Kurt Warner

When the Ravens and Joe Flacco agreed in August to put off negotiations on a long-term contract extension, the thinking was that the organization would wait to see what the quarterback could accomplish in the final season of the five-year contract that he signed as a rookie after he was selected in the first round of the NFL draft in 2008. Now that Flacco has averaged 284.3 passing yards, tossed eight touchdowns against zero interceptions, and posted a 114.7 passer rating in three postseason games, Kurt Warner thinks the Ravens are going to have to open up the wallet to retain Flacco.

When the Ravens and Joe Flacco agreed in August to put off negotiations on a long-term contract extension, the thinking was that the organization would wait to see what the quarterback could accomplish in the final season of the five-year contract that he signed as a rookie after he was selected in the first round of the NFL draft in 2008. Now that Flacco has averaged 284.3 passing yards, tossed eight touchdowns against zero interceptions, and posted a 114.7 passer rating in three postseason games, Kurt Warner thinks the Ravens are going to have to open up the wallet to retain Flacco.

When the Cleveland Browns were looking for a quarterback in the expansion draft earlier this year, nobody was surprised that they bypassed Kurt Warner for former Maryland quarterback Scott Milanovich.After all, Warner had been bypassed all of his life.He didn't play at Northern Iowa until his senior year. He wasn't drafted and the Green Bay Packers signed him, but he admitted he wasn't ready for the NFL and was cut.It took three years in the Arena League and a season in NFL Europe for Warner to make the St. Louis Rams as a third-teamer a year ago, barely beating out Will Furrer.

One game into the 2009 season - a disheartening home loss to the 49ers - and the Cardinals were finished, history, kaput. Or so most of us thought. After all, eight of the previous 10 Super Bowl losers had missed the playoffs the next season, and why would the Cardinals be any different? Besides, the last time they made the postseason, they promptly tumbled off the table the next fall. So nobody could really argue with Fox's Jimmy Johnson when, during the Week 2 pregame show, he said the Cardinals were toast.

Kurt Warner's time arrived with the St. Louis Rams on the evening of Aug. 28 in a torrent of anguish, regret and disbelief. Quarterback Trent Green had just gone down with a season-ending knee injury in a preseason game. The Rams' aggressive off-season makeover suddenly looked pointless. The losingest team of the decade seemed consigned to lose some more. Embattled coach Dick Vermeil cried, perhaps sensing that his time in St. Louis was up. Into the middle of this maelstrom of emotion stepped Warner, 28, a veteran of NFL Europe (a league for marginal players)

Assuming the winning Super Bowl team's starting quarterback is the one who guides it to victory Sunday night, either the Arizona Cardinals' Kurt Warner or the Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger becomes a slam-dunk for eventual coronation as a Hall of Famer. Hall of Fame voting has always smiled on Super Bowl victory. While individual accomplishments are obviously considered, winning the big game is crucial. Consider how many 1970s-era Steelers are there (10, including coach Chuck Noll)

Come Monday - as Jimmy Buffett once sang - either Kurt Warner or Ben Roethlisberger will be the proud owner of two Super Bowl rings. And because we live in a media culture that demands everything must be instantly analyzed as if the future of civilization depends on it, you're going to hear a lot of talk about how the winner has likely earned himself a bust in the Hall of Fame. Don't believe the hype. In Roethlisberger's case, it's simply too early to make any kind of judgment about his career.

To fully appreciate Sunday's epic showdown between MVP quarterbacks Brett Favre and Kurt Warner, you need to know about training camp, 1994. The Green Bay Packers' training camp, that is, where Favre, Warner, Mark Brunell and Ty Detmer all were working under soon-to-be genius Mike Holmgren. This overload of quarterbacking talent was no accident. Holmgren, the coach, and Ron Wolf, the general manager, collected them like bric-a-brac. Favre was in his third Packers season, one year away from the first of his three MVP awards.

NEW ORLEANS -- For all the attention given Tom Brady's ankle, Kurt Warner's ribs might pose the bigger problem in Super Bowl XXXVI. Warner suffered his injury late -- and some say needlessly -- in the St. Louis Rams' divisional playoff win over Green Bay two weeks ago, long after the issue had been decided. It was the most recent in a bizarre rash of injuries or ailments that has afflicted the Rams' MVP quarterback this season. Warner has endured an injured finger on his passing hand, bruised vocal chords, a stomach virus, back spasms and bruised ribs.

49ers@Cardinals 8:30 p.m. [ESPN] Expect much of the focus to be on San Francisco coach Mike Singletary and Tony Kornheiser to make at least one dropping-the-pants joke (most likely better than the one in the "5 things" on the previous page). Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner (right) is experiencing a second childhood, helped by a stellar receiving corps. Who's Matt Leinart?

