For he's a jolly good fellow....

Kurt Warner, 38 year old Quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals, and one of the best playing the game today (arguably one of the best ever), has decided to retire. He has high and lows in his career, and has managed to keep just below the radar the last few years. People always knew he was good... but I don't think they realized just how good he really is. So in honor of his twelve years in the NFL, here are some pretty awe inspiring statistics to remember him by.

• He is a four time pro-bowl quarterback (1999, 2000, 2001, 2008)
• Two time NFL MVP (1999, 2001)
• Second QB in history to start in the Super Bowl with two different teams
• Has a career passer rating on 93.7 which ranks him third in NFL history behind only Steve Young (96.8) and Peyton Manning (94.7)
• Didn't get his first start until the age of 28
• In a comparison with the 14 quarterbacks to make the Hall of Fame in the last 25 years, Warner has a better career completion percentage, yards per pass attempt, and yards per game. Only Dan Marino had more 300-yard passing games.
  
• In 124 regular season games, Warner completed 65.5 percent of his passes for 32,344 yards and 208 touchdowns. He and Fran Tarkenton are the only NFL quarterbacks to throw for 100 touchdowns and 14,000 yards for two teams.
• He was the fastest player in NFL history to reach 10,000 yards passing and tied Marino as fastest to reach 30,000
• He has the top three passing performances in Super Bowl history. His 1,156 yards passing in the 2008 playoffs broke the NFL record of 1,063 he set with St. Louis in 1999.

What is even more amazing is that in between stints in the NFL Europe and Arena Football League he was stocking groceries back home in Iowa.

He is not only a great player, but a great man, winning the 2008 NFL Man of the Year award.

So here's to you Kurt (pause to raise your glass) ... See you in the Hall of Fame.





Video and Stats from ESPN.com

Welcome to Miami.

The stage is officially set for Super Bowl XLIV. We crowned the Colts AFC Champs for the second time in four years and the New Orleans Saints marched their way to their very first NFC Championship and Super Bowl birth. Here's a shake down of Sunday's Games.

The Cinderella New York Jets played one heckuva game. Their rookie Quarterback Mark Sanchez really has the potential for a great NFL career. But Peyton Manning and the Colts did what they do best. Peyton took a couple of sacks in the first half which was to be expected with the Jets having the best defense in the game. But Peyton unlocked their secrets and he and his offensive line adjusted in the second half to score 21 unanswered points. The amazing thing about the Colts in this game is that wide receiver Reggie Wayne and tight end Dallas Clark, who both had 100 catch seasons were pretty much a non-factor. Clark had a fourth quarter touchdown to all but cement their win... but it was newbies Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie who made their mark on the AFC Championship. What amazes me is that the Colts have been able to have one of their best seasons ever with an essentially "green" team (this includes head coach Jim Caldwell who is only the fourth ever to take a team to the Super Bowl during their first year as head coach). This team doesn't play like new talent team, and I am sure that has A LOT to do with the grade-A veterans at the helm. Reggie Wayne has been molding the newbies into quality, dependable receivers.



It never ceases to amaze me at how smart of a player Peyton Manning is. Sports Illustrated called him the league's most "cerebral quarterback"... and for good reason. It took him less than two quarters to figure out the Jets "highly complex, blitz-happy defense", something even Bill Belichick and Tom Brady couldn't do. He is quite possibly the smartest player in the NFL. Thought the Jets fought the valiant fight... it's hard to beat the best quarterback in the game today.

N o w... how about that other game! I would first like to say... Brett Favre, I owe you an apology. I know that I have given you a lot of crap over the last two years (who hasn't really?), but you clearly stil l had some gas left in the tank and managed to play the best football of your career at age 40. You got hammered by the New Orleans defense, and I don't just mean for an old guy... you r eally got the S@!* kicked out of you. But you never gave up, you got back up every time and did everything that you could do to try and get your team to Miami.






With that being said... if you look at the numbers, the Vikings should have won that game. Except if you look a little bit closer at the numbers there is one stat that says otherwise... turnovers. Not only did they fumble the ball and unbelievable six times... but Favre threw for two interceptions. One of those interceptions happened with 12 seconds left in the game... and honestly never should have happened. All they needed to do was rush for just a handful of yards and put themselves into field goal territory. From there they could have sent it through the uprights and packed their suitcase for Florida.

