BOATERS

FAMILY, FRIENDS CONTINUE TO SEARCH

Family and friends refused to give up the search for two NFL players and a third man missing four days in the Gulf of Mexico, enlisting private boats and planes to comb the waters off the Florida coast.

The Coast Guard called off the official search Tuesday for Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, free-agent NFL defensive lineman Corey Smith, who played for the Detroit Lions last season, and former South Florida player William Bleakley. The friends have been missing since their boat overturned Saturday in rough seas.

About a dozen charter boats motored out yesterday to try to locate some signs of the men. Three private planes also flew over the endless stretch of water, according to Cooper's father.

SHORT SNAPS

Bengals: Cincinnati agreed to a four-year deal with former Jets receiver Laveranues Coles yesterday, a day after T.J. Houshmandzadeh left for Seattle as a free agent. ESPN reported that the deal with Cincinnati was worth $28 million.

Broncos: New coach Josh McDaniels keeps adding former New England Patriots to his roster in Denver, signing free agent running back LaMont Jordan yesterday. Jordan is a ninth-year back who spent last season in New England after stints with the Oakland Raiders and New York Jets.

Falcons: Atlanta re-signed defensive end Chauncey Davis to a $14 million, four-year contract. Davis' agent, Kevin Conner, confirmed the terms of the deal, which includes about $8 million to be paid out over the first two years.

49ers: Linebacker Takeo Spikes re-signed yesterday with San Francisco, which also signed veteran quarterback Damon Huard. Spikes, an 11-year veteran, got a two-year deal reportedly worth $6 million to return to the 49ers.

Giants: New York signed safety C.C. Brown, who played in only three games last season with the Houston Texans after breaking his right forearm. The 26-year-old started 47 of 50 games in his four seasons with the Texans. Contract terms were not immediately available.

Jets: New York agreed to terms with kicker Jay Feely on a one-year, fully guaranteed contract yesterday, a person familiar with the contract told The Associated Press. The person requested anonymity because the team hadn't announced the deal.

Lions: Detroit signed unrestricted free-agent defensive tackle Grady Jackson to a three-year contract yesterday. The 6-foot-2, 345-pound Jackson played most of the past three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. He also has played for Oakland, New Orleans, Green Bay and Jacksonville.

Rams: St. Louis re-signed cornerback Ron Bartell to a four-year contract, addressing one of its free agent priorities yesterday. Terms were not disclosed, but the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported Bartell gets $13.6 million in guaranteed money.

Saints: New Orleans signed free-agent cornerback Jabari Greer to a four-year deal yesterday. The 27-year-old Greer spent the past five years with the Buffalo Bills, starting 23 games over the past two seasons.

Texans: Houston will keep wide receiver David Anderson after matching a contract offer from the Denver Broncos. The move yesterday came five days after the Broncos signed Anderson to an offer sheet. Terms of the deal weren't released.