Come Monday - as Jimmy Buffett once sang - either Kurt Warner or Ben Roethlisberger will be the proud owner of two Super Bowl rings. And because we live in a media culture that demands everything must be instantly analyzed as if the future of civilization depends on it, you're going to hear a lot of talk about how the winner has likely earned himself a bust in the Hall of Fame. Don't believe the hype. In Roethlisberger's case, it's simply too early to make any kind of judgment about his career.

Assuming the winning Super Bowl team's starting quarterback is the one who guides it to victory Sunday night, either the Arizona Cardinals' Kurt Warner or the Pittsburgh Steelers' Ben Roethlisberger becomes a slam-dunk for eventual coronation as a Hall of Famer. Hall of Fame voting has always smiled on Super Bowl victory. While individual accomplishments are obviously considered, winning the big game is crucial. Consider how many 1970s-era Steelers are there (10, including coach Chuck Noll)

NFC Matchup: Atlanta (11-5) at Arizona (9-7), 4:30 p.m. TV: Chs. 11, 4 Line: Falcons by 1 Playoff momentum: The Cardinals had one of the ugliest finishes to the regular season in the NFL, losing by three TDs to the Vikings at home and 40 points to the Patriots. Arizona lost four of its past six games. The Falcons won five of their past six, beating three playoff teams in that stretch (Carolina, San Diego and Minnesota), and had a shot at the NFC South title in the last game. Difference-makers: Atlanta QB Matt Ryan was the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year, but RB Michael Turner was the team's Most Valuable Player with 1,699 rushing yards.

The closer Mike Holmgren gets to the end of his coaching career in Seattle, the more reluctantly he seems to be going. Recently, Holmgren said he might not be done with coaching and even raised a question about the sabbatical he has planned with his wife. Two weeks ago, he gave his version of how his divorce with the Seahawks took effect. Holmgren said he told the front office he probably would retire after the 2008 season, then went to Phoenix for a vacation with his wife. Upon his return, he told the team he might want to discuss an extension.

49ers@Cardinals 8:30 p.m. [ESPN] Expect much of the focus to be on San Francisco coach Mike Singletary and Tony Kornheiser to make at least one dropping-the-pants joke (most likely better than the one in the "5 things" on the previous page). Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner (right) is experiencing a second childhood, helped by a stellar receiving corps. Who's Matt Leinart?

If Week 5 was notable for anything yesterday, it was the triumphant return of Kurt Warner to St. Louis. If there were any messages delivered, one surely was authored by the Pittsburgh Steelers, who smacked the Seattle Seahawks silly despite a horde of marquee players in street clothes. On an ugly Sunday all around, quarterbacks took lickings and reunions were better for some than others. We'll start in St. Louis, where Warner, a one-time NFL Most Valuable Player with the Rams, went home to cheers, not jeers.

Meet Kurt Warner Kurt Warner of the St. Louis Rams rocked and shocked the NFL in the 1999 season. Kurt's terrific arm and cool confidence directed the Rams to their first Super Bowl victory in 45 years. He was named Super Bowl MVP. Kurt was the Ram's most valuable player all season. While he led his team to a 13-3 record, he was setting records of his own. He passed for 4,353 yards and 41 touchdowns. He is the first player since Dan Marino to throw for 40 or more touchdowns in a season.

Washington (6-4) at St. Louis (8-2) Time: 9 tonight, chs. 2, 7. Line: Rams by 6. Vs. spread: Redskins 4-5; Rams 4-5. Series: Redskins lead 17-6-1. Last meeting: Rams won, 23-20, on Nov. 30, 1997, at Washington. Outlook: QB Trent Green used to work for the Redskins. Coach Mike Martz, too. Now both are flourishing with the Rams. Green is remarkable: Stale off the bench in place of Kurt Warner, he has produced a 2-1 record and 12 TD passes. He is showing his mobility, too, scrambling for first downs and big plays.

Heading into a tough road stretch - three of their next four games are away from home - the Ravens should have confidence after winning two straight games. But there's no sense of momentum. In the past two games, the Ravens have looked shaky down the stretch, barely hanging on at the end after failing to maintain 17-point leads in the final quarter. Are the Ravens concerned about fading the past two weeks? "I'm always concerned about everything," coach Brian Billick said. "There's been a lot of critiquing [by coaches and players]

The secondary may become a primary concern for the Ravens. For the second consecutive week, what was unfolding as a convincing victory turned into a seat-gripping thriller as the Ravens held off the Arizona Cardinals, 26-23, at M&T Bank Stadium yesterday. And much like last week's 20-13 win against the New York Jets, it was the Ravens' secondary that appeared to unravel in the fourth quarter. "It got pretty hairy, as you all can see, out there," said cornerback Corey Ivy, who made his first start since Dec. 11, 2005, replacing Samari Rolle (undisclosed illness)