As happy as I was for the Saints and the city of New Orleans on making it to the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history (and they have been around for 43 years...), I must say it would have been a pretty awesome sight to see Brett Favre against Peyton Manning. That game easily might have ranked as one of the greatest quarterback match-ups of all time. Favre holds a lot of records that Peyton Manning is on pace to break. It would have been a passing of the torch so to speak.

But alas... that is not the case. But if you look at the way both the Saints and the Colts started their season (13-0 and 14-0 respectively) then the game is the way it should be. This is the first time since 1993 that both #1 seeds will be playing in the Championship game. As to who is going to win? Well that is a tough call. I think a lot of it depends on which Saints team shows up. If it is the well oiled machine that thoroughly embarrassed the Patriots in week 13... then I think the Saints have a pretty good shot of winning. But if the lackluster and dare I say "lucky" Saints who managed to have fate (and at times the referees) on their side then I think it will be a Colts ball game. With that being said... of course my ultimate pick is going to be the Colts. Drew Brees is great but Peyton Manning is better. In the words of Walter Cronkite... "And that's the way it is."

Everybody loves a good countdown... Top 10 Championship Games

The Division Championship games are happening tomorrow and the match ups promise to make for some interesting games. The Colts, after starting 14-0, made the controversial decision of benching their starters and essentially throwing away their last two games. Jim Caldwell and Co. will see if their decision pays off in the AFC Championship game against the Rex Ryan and the New York Jets. Then Mr. AARP himself, Brett Favre and his Minnesota Vikings take on the Cinderella Saints in a battle for the NFC Championship. My picks? I am going with the Colts (no shocker there) and the Saints.

So in honor of tomorrows game, here is the NFL Total Access count down the top 10 Championship games of all time....

10. 1992 NFC Championship
Cowboys vs. 49ers
Cowboys win 30-20
San Fran had a new talent at QB with Steve Young who had led his team to a 14-2 season ... but along came the Jimmy Johnson, Troy Aikman, Emmit Smith and a 13-3 record to dash their Super Bowl dreams. The Dallas defense had four takeaways, Aikman threw for 322 yards, and Smith rushed for 114 to take Dallas to the Super Bowl where they would defeat the Buffalo Bills.


9. 1983 NFC Championship
Redskins vs. 49ers
Redskins win 24-21
The 49ers came back from 21 points down to tie the game in the fourth quarter. But 49ers quarterback Joe Montana threw an interception on the final play of the game to cement the Washington victory.


8. 1994 NFC Championship
49ers vs. Cowboys
49ers win 38-28
This was the third consecutive year these teams faced off in the conference finals. San Fransisco lost the last two meetings so the pressure was on for Steve Young to deliver. The 49ers picked up free agent Deion Sanders whose attitude was a breath of fresh air to the offense and helped lead Steve Young and the San Fransisco 49ers to a Super Bowl victory over the San Diego Chargers.


7. 1998 NFC Championship
Falcons vs. Vikings
Falcons win 30-27 (OT)
The Vikings were a 15-1 team and the Falcons came in at 14-2 so you knew the game was going to be good with two records like these. With two minutes left in regulation, Minnesota had a chance to seal their victory when kicker Gary Anderson (who had made 44 straight field goals) missed the kick... This would mark the first time that a 15 win team would fail to make the Super Bowl.


6. 1990 NFC Championship Game
Giants vs. 49ers
Giants win 15-13
The 49ers were trying to become the first team ever to win three straight Super Bowls and they were 2:36 away from getting there when Roger Craig fumbled the ball which was then recovered by the Giants. The Giants moved down into field goal range and the rest was history.


5. 1987 AFC Championship Game
Broncos vs. Browns
Broncos win 38-33
With 1:07 left in the game Denver had the lead but Cleveland was closing in on the red zone after coming back from a 21-3 deficit. The Browns' Earnest Byner was headed for the goal line and the game winning touchdown when he was hit hard by Jeremiah Castille who stripped the ball... and the win, from Byner.


4. 2006 AFC Championship Game
Colts vs. Patriots
Colts win 38-34
Peyton Manning led his team back from an 18 point deficit to make for of the greatest games ever played. With the score at 38-34, Colts, the last person you want taking the field is Tom Brady. So Peyton Manning sat on the sidelines, head down unable to watch, when the Colts' Marlon Jackson picked of Tom Brady with 16 seconds left in the game... If you haven't seen this game, find it on the Internet and watch it, even though you know the outcome it is hard not to get excited and emotional while watching this game for the ages.


