Tag: kurt warner

Kurt Warner talks about taking the ball vs. kicking to start overtime

The NFL’s overtime rules have changed (no, really) so that both teams are guaranteed a possession but debates about overtime strategy die hard.

The NFL’s overtime rules have changed (no, really) so that both teams are guaranteed a possession but debates about overtime strategy die hard. After the 49ers scored a field goal to open the extra period in Sunday’s Super Bowl, the Chiefs responded with a game-winning touchdown drive enginnered by Patrick Mahomes. Now, San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan is getting a lot of flak for not kicking to Kansas City to start overtime.

For some reason, let’s look to Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner. Here’s his take on kicking vs. taking the ball to start overtime from earlier this week when he was a guest on the Rich Eisen Show.

Shanahan has followed up the Super Bowl collapse by inexplicably firing defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who’s definitely worth a look if there’s room on Mike Macdonald’s staff.

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Kurt Warner believes the Bears should move on from Justin Fields

The Bears are going through a quarterback crisis right now. Kurt Warner shared his thoughts about Justin Fields’ future.

The Chicago Bears have a quarterback debate going on in town. A lot of people are having this conversation both locally and nationally, which puts them in the spotlight a little bit. The options are keeping Justin Fields for a fourth season or using the No. 1 overall pick on USC quarterback Caleb Williams.

Fields hasn’t shown the progression that Chicago has hoped for but he has shown flashes of brilliance. In the meantime, Williams had an all-time great college career that included a Heisman Trophy season. The latter has an unknown to him but could he be worse than what we’ve seen from Fields?

We’ve heard from plenty of NFL greats over the last few months and now we have Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner chiming in. He knows what it takes to win while playing that position. The man has two MVPs, a Super Bowl championship, and a Super Bowl MVP.

Warner spoke to NBC Sports Chicago about the Bears’ quarterback dilemma, and he has the opinion that the Bears should be moving on from Fields.

ā€œThey are weighing a tough decision,ā€ Warner said. ā€œWhat Iā€™ll say is when you get to the point, weā€™re at with quarterbacks in this league and what you have to pay them and what that means for your organization, you better know heā€™s the guy. That, to me, really is where teams get in trouble. Like the Giants go give Daniel Jones $40 million to Daniel Jones. He hasnā€™t shown us heā€™s that guy. We can hope heā€™s that guy. Weā€™ve seen glimpses maybe, but he hasnā€™t shown us heā€™s that guy. So, the Giants are behind the eight-ball because heā€™s still not that guy. Maybe he will be in three years, but heā€™s not right now. So, they pay him.

ā€œI think the thing with Justin for me is, he hasnā€™t shown me heā€™s that guy. Doesnā€™t mean heā€™s not talented. Doesnā€™t mean he canā€™t be great and a franchise quarterback. But when you have three years and you donā€™t take out the doubt to go, ā€˜Heā€™s our guy!ā€™ I think you have to move on. You canā€™t just go pay that guy $50 million in hopes that those glimpses you saw turn into greatness. It may be unfortunate because some of these guys play too early, they are not ready yet, their next step or their next contract is going to be determined by it. But thatā€™s all we can go on. If you have played for three years, you have to prove to me youā€™re that guy.ā€

Warner doesn’t necessarily think it is all Fields’ fault but he knows the opportunity the Bears have with the number one pick in their hands for the second year in a row. You don’t get chances like this too often.

ā€œWe have to put in the elements of, theyā€™ve got the No. 1 pick,ā€ Warner said. ā€œItā€™s not like they got the 23rdĀ pick and they are just going to go, ā€˜Oh, letā€™s just go get another quarterback.ā€™ You got the pick of the litter if you believe Caleb Williams might be that guy. I think thatā€™s the unfortunate thing for Justin, but again, heā€™s had three years. Not perfect situations. Thereā€™s a lot of elements involved. But I just havenā€™t seen the consistency of his play to go, ā€˜I think he can get there.ā€™ Being unsure to me leads to you got to go get the other No. 1 pick and move forward.ā€

Warner makes a good point about it not being a random selection in the middle of the first round. Moving on from Fields for the number one overall pick is a lot different than moving on from him in favor of a random mid-round hopeful.

It is hard to disagree with Warner here. Fields has shown that he can make plays with his legs but his evolution in the passing game just isn’t good enough. That might be enough to move on from him.

