Warner Still Has It: Former Two Time MVP Quarterback and Super Bowl Champion Should Return in 2007

The 2006 season looked so promising for the NFL's Kurt Warner after signing a new contract with the Arizona Cardinals during the off-season. It looked as if after being run out of town in St. Louis, and basically being a stop gap in New York with the Giants in 2004 that he had finally found a home where he could possibly finish his career. There was no question the Cardinals had to draft a young quarterback though, Warner isn't getting any younger and has had trouble staying healthy for a complete season dating back to the 2000 season.

When Matt Leinart dropped down in the draft and the Cardinals selected him it was rather obvious that Kurt Warner would not remain the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals for the entire three year duration of his new contract. And it's common sense as to why, first of all your not going to let a young quarterback with the superstar potential of Matt Leinart stand on the sidelines holding a clip board for three seasons, maybe one, two tops, but not three. Secondly Leinart at least in his days at USC showed the ability to be a very effective quarterback in this league, still plenty of young quarterbacks have shown great promise in college but have never been able to duplicate that promise in the NFL. Leinart is a bit unique in that he has a bit of superstar status and popular media following that not all young athletes coming out of college have. And let's face it, the Arizona Cardinals are not the most popular or successful franchise in the NFL or in all of professional sports. Matt Leinart could possibly give them a face to the franchise for the first time in ages, and that's a big reason why they drafted him aside from his athletic ability. So it's no surprise that this news was a bit disappointing to Kurt, he handled the situation very positively and with class the way he always does, but you could hear it in Kurt's voice after Leinart was drafted that he sensed his leash as the starting quarterback may have just decreased a tad, a huge tad.

Since 2001 Kurt Warner has never truly been assured he was the starting quarterback anywhere. In 2002 due to injuries and the success of Marc Bulger in St. Louis, for the first time in Kurt's short career he had to look over his shoulder. In 2003 despite being promised the starting job even if he faltered by then St. Louis Rams head coach Mike Martz, he was benched after one game, never to return as the starting quarterback in St. Louis again. In 2004 he was able to win the starting job with the New York Giants, but with Eli Manning waiting in the wings there was no question his leash would be short, and despite having the Giants at a winning record he was benched mid-season in favor of Manning. Then in his first season with the Cardinals in 2005 he played well but suffered another injury and Josh McCown wasn't to shabby in Kurt's absence, once again leading to yet another quarterback controversy Kurt had to endure, fortunately the organization felt Kurt gave the Cardinals the better chance to win and was rewarded with a three year contract going into 2006 while Josh McCown was allowed to walk. Yet the record would play again with the drafting of Matt Leinart.

After a very impressive performance in the opening week of the 2006 season against the San Francisco 49ers it appeared that Kurt might have put to rest any thoughts of Leinart starting at least in his rookie season, but consecutive losses and a problem that has haunted Kurt for years now in turning over the football lead to Cardinals Head Coach Denny Green going with Matt Leinart for the rest of the season. Kurt would not see action again until Leinart was injured in the 15th game of the season. Warner would play the entire second half against the 49ers, the Cardinals would win that football game. And because Leinart's injury proved to be season ending Kurt was named the starter during the final game of the season at San Diego. Keep in mind the San Diego Chargers were undefeated at home going into that game, were perhaps the best team in football at that time, and despite playing for a half the week before Kurt still had to have some rust to shake off after missing action for several weeks. Still Warner threw for 356 yards and 1 touchdown, and nearly led his team to a come from behind victory. Unfortunately for the Cardinals they lost the game 27-20, but as a Kurt Warner fan the thing I noticed was just how crisp Kurt looked.

He wore gloves the entire game, and interesting enough he did not fumble the ball which is something he's had trouble with. It's a great sign as well that Kurt is receptive to the fact that he needs to hang onto the football if he has any chance at starting with any team again. You could see it in Kurt's eyes that he is still very much locked into the game, he still has that fire that you saw in him from day one. He's also a veteran now in this league, and while the pressures and challenges of losing his job and being run out of a town that once loved him had to have been difficult to deal with, it's obvious it's also made Kurt a stronger person and a more wise athlete.

When Warner was benched earlier in the 2006 season he talked about retirement for the first time in his career, I can't say that I blame him. He has accomplished a lot in his short career, and loyalty to players is becoming more and more rare in sports today. It is a more what have you done for me lately type of league in the NFL, and Kurt might be a former Super Bowl Champion and Two Time NFL MVP, but that was then and this is now. And perhaps he finally realized it was time to move on to the next chapter of his life. However even before he saw action again later in the season he began talking about returning in 2007, and after getting his feet wet again and playing the game he seems to be leaning more towards returning from what I've read and heard.

One thing is for sure, Kurt Warner can still play in this league, and he's very capable of being a starter anywhere and in my opinion should be a starter somewhere. If he returns it remains to be seen whether or not he'll return to Arizona, but barring injury to Matt Leinart he won't be the starter there. Should he decide to hang it up though he has nothing to be ashamed of, he may be a Super Bowl Champion and an NFL MVP, but most importantly he's a Champion as a human being and a true example of how athletes should present themselves in this day and age. Kurt Warner will always be an athlete and person I'm proud to be a fan of.