3. 1986 AFC Championship Game
Broncos vs. Browns
Broncos win 23-20 (OT)
John Elway and the Broncos went 98 yards to tie the game (with 37 seconds left) and cement themselves in sports lore with what is simply known as "The Drive". Denver won more than five minutes into over time with a 33 yard field goal.


2. 1981 NFC Championship Game
49ers vs. Cowboys
49ers win 28-27
With 51 seconds left in the game the 49ers trailed the Cowboys by six points, San Fran QB (and future hall of famer) Joe Montana took the snap from the Cowboys' six yard line. The Dallas defense was rushing Montana who took a step back to his right to buy himself some time. Montana launched the ball down field to the corner of the end zone, most people thought it was going to be a throw away pass. Then out of nowhere, 49ers wide receiver Dwight Clark popped up and made the catch to win the game... and thus the legend of "The Catch" was born.


1. 1967 NFL Championship
Packers vs. Cowboys
Packers win 21-17
Better known as "The Ice Bowl", this is widely considered the greatest NFL game ever due to the hostile conditions at Lambeau Field, the rivalry between the teams, the duel between the two future Hall of Fame head coaches, and the epic conclusion. It remains the coldest game in NFL history. The official game time temperature was a brisk -13 degrees (with the wind chill it was closer to -36). Lambeau had a turf heating system, but it was easily over powered by the frigid temperatures, making the field smooth as ice and hard as a rock. Officials were unable to use their whistles after the first play because the metal froze to the lips of the referee who tried to blow on it. After three grueling quarters of play, the game was sitting at 14-10 in the Packers favor, however in the first play of the fourth quarter Dallas took a 17-14 lead. With less than five minutes left in the game, Packers quarterback Bart Starr led his team down the field all the way to the one yard line. On third-and-goal, Starr used the Packers' final time out with 16 seconds remaining in the game. While conferring with Green Bay Coach Vince Lombardi (maybe you've heard of him, I think there is some kind of trophy named after him...), Starr recommended a quarterback sneak. Lombardi's response, "Well, run it and let's get the hell out of here." Dallas Head Coach Tom Landry expected a pass attempt because a completion would end the game and an in-completion would stop the clock and give the Pack one more try for the end zone or at least allow them to kick a field goal, tie the game and send it to overtime. The sneak worked and the Packers went on to win the greatest (and coldest) game ever played.

Top Ten All Time Greatest Quarterbacks

I found this article on the ESPN website. It is John Clayton's countdown of the top ten greatest quarterbacks of all time. Some of them aren't surprising... Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana,Dan Marino, John Elway... but I was surprised to see some other names on there. Let me clarify, I was surprised to see them on there already... Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre. It is especially interesting to see where they rank and his breakdown of why he ranked them that way. The NFL now is vastly different from the NFL of yesteryear... to me it would be like comparing apples and orange. Are there any names on the list you expected to see that aren't there? Do you think anyone doesn't deserve to be on there? Check it out for yourself, let me know if you agree. Enjoy!

Everybody's working for the weekend.

With a little over three weeks away from the Super Bowl, the Playoffs are in full swing. Last weekends Wild Card Games were mainly blow-outs, I think this weekend is going to be a lot different. This is maybe the best display of pro quarterbacks in playoff history. Manning, Favre, Warner, Brees, and Romo. It should be a fight to the finish... and here are my predictions for who is going to make it out alive.

Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints

I am going to take New Orleans on this one. I Think that Kurt Warner is playing phenomenal ball right now, but after last weekends game... you know, the one where the defense never showed up... I think that the Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints are going to take them. The N.O defense is better and I would like to think that they got losing out of their system in the last three games of the system. With that being said however... the Cardinals are going to be feeding off of momentum from last weekend. The Saints could probably use some divine intervention on this one.

Indianapolis Colts vs. Baltimore Ravens

If there is one

thing I am afraid of it is momentum. And the Ravens have it. They just knocked off the once mighty Patriots and will be ready for battle against the well rested Colts. The rest of the country seems to think so too with an NFL.com poll split 50/50 when asked who would win this match up. This is when I am hoping that Coach
Caldwell's decision to bench the starters pays off. But, I am still going to pick the Colts to win this one... and not just because I am a fan. I think that Peyton Manning has a better d-line, and better receivers than the Patriots. The Baltimore defense may keep the score low, but between Manning and Ravens QB Joe Flacco there is no contest. If the Colts defense can stop the Baltimore run game than the game should go their way. I don't think it will be easy, but I think it will be possible. GO COLTS!