Warner is very involved with today’s NFL as an analyst. He knows what he is talking about. This isn’t some random former player just throwing an opinion out there. If Poles was smart, he would consider listening to someone like Warner, who has a resume worth respecting.

Ranking the 11 best Super Bowl starting quarterbacks of the 21st century

Here are our rankings of the best Super Bowl QBs this century, especially the obvious name at the top.

There is no bigger stage for a quarterback than the Super Bowl. Sure, it is also a moment of awe and wonder for everyone else on an NFL team, but the fame and recognition that comes with being a Super Bowl quarterback is unmatched in the American sports landscape.

First and foremost, it is this position’s time to shine. Provided you don’t completely come apart at the seams, if you’re a starting quarterback in a Super Bowl, you likely become a legend for life. Full stop.

This got me thinking, as the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers get ready to square off at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday…

Who are the most memorable Super Bowl starting quarterbacks this century? Who are the game’s titans who introduced themselves to roughly 100 million people every February?

Let’s break down the top Super Bowl quarterbacks of the 21st century, with an obvious selection at the top.

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Amani Toomer recalls playing alongside ‘selfish’ Giants quarterback

Amani Toomer played alongside 10 quarterbacks during his New York Giants career and says one of them — a Hall of Famer — was selfish.

Retired New York Giants wide receiver Amani Toomer played alongside 10 quarterbacks during his 13-year NFL career and has nothing but good things to say about most of them.

One of them, however, was quite selfish in Toomer’s eyes.

During a Thursday appearance on The Michael Kay Show, Toomer was discussing the regression of current Giants quarterback Daniel Jones and suggested that outside pressure over a lack of stats had gotten to him.

Toomer said it was not the first time he had seen a quarterback become infatuated with stats and told a story about how one of his former teammates wouldn’t risk it for the biscuit.

“I have played with a quarterback who wouldn’t throw Hail Marys at the end of a half because he was concerned about his overall quarterback rating — if the Hail Mary would be intercepted,” Toomer said, via NJ Advance Media.

“I’m not going to say any names. I’m just going to say heā€™s in the Hall of Fame right now.”

While Toomer refused to name the quarterback, it wasn’t difficult to deduce. Although Eli Manning is likely headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he’s not there yet. And that leaves just one player: Kurt Warner.

Asked point-blank if it was Warner, Toomer chuckled.

“I can neither confirm nor deny,” he said.

Warner spent just one season with the Giants (2004), appearing in 10 games before being benched in favor of the aforementioned Manning. He completed 62.8% of his passes that year for 2,054 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions.

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Kurt Warner, Shannon Sharpe on Daniel Jones: Can’t play behind that OL

Kurt Warner and Shannon Sharpe aren’t defenders of New York Giants QB Daniel Jones but they admit it’s impossible to play behind that OL.

New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones began this season as a hot topic of the media talking heads. Many defended the Giants’ decision to sign him to a $160 million extension while others scoffed, saying Jones wasn’t worth the money.

Thus far this season, the Giants offense and Jones have fallen flat on their faces. They are next to last in points scored and dead last in yards gained.

Two Hall of Fame players-turned-analysts, Kurt Warner and Shannon Sharpe, both took to social media to weigh in on Jones and the Giants’ troubles this season.

Jones has been sacked 28 times so far this season, one short of Washington’s Sam Howell (29), who leads the league.

The Giants, meanwhile, have the lowest-graded pass protection (30.4) in the NFL by a somewhat large margin. And two of their linemen graded out at 0.0 in Week 5 against the Miami Dolphins.

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Kurt Warner breaks down Jordan Love’s preseason tape

Kurt Warner dug into Jordan Love’s preseason tape, and the Hall of Fame QB liked what he found.

Count Hall of Famer Kurt Warner among the growing number of outside observers who are optimistic about Jordan Love as the Green Bay Packers starting quarterback in 2023.

In the latest of his “QB Confidential” video series, Warner dug into the preseason tape of Love and liked what he found, especially from a process standout.

Specifically, Warner was impressed with Love’s ability to go through progressions, understand everything involved within certain concepts and coverages, and find the right target consistently.

“How definitive he was, getting back, seeing it, eyes in the right spot, ball out, pretty accurate for the most part when his feet were set, good on the naked boot leg. Just like what I’ve seen up to this point. Doesn’t guarantee us anything. But very seldom do you see guys that do certain things like this week after week that don’t know what they are doing, who are just falling into this kind of success,” Warner said. “Going to be some growing pains for a young quarterback who hasn’t played. All I’m telling you is that when you watch the tape, there’s been some really good things that leave me optimistic that he’s going to play some really good football this year, even if he has some bumps in the road.”

