Many people feel that with Eli Manning is a Hall of Famer now that he’s won two Super Bowl two rings. Former Super Bowl champion and two-time MVP quarterback Kurt Warner says not so fast.
“I fully disagree with that,” Warner said during an interview with Burns & Gambo on Sports 620 in Phoenix. “I know we put a lot of weight on championships, and rightfully so. But championships are won as a team. I’m fully convinced of that. You never see one guy — a great player, great quarterback — carry a team through the playoffs and into a Super Bowl and win a Super Bowl that way. I’ve never seen it. You know even in that game [Super Bowl XLVI], it’s 21-17. That’s the game. There wasn’t a quarterback just up and down the field carrying the team.
“Yeah, he made the plays down the stretch, no question about it. He’s had two great playoff runs, or his team has had two great playoff runs. But I also look at the rest of his career. I mean, he has an 82 quarterback rating throughout his career. He’s had five of his eight seasons where he has thrown 16 interceptions or more. His completion percentage on his career is 58 percent.
“To me, those aren’t Hall of Fame numbers and by that I mean every time you step on the field you’re a game changer, you’re a difference maker. And I don’t believe Eli Manning has been that guy until this year. I think this year is the first time in his career where he’s become that guy.”
Warner says Eli needs to play another five years like he did this past season in order to be a Hall of Famer. I agree. Eli was not elite before the season. He was inconsistent and he threw a lot of interceptions. But he had a great 2007 postseason, and he had an excellent season and playoff run this season. If he keeps playing at this level, he’ll be a Hall of Famer, but like Kurt says, he’s not one yet.
And while we’re on the subject, it wasn’t until Warner had another really strong season in 2009 that I finally conceded he was a Hall of Famer.
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