The Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New York Giants are taking some of the pressure off rookie Eli Manning, signing Kurt Warner to be their caretaker quarterback until the top pick in the draft is ready.

While the two-time MVP got a two-year contract late Wednesday that will pay him a minimum of $3.5 million this year, there is no guarantee Warner will be with the Giants for more than a season.

When Manning is ready to go, he will be the Giants' quarterback.

Until then, the job seemingly belongs to Warner, the soon-to-be 33-year-old who led the St. Louis Rams to Super Bowl appearances after the 1999 and 2001 seasons. Injuries and the emergence of Marc Bulger earned him a pink slip Tuesday.

"I am looking to come in and to play and to re-establish myself," Warner said Thursday, hours after his first practice. "I would love this to be where I finish my career."

Warner has incentives that can push his salary to $8 million this season. But the second year of his contract is voidable.

The signing takes pressure off Manning, who became the Giants' starting quarterback when Kerry Collins refused to take a pay cut and was released less than a week after New York got the No. 1 pick in a draft-day trade with San Diego.

COWBOYS: Vinny Testaverde wants another chance to be a starting quarterback. Bill Parcells, who coached him for two seasons with the Jets, won't give him the top spot, but is giving him a chance.

Testaverde, 40, signed a one-year, $1 million contract with Dallas. But Parcells has said Quincy Carter, the starter for most of the past three seasons and all 16 games last year, will go into training camp as the Cowboys' No. 1 quarterback.

RAVENS: Quarterback Kordell Stewart signed a one-year deal for the $760,000 veteran minimum and took to the practice field with Baltimore. Stewart participated in a few drills but did not take part in the seven-on-seven practices.

BRONCOS: Shannon Sharpe, who is leaving Denver to become a commentator on The NFL Today on CBS, formally announced his retirement. Sharpe, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, is the NFL's career leader in receptions (815), yards (10,060) and touchdowns (62) for tight ends.

PANTHERS: John Fox, who led Carolina to the Super Bowl in his second year as its coach, signed a three-year contract extension that runs through the 2008 season. Financial terms were not released.

CHARGERS: San Diego signed punter Bill LaFleur, who had a 38.7-yard average on 68 punts last season for San Francisco.

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