2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists

Warner's best years compare favorably with lots of HOFers. But did he do it long enough at that level?

 

Yep. He didn't just help two teams to the Super Bowl. He helped the Rams and the Cardinals.

 

Here's what gets me about the argument that Warner should somehow be docked for playing with great receivers like Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin: they are considered great receivers, in large part, because of what they accomplished with Warner.

In the Super Bowl year, Boldin had a thousand yards and 11 TDs in only 12 games. He hasn't equaled either number since, despite playing at least 14 games in each season since.

In the Super Bowl year, Fitzgerald had 1400 yards and 12 touchdowns. This season he couldn't even crack 800 yards and had 4 TDs.

Neither guy has had anything close to the level of success they had with Warner.

 

This is why Tim Brown does not have the greatest support, he blames others:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/01/21/tim-brown-suggests-sabotage-by-bill-callahan-in-super-bowl-xxxvi/

Revisionist history, Brown fails to remember that the Raiders won because Gannon was the MVP; he ran the West Coast offense.

Callahan probably just blew a gasket, yeah I'm the HC at the Super Bowl and I want to sabotage my shot at glory (and probably immortality) so my predecessor can win. Sure Tim whatever you say.

 

???

Fitzgerald had a 1,400 yard season after Warner retired and with the Kolb/Skelton shit show.

Boldin had a 101-1377-8 season as a rookie in 2003 with the Blake/McCown shit show.

Both have had great seasons without Warner. The only time Warner had a great season without them was when he had Holt, Bruce and Faulk.

 

The Raiders lost the AFC title game in 2000 because they tried to run on one of the best run defenses in NFL history.

They lost the 2002 Super Bowl for reasons including trying to pass on the league's best pass defense, and oh yeah . . .not changing the freaking terminology of their offense despite the fact they were facing the guy who invented it.

Callahan wasn't deliberate. Just stupid.

 

Barrett Robbins as well

 

FWIW, Jerry Rice backs up Tim Brown's claim -- at least the part about the last-minute panic switch to a passing attack and the part about it messing with Barret Robbins' fragile head.

http://blog.sfgate.com/49ers/2013/01/22/jerry-rice-backs-up-tim-browns-claim/

Rice also suggests the sabotage motive, but I think that was in the grand old tradition of continuing with the premise set by the question.

 

Ya, I'm sure a game-plan switch is what made Robbins go off the deep end. Good analysis there, Jer.

 

I heard Greg Papa on the radio today, he was/is the Raiders PBP guy, and he said no way. Papa spent two days with Robbins in Fla and was told the real reason for Robbins' AWOL was something personal, NOT this. Papa also said he spent an hour with Callahan before the game and Callahan was simply very confident in what they were going to do.

Rice is not exactly the best source, per Papa, he's got a huge ego and always looking to deflect blame.

Look, you've got the MVP, Gannon, who ran the West Coast the whole year and you want to go power run? Callahan would be run off the lot.

Ironic isn't it, two of the biggest MeMeMe receivers is saying they actually wanted to run rather than pass in the biggest game of the year (left unsaid, they were fine with that). Not buying this 10 years later.

 

Does a receiver break through this year? It definitely won't be Brown.

 

I think yes and Brown's outburst is the reason. Now they are down to two choices and they can debate either-or instead of going round and round on three guys.