Several times, Warner highlighted Love’s ability to identify “the right place” to go with the football, which he called the most important part of playing the quarterback position.

Here’s Warner’s full video breakdown:

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Kyler Murray passing stats that might surprise you

Many of Murray’s stats compare favorably with Kurt Warner and Carson Palmer, two of the best QBs in franchise history.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has been a lightning rod for criticism since he entered the league. While he has sustained MVP-level play over stretches of two different seasons, some are hellbent on saying he is a bad quarterback.

Statistically, he compares comparably and favorably with two of the Cardinals’ greatest quarterbacks in franchise history ā€” Kurt Warner and Carson Palmer.

Let’s take a look at some of those numbers.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

Former DB compares Sam Howell to Kurt Warner

Former UNC football quarterback Sam Howell was compared to a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Former North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell is getting the chance to be the starter in Washington in just his second season in the league.

After making one start in his rookie year, Howell enters the offseason battling it out with veteran Jacoby Brissett who the team signed in free agency. While Howell is getting most of the first-team reps, Brissett is there to challenge the quarterback and force him to win the job.

As we go on this offseason, the praise for Howell continues and a former defensive back has an interesting comparison for him.

On the Command Center Podcast, former Commanders defensive back Fred Smoot answered the fill-in-the-blank question of “Who does Sam Howell remind you of?” His answer was Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner.

Smoot pointed to how the two are built and how they throw similar as to his reasoning. He also touched on the subject during an appearance on “The Kevin Sheehan Show” as Commanders Wire noted:

ā€œYeah, but he didnā€™t start off a Hall of Famer,ā€ Smoot said of Warner. ā€œYou watched him develop; you watched the story play out. So I am asking you to watch the story of the ā€˜Lone Wolf,ā€™ Sam Howellā€¦ā€¦.give this guy a chance.ā€

Warner had a unique route to the NFL, working as a grocery store stocker before getting the call and becoming a Super Bowl Champion with the St. Louis Rams and a two-time MVP as well.

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Fred Smoot says he can see Kurt Warner in Sam Howell

This would obviously be a best-case scenario for the Commanders.

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Everyone loves comparing young players to current players or retired players. It’s especially true around draft time. Some comparisons are fair, while others are…..odd.

What about Washington Commanders quarterback Sam Howell? Who can forget some of the comparisons ahead of the 2021 NFL draft, comparing Howell to former No. 1 overall pick Baker Mayfield?

Then there was the recent comparison from ESPN’s Matt Miller, who compared Howell to Colt McCoy. While it wasn’t a knock on McCoy, who has enjoyed a long NFL career, his reasoning didn’t make much sense. He noted the following on Howell: “Not great arm strength.” Anyone who has watched Howell knows arm strength is not an issue.

Since we love comparing players, former Washington cornerback Fred Smoot had a comparison of his own on a recent episode of the Command Center with fellow former Washington players Logan Paulsen and Santana Moss.

He compared Howell to Pro Football Hall of Famer Kurt Warner. Warner, the former grocery store stocker turned Super Bowl champion and two-time MVP, is one of the NFL’s best all-time stories.

Why did Smoot make the comparison?

The former longtime Washington cornerback noted that Warner and Howell were built similarly, and they throw the ball in a similar way.

Smoot further reiterated his comparison on Friday’s episode of “The Kevin Sheehan Show” podcast.

Smoot talked about the St. Louis Rams from Warner’s era, noting how Washington’s top three receivers compare favorably to the Rams’ three from that era. Then Sheehan asked him who was going to be Kurt Warner.

Smoot explained what Howell lost from his final season at North Carolina. He then discussed how all the Commanders need is above-average quarterback play with their defense and offensive weapons. He believes Howell can bring that in 2023.

“Yeah, but he didn’t start off a Hall of Famer,” Howell said of Warner. “You watched him develop; you watched the story play out. So I am asking you to watch the story of the ‘Lone Wolf,’ Sam Howell…….give this guy a chance.”

Smoot is an excellent analyst. He gives facts and experiences when discussing why he feels a certain way. As he noted, no one can predict the future, but it’s clear that he believes too many are sleeping on Howell.

Smoot’s appearance on Sheehan’s podcast is worth a listen.