Because the Arizona Cardinals are in the Super Bowl. The recent cosmic futility of the Detroit Lions has really obscured the utter putridity of the Cardinals franchise. They stunk. They stunk real bad for a really long time. This is a franchise who's best moment was authored by Jake freaking Plummer. For the past two decades, owner Bill Bidwell has been more loathed in Arizona than snow. And it doesn't matter anymore. Bring on the Super Bowl.
On to some thoughts on the Cardinal's victory:
Kurt Warner is a great quarterback. I've sung his praises before, and I'll do it again. His quick release and pinpoint accuracy busted Philly's blitz. And my goodness, he took a few vicious hits but got right back up.
He is a legit hall-of-famer. In the last ten years, since '99, name me three QBs who have done more--Brady, P. Manning...and that's it. He's now gone to three Super Bowls (that's more than St. Brett folks) and is the man behind the biggest plays in the history of 2 franchises, and I don't know another QB who can stake that claim (the Rams: the 73-yd TD pass to Bruce with 2 minutes left in SB 34; the Cardinals: the TD pass to Hightower against the Eagles). He has a career playoff QB rating of over 95 and a record of 8-2. I realize that he's had a strange career arc (see: 2002-2006), but you can put his best 5 seasons up against anyone's. And he's coming back next year for more.
Larry Fitzgerald is unbelievable. He is immune to double teams. He beats you long, he beats you short (kudos to OC Tom Haley for calling a splendid game and using Fitzgerald so well), he gets yards after contact. I'm no sap, and I hate cliches, but what I liked most about his performance against the Eagles were two plays in which he didn't make catches. On the fourth-to-last and last plays of the Cardinals' winning td drive, first after Hightower ran for a clutch 1st down inside the 10, Fitzgerald raised his arms exuberantly, and then after Hightower scored, Fitzgerald started jumping up and down and screaming like a maniac. This passion from a wide receiver in the NFL (on plays not involving himself but the team) is refreshing.
On the other side there's McNabb, who was so close to completing one of the great comeback wins of all time. But in the span of a few minutes, he became the QB with a record of 1-4 in championship games. He made some great plays, but was too inaccurate in clutch situations. He might never get another chance.
When Philly went up 25-24, most probably thought the game was over. The Cardinals had done nothing in the second half. But that's what made the final drive (14 plays, 72 yards, 8 minutes) so awesome.
The Cardinals have a young team. They have great players who will get better (Fitz, Rolle, Cromartie...). They play in a terrible division. They will be formidable for the next few years.
I think the Warner HOF talk is fascianting. he's had THREE full seasons as a starter in teh NFL but has won 2 MVPs and brought his team to the SB in all 3 of those years. If he somehow beats the steelers, you'd have to consider him for the hall. What QBSs have won 2 SBs as a starter? Montana, bradshaw, brady, starr, elway, and Griese (am i missing anyone?) Simms was the starter for most of 90 but Hostetler was QB in the playoffs. Either way, either warner or roethlisberger will join that list.
ReplyDeleteEvery QB who won 2 SBs is in the HOF except Jim Plunkett (Raiders; did not have good career numbers at all). The list is short: Starr, Griese, Bradshaw, Staubach (you left him out), Bradshaw, Montana, Elway, Brady. If Warner wins another, he is a guarantee.
ReplyDeleteBut beyond that, unlike another late 30's QB who played for the Jets this year, Warner still has some fuel left in the tank. He will have, presumably, another season or two with the Cardinals (and Mr. Fitzgerald) in which he will probably put up another 7,500 yds and 40+ tds. After that, his stats won't even be in question.
And let me reiterate: Warner is top-5 all time in QB rating, playoff QB rating, yds/att, %comp. And don't discount the fact that Warner is a great guy that the media loves.
And one more point: Warner was not that bad with the Giants. He was 5-4 with a rating over 85. The biggest problem was that he lost 11 fumbles (though the o-line protection was simply not there). After they benched him, the Giants went 1-6.
dont think Warner and Co will be able to compete with the Steelers. as to HOF, career stats should be the determining factor.
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