Warner...Hall of Famer or not?

Kurt Warner’s Superbowl loss last Sunday was tough, but I believe he’s grateful for the opportunity to just play in the game for his third time. Since the loss some people are wondering if Warner will get elected into the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Some people say yes and others say no. I’m going to divulge in this question and give you my two cents.

Warner was stocking grocery stores before he came to the NFL. The guy came from the bottom and worked his way up, paying his due. In 1998, Warner played in the AFL for the Iowa Barnstormers (now the NY Dragons) and led them to two Arena Bowl Championship games. In 1999, Warner signed with the Rams and was sent to NFL Europe (also to note, his back up was Jake Delhomme…now playing for the Panthers). So coming back from playing in Europe, Warner’s world was fine as backup to the Rams QB Trent Edwards… until Trent Edwards got injured in the preseason and Warner needed to step in. That year, Warner had a breakout season that no one saw coming. He threw for 4,353 yards and 41 TD’s. Later on Warner would lead the Rams to a Superbowl appearance playing the Titans. Warner and the Rams won by a yard (so to say). So the guy’s first actual season in the NFL, he wins his first Superbowl. The guy got the Rams to the Superbowl. Warner got the Rams their first Superbowl title ever. I don’t want to down grade Edwards, but if Trent Edwards was playing, I don’t think he could’ve led them to the Superbowl like Warner did.

In 2001, Warner led the Rams to the Superbowl again, this time against the New England Patriots. The Rams were 14-2 that season playing the Pats led by Tom Brady. The Rams were the heavy favorite. In his 365 passing yards and one passing TD and rushing TD, Warner fell short and lost. Many people were stunned, but the Rams didn’t play well because of the Pats D kept the Greatest show on Turf from not scoring any TD’s until the fourth quarter of the game. Where it became too late. The next season, Warner started his first three games losing. The season after that (2003) Warner gotten injured and Bulger came in as the new future QB of the Rams, replacing Warner. Warner would eventually go to the New York Giants to be Eli Manning’s teacher and got replaced by the rookie QB that same season because of poor play. In 2005, Warner signed a new contract with the Cardinals. The first few years with the Cardinals Warner had struggled a bit. When the Cards drafted Matt Leinart from USC Warner would be a great teacher to the young buck. Leinart started games the first four games in 07, but when he struggled, the Vet in Warner would step in to win the games that they needed. Leinart would be placed on IR and Warner had taken over the team. In the 07 season, Warner had thrown for 3,417 passing yards, 27 touchdown passes, and 89.8 passer rating were all his best since the 2001 season. The following season Leinart was named the starting QB, but that changed when Coach Whisenhunt started Warner at QB leading the team to its first Superbowl appearance since 61 yrs. Warner that season threw for 4,583 yards, 30 TD and 14 Int which was good enough to be him to the Pro Bowl.

Over his years playing, Warner has stacked up 182 TD’s, 114 Int’s, for a total of 28,591 yards. Warner has played in the NFL for total of 10 years from 1998 to 2008. Even though he was injured in between some seasons (with Rams) and or benched (Giants), the man deserves to be in the HOF. Why? The man bought two franchises that were in the dumps to the Superbowl. He led the Rams twice and the Cards once (in a 61 yr drought). That’s a big accomplishment from the QB who was working at a grocery store. Even though he played for 10 years, I believe his work should be looked at by his accomplishments…not by how many years he has played in the league. I’ve heard some people saying that Warner shouldn’t go into the HOF because of the years he was bad. Every QB has some bad times playing. People should look at his entire body of work, not just focus on the bad years when he was playing. Look at Brett Favre…are people still not going to induct him in the HOF because of all the INT he throws? No, because voters will look at his body of work, just as they should with Warner. Also people should look at his achievements (from Wikipedia)…
• Second Highest Completion Percentage, Career (Min. 1500 attempts) - 65.75%
• Highest Average Passing Yards Per Game, Career (Min. 100 games) - 261.2 yards/game
• Most Yards Passing, Super Bowl (Game) - 414 yards vs. Tennessee Titans (only QB to pass for 400+ yards in the Super Bowl; also owns 2nd and 3rd highest yardage total in Super Bowl with 377 against the Pittsburgh Steelers and 365 against the New England Patriots).
• Most Yards Passing, Super Bowl (Career) - 1,156 yards.
• Highest Rate of Games w/300+ Yards Passing (Min. 100 games played) - 45.2% (47/104)
• Most Consecutive Games w/300+ Yards Passing - 6 (tied w/Steve Young and Rich Gannon)
• Most Games with a Perfect Passer Rating, Career (regular season only) - 3 (tied w/Peyton Manning and Ben Roethlisberger)
• Only NFL quarterback to throw 40 touchdowns and win a Super Bowl in the same season (1999).
• Most Touchdown Passes in a Single Postseason - 11 (in 2009, tied w/Joe Montana, who did it in 1990)
• Most yards passing in a single postseason - 1147 (2009)
• 4 time selection to the NFL Pro Bowl (99,00,01,08)
• 2x AP NFL MVP (99,01)
• Superbowl MVP & Winner (2000)

If those credentials can’t get him in…then what will? The guy will be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame whenever he retires.