San Diego Chargers vs. New York Jets

This one is easy. Chargers are going to easily win this one. I have a feeling that this one will be the only blow out of the weekend. After a shaky start the Chargers found their feet and have been one of the most consistent teams in the NFL. It is almost too easy for Phillip Rivers with targets like LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates... the Jets wont be able to defend them.



Minnesota Vikings vs. Dallas Cowboys

I saw how the Vikings played against the Chicago Bears a few weeks ago... it was abysmal. And with the Cowboys being red-hot... I am going to take the Cowboys in this match up. I think that the Dallas Defense will shut down Brett Favre. Old Man Favre is notorious for throwing interceptions while under pressure... as a matter of fact he has thrown more interceptions in his career than any other quarterback in NFL history. I don't think it will be a cake walk for Dallas... but I don't see it going to overtime either.

What. A. Weekend.

This Wild Card weekend really delivered. Of course the game everyone is talking about is the Packers/Cardinals game. And why shouldn't they? This was the highest scoring playoff game in history. It has even been called one of the great all time NFL games. The Pack came back from an unbelievable deficit to take the game into over time. Green Bay QB Aaron Rogers threw for a franchise high 422 yards in the game (what?!). 39 year old Cardinals QB Kurt Warner threw for more than 379 yards. He threw more touchdowns than incomplete passes... REALLY?!?!? And wouldn't you know that in a game where apparently both teams defenses apparently never made it out of the locker room... the game would be decided in over time by a defensive play. The Cardinals knocked the ball right out of Rogers' hands. I wont dwell on this game, if you want to know more about it just turn on Sports Center anytime over the next week and I am sure you will hear everything you want to know. In one word, the game was ridiculous.

But this wasn't the only "Seriously?!" moment this Wild Card Sunday. How about the Baltimore Ravens taking it to Bill Belichik and the Patriots? Some have talked about how this could be the end of a football dynasty. Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusets was filled with boos from their stunned fans as the Ravens stunned their Patriots 33-14. What is even more amazing than that is the fact that the Ravens trampled the Pats with a
quarterback who ended the game with a 10.0 passer rating (the highest you can get is a 158.3). He threw for a ridiculous 34 yards and completed 4 of 10 pass attempts. WHAT?!?! You beat Tom Brady... THE Tom Brady with those stats? Who do you think you are? I am officially speechless... ok not so much. The Ravens were all about the run game today. Ray Rice tore up the turf with 22 carries for 159 yards. And that is apparently all you need to beat the Patriots at home in the post-season for the first time in eleven years. I predicted the Pats to win and I have never been so happy to be proven wrong...well maybe not. I don't know how I feel about those Ravens taking on my Colts next Saturday. I would rather play the imposters in the Patriots uniforms that showed up today... anyways, I digress.

• 

The Cowboys have their first playoff win in 16 years. Romo was on his game and the Dallas D' was brutal. The Eagles' QB's (both of them) ate more turf than a fat guy at a steak buffet. End of story.


The Jets blew by the Bengals behind their rookie QB Matt Sanchez and breakout defensive star Darrelle Revis. The Jets will see the white hot Chargers next weekend.

If next weekends divisional matchups are anything like the Wild Card weekend... expect some serious fireworks. Stay tuned later in the week for my predictions.

Wild Card Weekend is upon us...

Ahhhh.... it is that time of the year, PLAYOFFS! There was a wild crazy wild card race with every team under the sun competing for their chance to extend their season. So here are my predictions for Wild Card weekend.

Saturday Games

New York Jets vs. Cincinnati Bengals

AFC

The voters on the NFL.com poll are split 50/50 about the outcome of this one.
However I am going to go with the Jets.
Carson Palmer has more experience than Mark Sanchez. However the Jets offense has more total yards per game, rushing yards per game, and points per game.
Not to mention the Bengals defense has allowed more total yards per game, more passing yards per game, more rushing yards per game, more points per game, and more third down conversions. I predict a close game... but the jets will be victorious in the end.



Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys
NFC

The playoffs haven't been good to the cowboys over the last few years. And this is a rematch of the Cowboys' 2008 season ender in which the 'Boys got walloped 44-6.
But I am going to go with "America's Team" this year and say that the Cowboys are going to take this one.
The Cowboys, after all, are the team that finally beat a 14-0 Saints team.
Not to mention the fact that just last week the Cowboys beat the Eagles in an embarrassing 0-24 loss. Romo is playing at his best and will hopefully be able to shed his post-season ghosts.


