Although Cam Newton’s journey to the New England Patriots may seem a little unorthodox, he isn’t the first quarterback to take a similar type of route. Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner had a similar career trajectory as Newton.
Early in his career, Warner was the star quarterback for the St. Louis Rams. While in St. Louis, he was named to the Pro Bowl three times and won a Super Bowl. After two consecutive First-Team All-Pro nods in 1999 and 2001, Warner was at the mountaintop of professional football.
He then was released by the St. Louis Rams in 2004, as he battled a hand injury. Signing a one-year $3 million deal with the New York Giants, Warner was never able to capture the same magic in New York that he had in St. Louis.
It wasn’t until he got to the Arizona Cardinals that things began to turn around for him. Beginning his career with Arizona in 2005, he began to revitalize his stardom.
The pinnacle of his time with the Cardinals came in 2008. That season, he threw for 30 touchdowns and 14 interceptions, helping lead the Cardinals to the Super Bowl. Throwing for 377 yards, he completed 72.1 percent of his passes in an eventual 27-23 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
If there’s anybody who knows about bouncing back, it is Warner. Warner knows about making the most of opportunities.
“The good news is, I am a walking example that perception is NOT always reality,” Warner writes. “I was given two more opportunities — with the New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals — to prove that the overriding perception of me as a player was not accurate. I was able to return to form, playing at a Pro Bowl level and reaching the Super Bowl once more.
“Knowing Cam’s track record and the competitor that lies within him, I would not be surprised if he once again rose to the top of the league.”
We shall see if Newton can capture the same type of magic Warner had. If nothing else, Newton now at least has a blueprint to look toward as he tries to find success.
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