Warner Probably Retiring On Friday

Possibly the biggest surprise story of rags to riches in NFL history is about to come to a close. Sure there have been stories about a kicker picked up from bartending and making a field goal the same week.
But never has there been a story about a quarterback stocking shelves in a grocery store, playing some Arena Football and then becoming the NFL MVP, Super Bowl winner and basically dominating the NFL for more than a decade!
Well, the Kurt Warner charmed-life story is about to close the book on his football glory days after leading the once sad-sack Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl last year and back to the playoffs again this year before falling to the Super Bowl bound New Orleans Saints.
If and when Warner says goodbye, don't expect a Brett Favre-like return by fall. Kurt Warner has a lot more than football in his life to keep him off the field for good and feel good about walking away still playing great football.
The Arizona Cardinals will miss him greatly, as they will have to turn to the QB they thought would have been leading them a couple of years ago, but Kurt Warner's play and leadership would not let him on the field. The NFL will also miss what he brought on the field and off!

NFL Playoffs: QB Showcase

A strong running game and defense are the ways to win in January in the NFL. Well, that has been a successful recipe, but these 2010 playoffs are shaping up as the QB playoffs.
The Packers and Cardinals earned their name of "Wildcard" game, with offensive records breaking all over the place and both quarterbacks putting up outrageous numbers.
The Baltimore Ravens and New York Jets are built in the classic model and still left in the these playoffs, but the Ravens travel inside to the dome of the Colts and the Jets will be in warm San Diego, California to take on the hot Chargers, who have become a QB dominated team with Phillip Rivers' dominance this year.
The NFC stays inside at 72 degrees in New Orleans and Minnesota, probably the best four quarterback matchup in NFL history. Kurt Warner and Drew Brees regularly carry their teams through games and Tony Romo and Brett Favre can do the same.
I looked forward to the Green Bay/Arizona game last week with great anticipation, because I like Aaron Rogers as much as these other guys and expected a great shootout--not quite expecting it to be what it turned into, but this weekend's games should be just as entertaining.
And the only way for the NFL to get a cold weather game of any kind before the playoffs, is if both the Jets and Ravens--the old school teams left in the tournament--win. Otherwise, it is warm weather all the way to the Super Bowl. Wait, the Super Bowl in Miami, Florida may be the coldest game from here on in.

Warner back with Cards for 2 more years

Was there ever a doubt that Kurt Warner would eventually sign back up with the Arizona Cardinals? Sure he was upset about Todd Haley, his offensive coordinator, leaving. Sure he had to take an obligatory trip to San Fransisco to make the Cardinals get off their duffs and finalize the deal. But there was no chance in the heat of the Phoenix desert (almost as hot as you-know-where) that he was going to leave the offense that got him another appearance in the biggest show on earth in the waning years of his illustrious career.
To leave the Cardinals for the 49ers would have been worse than the immortal Joe Montana leaving late in his career for the Kansas City Chiefs. That didn't end well and neither would this, but there was no chance of that ever consummating. Great luck to a great QB. Let's see if the Cards can stay on top as they will be the hunted for the first time in franchise history.

One QB Will Have 2 Super Bowl Wins at End of Day

Kurt Warner won it in 1999 and Ben Roethlisberger just two Super Bowls removed from his first NFL championship. Sunday night one of those two will add another and put himself in rare company, most of which are in the Hall of Fame.
The Arizona Cardinals will depend on Kurt Warner to drive the train for his team to be successful, while the Pittsburgh Steelers stand a good chance of winning the game if Ben Roethlisberger just stays out of trouble. That is not a knock on Bib Ben. He is very good, but it is just the make-up of his team to play it a little closer to the vest and let the defense take care of the other team's offense.
The Cardinals defense has shown throughout the playoffs that they are no slouch unit, but it is the wide-open offense, triggered by Warner's quick decisions and release that make most of the headlines.
While I love offense and am very comfortable in the Cardinals style offense, I do understand the history of this game favors the better defense and in this case I believe it will be Ben Roethlisberger hoisting the Lombardi Trophy once again.

Warner Gets to Super Bowl Again

On my weekly radio show here in Tampa (TheGameRadio.com ESPN 1040) I picked the Eagles to win the game, but said I am hoping Kurt Warner and the Cardinals win and get into the Super Bowl. It looked like it was going to be easy after the first half saw Warner connect with Larry Fitzgerald (best receiver in football right now) time and again, three of which were scores!
Donovan McNabb redeemed himself in the second half to take the lead for a very short time in the fourth quarter, but Warner and company drove the field and took the lead back for good.
Kurt Warner gave the usual thanks to God afterward and now will be the third oldest QB to start in the Super Bowl history.