This Sunday’s NFC Championship game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Philadelphia Eagles pits two unlikely teams and two elite quarterbacks against each other. The stakes for the teams are high with a trip to Super Bowl XLIII in the balance but it may also cement the Hall of Fame status for one or both of the starting QBs.
The case for Donovan McNabb: McNabb is appearing in his fifth NFC Championship in his 10-year career, with one Super Bowl loss on his resume. He has thrown for nearly 30,000 yards (ranks 33rd in NFL History), run for 3,109 yards and has appeared in five Pro Bowls. McNabb, despite having a tumultuous relationship with the fans in Philadelphia, has been one of the elite quarterbacks this decade leading the Eagles’ West Coast offense, especially when healthy. While he was never the best QB in the league, he has been consistently very good despite never playing with superior wide receiver talent, with the exception of Terrell Owens for less than two seasons.
The Case for Kurt Warner: Warner is the two-time NFL MVP (1999, 2001) and Super Bowl Champion and MVP (1999). He has been elected to his fifth Pro Bowl this season and ranks third all-time in QB rating (93.8) and second all-time in passing accuracy (65.7%). In his 11-year career, Warner has had five outstanding seasons, five mediocre seasons and one non-factor campaign (played in only one game as a rookie). In his first three years with the St. Louis Rams, Warner lead the “Greatest Show of Turf” to great heights, winning two MVPs and going to the Super Bowl twice. The next two seasons were injury and turnover-filled. He landed with the NY Giants in 2004 but it became apparent that he was warming the position for Eli Manning. Then Warner finds the fountain of youth in Arizona, and after a couple seasons battling injury and Matt Leinert for the staring position, Warner puts up back-to-back outstanding seasons in 2007 (3,417 yards, 27 TDs) and 2008 (4,583 yards, 30 TDs).
Verdict: McNabb is an outstanding quarterback who can improve his HOF status with another Super Bowl appearance. McNabb should also have five more productive years to cement his HOF entry. Kurt Warner, despite having a lull in the middle of his career, was so outstanding with the Rams and Cardinals that the two-time MVP should make it to Canton regardless of Sunday’s outcome.
6 comments:
By virtue of his two MVP seasons and his selection as Super Bowl MVP performance, Warner will get into Canton, regardless of the balance of this year's playoffs.
McNabb is a different story. He doesn't have the individual accolades, but he can change all of that with a SB victory this year, however unlikely that might be.
Well as we march on to another Super Bowl, the QB's are at the center of discussion. In the AFC, Joe the rookie is helping his great Raven D and could make the best 1st year splash ever with 2 more wins. The other story is Big Ben who with a 2nd title could be a early Hall of Fame canidate. Ben looks like he will be around for awhile and making many deep runs in the playoffs in the future. Mow in the NFC, we have a game that could make a Hall of Famer out either Warner or McNabb. If either one gets there or win I feel that the Hall will call and both QB's have been underrated and unsderappreciated. So let's see how the next three weeks play out....Go STEELERS
E COMPLETE
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