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Kurt Warner calls it a career

EDDIE LEE
NFLPosts.com Editor

Is Kurt Warner a hall of famer? Injuries and humble beginnings robbed him of the preferred longevity but over a six-year span, split, amazingly, at the bookends of his career, he was as accurate and as deadly as any QB in the history of the game.

The Arizona Cardinals QB called it quits at the age of 38 on Friday, completing a dizzying rags to riches and back again story that saw him released by three NFL teams while also compiling 2 MVP awards. He led two franchises, the Rams and Cards, to the Super Bowl and won with St. Louis.

Warner’s 12-year totals aren’t hall-worthy: 2,666 completions (26th), 32,344 yards (26th), 208 TDs (26th). They reflect the comet-like success of his first three years as a starter when he directed The Greatest Show on Turf in St. Louis and his final phoenix-like three years in Arizona, when he resurrected his career and orchestrated a similarly lethal air attack.

Injuries and doubt filled in the intervening 5 seasons, when he was released by the Rams, the New York Giants and also benched by the Cardinals in favor of Josh McCown and rookie Matt Leinart.

Yet his story is the stuff of football legend.

Coming out of Northern Iowa in 1994, he was given a cursory tryout by the Brett Favre-Mark Brunell-Ty Detmer-laden Packers and released. After stocking shelves in a Cedar Rapids grocery story for $5.50 an hour, he would find success in the Arena League with the Iowa Barnstormers and in NFL Europe with the Amsterdam Admirals.

Still, it took a season-ending knee injury to starter Trent Green on the eve of the 1999 season — and a bawling Dick Vermeil, for Warner to get his shot with the Rams. A Super Bowl title and an MVP season later, Warner was Cinderella in cleats.

Warner claimed another MVP title in 2001 but the clock struck midnight the next season. A broken finger and hand would lead to fumbling problems and ineffectiveness. The effect of mounting concussions also took a toll and Warner was released by the Rams, who turned to Marc Bulger, and later, the Giants, who gave his job to rookie Eli Manning in mid-season.

The prototypical pocket QB, Warner is lethal when he’s in rhythm with his receivers. With a quick release and uncanny accuracy — if he’s surrounded with above-average talent on the flanks and given time to throw, Warner has few peers in the history of the game. And the bigger the game, the better he seemed to play.

In three appearances, he chalked up the three greatest passing days in Super Bowl history.

Because of his roller coaster career, Warner’s effectiveness is best illustrated by career averages: a 65.5 completion percentage (2nd all time), 258.8 yards per game (2nd), a 93.7 passer rating (6th).

Peyton Manning came into the league at the same time as Warner and while the Colts QB’s passing totals are leagues ahead, the per game averages are surprisingly similar; 64.8 completion percentage (4th), 261.1 yards per game (1st) and a 95.2 passer rating (5th).

Is that enough to get Warner to Canton?

Two MVPs and a Super Bowl title laid the foundation. His finishing kick in Arizona should complete the amazing journey. Not on the first ballot, but eventually.

Even hall voters have to be swayed by a grocery boy making good. Twice.