Sunday Games
Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots
AFC

If you have read my blog ever then I think it is pretty obvious who I want to lose this game... but I just don't think that it is going to happen. So much to my dismay, I am going to pick the Patriots to win the game. Even without Wes Welker... they still have Tom Brady. There is really no comparison between Joe Flacco and Tom Brady... they are in completely different leagues.



Green Bay Packers vs. Arizona Cardinals
NFC

I love Kurt Warner and I think he is a great QB.... but this is Aaron Rogers' year. I am going with the Packers. The Pack beat the Cardinals last week... but that doesn't factor that much into my decision because Warner only stayed in the game for nine plays. The Packers have a better defense and a better offense with more points scored, more third down conversions, more passing and rushing yards. Again, I think it will be a good game, but in the end... the Cheese Heads will reign supreme.



There you have it... these are my predictions. I wouldn't mind a few upsets, well really just the Patriots. Anyways, stay tuned for complete post-season predictions. Don't agree with mine? Tell me yours!

Save your energy... You're gonna need it for the big dance.

So everyone is making a big to-do over the fact that the Colts head Coach Jim Caldwell made the decision to rest their starters for the majority of the last two games of the regular season. One of which had playoff implications, another of which was in a blizzard. Sure, according to some, both teams were "weak" teams. But despite the vicious outpouring of criticism for Coach Caldwell and the Colts organization... not everyone feels this way.

I, as a Colts fan, am not offended by this decision. I welcome it. People are going on and on about how this is a disservice to football fans... and especially Colts fans. I have seen my Colts lose in the first round of the playoffs the last two years in a row. To me, a perfect season is winning the Super Bowl... that is what matters, that is what people remember. So if resting the big guns is what you need to do to get me there... so be it.

Why would I want my quarterback, one of the front-runners for the MVP award, playing longer than he has to against the toughest pass rush in the league (the Jets)? Why would I want him, or Reggie Wayne, or Dallas Clark to play in a blizzard where the risk for injury is even more likely... think of all the knee injury possibilities. Why? Especially when we have home field advantage locked in throughout the playoffs and a first round bye...

Look at what happened to Wes Welker of the Patriots. This guy had a phenomenal season with the Patriots... 123 receptions for more than 1,300 yds. (Compare that to Randy Moss' 83 receptions). And in the Patriot's finale at Houston, he gets injured on his first reception. He tore apart his knee... and now the Pats are scrambling to come up with a "Life without Wes" plan.

I was reading an ESPNBoston blog about how Welker's injury doesn't justify the Colts' decision to bench their starters and it got me all fired up. Howard Bryant, the Author talks about how the Colts just "tossed away" a perfect season. How "Cadwell and Co. seem to act so cavalierly about being 14-0, as if it happens every day. " Guess what, two teams did it this year, one did it in 2007... so that makes it three in the last three years. Let's talk about your feelings for a second Mr. Bryant. Could you possibly be a little upset that Bill Belichick didn't think along the same lines? See... doesn't it feel better to just open up really acknowledge the source of your anger? And what did we learn in this session? That Bill Belichick is the source of the worlds... I'm sorry, the source of your anger. We did some good work here today... see you on the couch next week.

On another note... If you have already achieved your playoff goals, then why not let some other guys get the chance to start? Yes, Curtis Painter (the third string Indy QB) looked like a Mighty Mite playing out there, but backup QB Jim Sorgi is injured and the poor kid had never taken an snap in an NFL game before. Why not let him get some game experience? What good is he ever going to be if he never gets to play?

There is a downside to this whole stiuation. Now that the Colts have rested their starters to keep them healthy for the post-season, what if they don't win it all, then it was "all for nothing". But I still stand by my original argument. The Colts have had a rough season. Most of their wins didn't come from huge blow outs, as a matter of fact, the Colts have come back to win the game in the fourth quarter 7 TIMES this season. Of their fourteen wins, half of them were won by 4 or less points (three by four or less, four by three or less).

I understand if the people in the stands were upset... you paid a lot of money to see the game. I understand if you want that perfect 16-0 season... It would be nice. But untwist those panties for a second and think about whats nicer than a perfect season. The Vince Lombardi Trophy...

(for any ladies reading this... just so you know, the Vince Lombardi Trophy a.k.a the Super Bowl trophy is made by Tiffany and Co.)