TAMPA, Fla. -- The player I'll remember most from Super Bowl XLIII is Kurt Warner. From the way he patiently answered every single press question (and, unfortunately for those of us who need juicy quotes, was media savvy enough not to say anything the slightest bit controversial), to his being named the NFL's Man of the Year just before kickoff, to his brilliant performance on the field Sunday night, Warner dominated this Super Bowl, even in defeat.What kind of big-game player is Warner? Consider this: The NFL's official record book lists the top three performers in every statistical category. This year's book will say the following:
Most passing yards, Super Bowl game:In 43 Super Bowls there have been 86 starting quarterbacks. Warner represents three of those 86, and his three starts topped all of the other 83 in passing yards.
414 Kurt Warner, St. Louis vs. Tennessee, Super Bowl XXXIV
377 Kurt Warner, Arizona vs. Pittsburgh, Super Bowl XLIII
365 Kurt Warner, St. Louis vs. New England, Super Bowl XXXVI
Warner threw for those 377 yards on Sunday despite a well-executed defensive game plan from the Steelers. This wasn't a case of Warner picking apart an inferior defense, this was a case of Warner getting every yard any quarterback possibly could against a great defense.
That Warner was only sacked twice Sunday was nothing short of amazing. The Steelers were bringing great pressure and the Cardinals' offensive line wasn't blocking particularly well, but Warner had such a quick delivery that the Steelers just couldn't bring him down before he got the ball away. He's just a brilliant football player.
Warner's contract is up, so he's about to become an unrestricted free agent, and he has said he might consider retirement. But I hope he stays right where he is, with these great receivers, as the quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals. He's super.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-02-2009 @ 8:45AM
Bob said...
I'm with ya', MDS. Kurt did just about everything in his power to bring that trophy home, including making up for his one damaging goof with a stellar 2nd half. If the defense could've held on for just 2:37 (the way they had been shutting down Big Ben the previous few drives), we would've been celebrating Warner's second Super Bowl MVP award. He's definitely worthy of the Hall of Fame.
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2-05-2009 @ 10:02AM
danfor said...
kurt warner above everything else is a christian man.He is my favorite of all.I hope he plays a few more years.
2-02-2009 @ 10:02AM
christiancomedy said...
I believe Kurt Warner's life on and off the field is the class of the league. There are many great players, but off the field their lives are in shambles. You want to look for Heroes... Look to Kurt Warner. God bless him and his family as well as the Cardinals.
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2-02-2009 @ 10:14AM
jyankeehater1 said...
Warners a class act. Too bad he turned into brett favre at the end of the second quarter!That one huge mistake cost his team a championship.Arizonas game plan in the second half was just about perfect.My question is why they ignored fitzgerald for the entire 1st half.
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2-02-2009 @ 10:55AM
c006c said...
he is a great QB but even a greater human being and that my friends tell you all you need to know about him
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2-02-2009 @ 10:59AM
roberto said...
Look, I really like Kurt Warner as a QB, but the conclusion you draw is silly. Dead Wrong. Unfortunately, Kurt lost two of his SB games and turned the ball over in both the Rams loss and the Cardinals loss. Montana and some of the others didn't put up more yardage because, in some cases, they slowed the offenses down towards the end because the game was already over and, using Montana as an example, he, like Roethlisberger led his team down field and scored at the end of one game for a come-from-behind victory. Montana threw 0 interceptions in 4 SB games. In one SB, he led the game in rushing and held the record for years. And he won in different ways with Dwight Clarke and Freddy Solomon twice and with Jerry Rice and John Taylor in two others. He did it with no rushing game the first time out. And he did it with a great rushing attach in another. And there were no fumbles and there were no killer mistakes and that makes the difference. Gaudy passing yardage is only part of the story. And, yes, I am really bummed that Warner and the Cardinals lost. Sure wish they started the no-huddle about half a quarter earlier. Larry Fitzgerald was not open in the first half. They had 3 guys around him. He got way more difficult to cover when they went to the hurry-up
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2-02-2009 @ 11:28AM
Jim said...
Warner didn't lose the game. If there is any one person to name it would be defensive back Cromartie. After the first 10 minutes of the game he was totally inept. Roth picked to trhow at hem nearly everytime. Every big gain for Pitt was against him and 2 of the touchdowns. He was burnt big time.
2-16-2009 @ 9:15AM
mm85sewisconsin said...
Warner has had an awesome postseason career and should stay in the NFC but the cardinals should Brett Favre him (#13) like GreenBay and he could continue his leagacy in Chicago leading a balenced attack and being a game manager, #22 for MVP.
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2-02-2009 @ 3:11PM
ammiezon said...
Nobody lost that game the Steelers won it. How many times has this steelers team come up with huge plays in clutch ? It's not what the other guys are doing it's what the steelers are doing. That being said it would have been great if the cards pulled it out. A cards win would have been the story that even an exciting finish couldn't top.
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2-03-2009 @ 12:10PM
waterlillies10 said...
kurt warner is the mvp , he shredded the vaunted stealers defense for 377 yards. chuck howley of the dallas cowboys got the mvp and dallas lost 16-13. he deserves this award for his performance.
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