Official "Thank You Kurt Warner" Thread

[Curly Horns]

Thanks for all of the fond memories and your part in our Rams Super Bowl 34victory.

I hope you enjoy your retirement from the NFL. You are a class act and one of pro sports true gentlemen.

I now look forward to your entrance into the Pro Football Hall of Fame!

[Azul e Oro]

Re: Kurt Warner

Like any Rams fan, I'm sure, I second the motion of heartfelt thanks & best wishes for one of the best people & best stories of all time in the league.

Wonder if the retirement decision will stick, though....

[AvengerRam_old]

Re: Kurt Warner

Here's a reprint of something I wrote back in 2006:

There are few unique stories in the world of sports, but Kurt Warner’s may qualify. By now, it has almost been reduced to cliché… the grocery store employee, turned Arena League player, who overnight became an NFL MVP and Super Bowl Champion. One day, Disney will make a movie about Warner, and those not old enough to remember 1999 won’t believe that it is a true story.

Almost as remarkable as his quick rise, was Warner’s fall from grace in St. Louis which lead to his departure. Injuries, a string of bad games, the rise of Marc Bulger and personal conflicts within the team ultimately sent Warner to New York to act as Eli Manning’s opening act, and now to Arizona, where he casts a shadow over everybody’s All-American, Matt Leinart.

Notably, Warner has shown some life lately, delaying the inevitable ascension of Leinart. In the first two games of this season, he’s amassed 532 passing yards and a more-than-respectable quarterback rating of 96.1. Some have proclaimed that he’s “back,” though he still is a quarterback who hasn’t made it through a full season since 2001 and has a marked problem with ball control (seven fumbles in two games this year).

So who is Kurt Warner to the St. Louis Rams today? At the most basic level, he is the quarterback of a division rival. But there is so much more there. He is, after all, the quarterback who delivered to the long suffering Rams faithful their first Super Bowl win. He is the quarterback who nearly broke Dan Marino’s single season records. He is the quarterback that headlined the Greatest Show on Turf.

In 2006, the question every Rams fan is likely asking him or herself is – do I regret that Kurt Warner is no longer the Rams’ quarterback?

I can only answer this question for myself. I do so, with the clear caveat that I am a big supporter of Marc Bulger. I believe that, notwithstanding his slow start, Bulger is the quarterback I want for the Rams right now. I believe he can be a major part of a very successful team.

And yet, to answer the question I posed – yes. Yes I do regret that Kurt Warner is no longer the Rams quarterback. I wish that the storybook could have continued in St. Louis, with Warner becoming the greatest All-Time passer in St. Louis history. I wish that Warner could have become to the city of St. Louis what Brett Favre is to the city of Green Bay. I wish that Warner could have been a player with his number on the Rams’ Ring of Honor and, one day, the next Rams quarterback enshrined in Canton.

But, it was not meant to be. I am through analyzing the “whys,” and I have no interest in discussing who, if anyone, is to blame. I’m just sorry it didn’t work out.

One day, when Warner is long retired (maybe, the Rams will have Archie Manning’s grandson at quarterback by then), the Kurt Warner/St. Louis Rams story will reach a point of closure. We’ll be able to edit out the unfortunate end of the story and focus only on that glorious run that Warner helped bring. I think that will happen. When I think of Eric Dickerson, I think of him as a Ram who broke O.J. Simpson’s record – I don’t think about the contract dispute that resulted in his trade to the Colts. When I think about Vince Ferragamo, I think about his role on the 1979 Rams team – I don’t think about his defection to the Canadian League. So it will be with Warner – I’ll remember the good times.

But for now, in 2006, he’s the quarterback of a division rival. I’ll be hoping that the Rams pressure him, force him to make mistakes, and win the game.

He’s not a Ram today.

And yet, he’ll be a Ram forever.

In a way, Kurt "became" a Ram again today. With his career over, and with him no longer vexing the Rams as a divisional rival, we can sit back, remember, the good years, and smile.

I'm sure Cardinal fans look at Kurt as one of their own, and that's okay.

But he's an all-time Ram too.

Thanks Kurt.

[r8rh8rmike]

Re: Kurt Warner

Wonder if the retirement decision will stick, though....

After watching Brenda hide her eyes every time he went back to pass in that Saints game, I think it's a good bet it'll stick. The concussions make it an easy decision.

[codeman123]

Re: Official "Thank You Kurt Warner" Thread

I am really disappointed he is retiring. He was playing great football and it was fun to watch, even though he was in our division. He is one of the best pocket passers of our era and his story will always be remembered among Rams fans.

[Varg6]

Re: Official "Thank You Kurt Warner" Thread

Congratulations to Kurt. He had an outstanding career in the NFL and I'm truly thankful that he was able to play for us and win a Championship as a St. Louis Ram.

Thanks again Kurt. We love ya!

[blood85]

Re: Official "Thank You Kurt Warner" Thread

Kurt, thanks for helping our RAMS win their first Lombardi Trophy.

[ImOnFire15]

Re: Official "Thank You Kurt Warner" Thread

Thanks Kurt for getting the Rams a superbowl and all those great memories.

[RamOfDenmark]

Re: Kurt Warner

After watching Brenda hide her eyes every time he went back to pass in that Saints game, I think it's a good bet it'll stick. The concussions make it an easy decision.

You're right.

As a football fan I'm sorry he doesn't play just one more year, I guess any year he would retire I would feel like that, but even more so with how well he is playing these days. It must be hard to stop when you're on top of your game playing Pro Bowl football every year.

But he has to take care of his health and do the smart thing, he deserves to live a long healthy life after football. It's the right decision.

He is now sure of his place in the Hall of Fame after the successful years he had with the Cardinals. I look forward to seeing him, Faulk & Pace enshrined, hopefully Bruce as well (Holt probably won't make it). We were incredibly lucky to have so many Hall of Fame players at the same time.

Good luck Kurt and thanks for all the memories!

[MoonJoe]

Re: Official "Thank You Kurt Warner" Thread

From one Iowan to another Sir and simply put, your a a good man! You're strong in your beliefs and service to God and family. You stood tall where others would fall, and you never placed blame where it didn't belong. You took credit for failures and gave it for successes. You took countless, pointless hits and never surrendered. You mentored those below you and inspired those above you. You made my life when you took our Rams to the Biggest Show on Earth and came home victorious. And if all those weren't enough, on a sunny Sunday afternoon several years back in San Francisco, you went past all of the adult autograph seekers and went straight to my then 12 year old son and signed his hat. He will never forget that, nor will I.

May your family always be happy and healthy, may you continue the Lord's service forever, and may God Bless you and keep you and yours in his arms forever.

You're a good man Kurt Warner!

[r8rh8rmike]

Re: Official "Thank You Kurt Warner" Thread

Kurt Warner. An original, a legend, a warrior, a leader, a champion, a Ram.

Thanks for a lifetime worth of memories Kurt.

[HUbison]

Re: Official "Thank You Kurt Warner" Thread

Once again, my favorite Ram. Congratulations on an outstanding career, sir.

[Warner4prez]

Re: Official "Thank You Kurt Warner" Thread

Kurt is the deal.
If not for Warner 4 President, certainly for the HoF.

[Dwight Frye]

Re: Official "Thank You Kurt Warner" Thread

Thank you Kurt. I waited 25 years for that Super Bowl win. HOF for sure!

[jerseyramsfan]

Re: Official "Thank You Kurt Warner" Thread

Kurt's the man with Vermeil a close second.... Thanks to both for giving us what we all wanted so badly.....