The case for Kurt Warner the Cardinal vs. Kurt Warner the Ram
Jan 23, 2017, 7:26 AM | Updated: 3:14 pm
(AP Photo/Winslow Townson, File)
Kurt Warner won two NFL MVPs and Super Bowl XXXIV, in which he was named the game’s MVP.
Twice he made first-team All-Pro, twice he led the NFL in touchdown passes and once he led the league in passing yards.
All of those, plus three of his four Pro Bowl berths, came as a member of the St. Louis Rams.
Strip away the accolades, however, and there’s a case to be made the Hall of Fame hopeful is more an Arizona Cardinal. Unlike baseball, the Pro Football Hall of Fame does not enter players as members of just one team. But since we tend to think of Kurt as a Cardinal, here’s the case anyhow — and we say that with all due respect to Warner’s single season with the New York Giants.
Warner led the Cardinals to Super Bowl XLIII in the 2008 season, one where the four-time Pro Bowler’s only other honor was a 2008 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.
Career-wise, Warner played more total games as a Cardinal than he did as a Ram, completed more passes as a Cardinal, threw for more yards as a Cardinal and when it came to touchdowns and interceptions, was more effective as a Cardinal. Not to mention, Warner still lives in Arizona.
Regular season
Cardinals | Rams | Verdict | |
---|---|---|---|
Games | 61 | 51 | Cardinals |
Completions | 1,371 | 1,121 | Cardinals |
Completion % | 65% | 66% | Rams |
Passing yards | 15,843 | 14,447 | Cardinals |
Yards per game | 259.7 per game | 283.3 per game | Rams |
TDs | 100 (1.64 per game) | 102 (2 per game) | Rams |
INTs | 59 (0.97 per game) | 65 (1.27 per game) | Cardinals |
Yards/attempt | 7.53 | 8.56 | Rams |
And even though Warner led the Rams into the playoffs more times, his postseason statistics were better with Arizona.
As a Cardinal, Warner’s postseason accuracy was incredible. His completion percentage of 71.1 would rank first all-time among quarterbacks with over 100 attempts, while his touchdown-to-interception ratio was much better with Arizona compared to his time with St. Louis.
Playoffs
Cardinals | Rams | Verdict | |
---|---|---|---|
Games | 6 | 7 | Rams |
Completions | 138 | 169 | Rams |
Completion % | 71% | 63% | Cardinals |
Passing yards | 1,731 | 2,221 | Rams |
Yards per game | 288.5 per game | 317.3 per game | Rams |
TDs | 16 (2.67 per game) | 15 (2.14 per game) | Cardinals |
INTs | 4 (0.67 per game) | 10 (1.43 per game) | Cardinals |
Yards/attempt | 8.92 | 8.29 | Cardinals |