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'Mr. Sunshine' Gives Cards Ray Of Hope

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By IRA KAUFMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 23, 2008

DETROIT - Football is supposed to be a young man's game.

At least that's what the Cardinals believed when they selected quarterback Matt Leinart out of Southern Cal with the 10th pick in the 2006 draft.

The desert strategy seemed sound - let Leinart break in slowly under the tutelage of veteran Kurt Warner until the kid's ready.

Three years later, the kid's still waiting.

Warner, 37, is not inclined to surrender his starting job as Arizona (7-3) takes on the Super Bowl champion Giants today.

The NFL's top-rated passer is a strong candidate to capture his third league MVP award, which would match the feat of Brett Favre, another football fossil still thriving on fall Sundays.

"This guy has always been about beating the odds," Bucs defensive tackle Chris Hovan said of Warner, whose 94.6 career passer rating is second all-time behind Steve Young. "He's a tough dude. You can't rattle Kurt Warner. He just keeps getting up, throwing spirals."

For Warner, Favre and Tennessee's Kerry Collins, experience trumps any eroding physical skills.

When Warner joined the Cardinals in 2005, he was coming off a frustrating season in New York, where he started the first nine games for a lousy Giants team before yielding to first-round pick Eli Manning.

"I never wavered in my belief what I could do," Warner said. "What I wavered in was whether I would get the opportunity to play like I knew I could play."

The Cardinals could potentially wrap up the NFC West by upsetting the Giants today and the Bucs could find themselves preparing for Warner in a playoff matchup in January.

"He can throw every ball - that's his trademark," said Bucs defensive end Kevin Carter, who won a Super Bowl with the 1999 Rams as Warner earned game MVP honors. "He was a great teammate in St. Louis, Mr. Sunshine. It's not an act. My wife and I were watching him play last week on Monday night, cheering him on."

In Arizona, Warner has outstanding targets in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, who already have combined for 129 catches and 16 touchdowns.

But don't downplay Warner's role in accelerating the development of second-year receiver Steve Breaston, also on pace for a 1,000-yard season.

It's been quite an NFL season already, marked by accomplishment and controversy.

So turn the page on Pacman Jones and embrace Mr. Sunshine, who leads the league in completion percentage and smiles.

Had your fill of Ocho Cinco? Warm up to the former Arena League standout, who didn't throw his first NFL pass until he was 27.

You can't rattle Kurt Warner, but feel free to admire him.

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