2010 NFL Mock Draft: First round (third edition)

In my second installment of my 2010 NFL Mock Draft I received some comments from outspoken Redskins and Lions fans discussing their opinion on my selections of a quarterback and offensive tackle respectively.

Well now that the Senior Bowl has come and gone that has only a very slight effect on the third edition of my mock draft. So with that being said here is the third edition of my 2010 NFL Mock Draft. Click here for my first and second editions of my previous mock drafts (click first for the first edition and second for the second edition and it the future so on and so forth).

1) St Louis Rams: Ndamukong Suh, DT Nebraska

Examination: This pick, baring some bizarre reason Suh suffers a major injury, is set in stone for me for two reasons. One, because Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo is a true defensive minded head coach and that’s exactly how he plans to build up the Rams with defense first.

Two, the Rams are a team dying for talent and Suh is with out any doubt the best player with the best upside in the entire 2010 draft.

Suh brings immediate impact along with unmatched talent and intensity which makes Ndamukong Suh the best overall pick going No. 1 overall to the St Louis Rams.

Second option: Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma

2) Detroit Lions: Russell Okung, OT Oklahoma State

Examination: No matter what people say Russell Okung is the right pick for the Detroit Lions at No. 2 overall in the 2010 NFL Draft.

A lot of people have the Lions choosing between Okung and Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy but when you are a team like the Detroit Lions in a rebuilding mode, with your franchise quarterback and wide receiver already in the fold you need the third piece of the triangle.

That being left tackle, the most important position outside of quarterback because the Lions need to have a long term answer to protect Matt Stafford’s blindside.

Right now the Lions have 32 year old Jeff Backus and 34 year old Jon Janson at left tackle. For a team rebuilding the Lions will need to get younger as well as upgraded talented at the left tackle position and no one fits that bill better than OT Russell Okung from Oklahoma State with the second overall pick.

Second option: Ndamukong Suh, DT Nebraska

3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Gerald McCoy, DT Oklahoma

Examination: A lot of people have Tennessee safety Eric Berry going to the Buccaneers third overall and I had him going to Tampa in my last mock draft but after reviewing the Bucs needs and areas where they need improvement I landed on defensive tackle over safety.

Currently the Bucs have Chris Hovan (31) and Ryan Sims (29) currently starting at the defensive tackle positions (4-3 defense).

With the selection of McCoy, it would bring a fresh, aggressive pass rushing defensive tackle into the Bucs defensive line. Something the Buccaneers defense could definitely use as Raheem Morris rebuilds this franchise.

Second option: Eric Berry, S Tennessee

4) Washington Redskins: Anthony Davis, OT Rutgers

Examination: I was debating between Jimmy Clausen and Anthony Davis for this pick and I decided for my third edition to go with Davis, which will most likely change as the draft moves closer.

With Mike Shanahan as the Redskins new head coach and executive VP there is going to be a tough decision in the Redskins war room come draft day. It’s ultimately going to come down to Clausen vs Davis and more importantly QB vs LT and which need is more of a concern to Shanahan and his coaching staff.

The Redskins lost LT Chris Samuel to retirement after suffering a career ending injury. Replacing Samuel was Levi Jones who does not fit long term as a corner stone of the Redskins franchise.

It’s always the key in the NFL to select the franchise left tackle, then the quarterback then either running back or wide receiver depending on need but left tackle and quarterback are 1a and 1b in order of importance.

So with that being said I have the Washington Redskins selecting OT Anthony Davis from Rutgers fourth overall in the 2010 draft.

Second option: Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame

5) Kansas City Chiefs: Eric Berry, S Tennessee

Examination: If the draft falls the way I have it falling in this mock draft it becomes very hard for the Chiefs to make this pick because their biggest need at left tackle is gone with Russell Okung and Anthony Davis already off the board, the only two tackles worth taking in the top 10.

Then you have to move down to wide receiver and it might be too early to take a player like Dez Bryant from Oklahoma State but it is still a possibility.

So flip over to the defensive side where they have selected defensive ends Tyson Jackson (09) and Glenn Dorsey (08) in the first round the last two years so defensive line is not a high priority for the Chiefs. Their linebacking corps is in motion but is still a solid core of players.

So move to the defensive backs where there isn’t much talent outside of Brandon Flowers. So if Russell Okung and Anthony Davis are both off the board then safety Eric Berry is the best pick for the Chiefs fifth overall.

Berry can bring a great added presents into the Chiefs defensive backfield which will help improve their defense which ranked 29th in the NFL allowing 26 PPG.

Second option: Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma State

6) Seattle Seahawks: Sam Bradford, QB Oklahoma

Examination: This couldn’t work out better for Pete Carroll and his new coaching staff as they look to rebuild the Seahawks organization so they can be a winning franchise competing for a Super Bowl year in and year out.

The selection of Sam Bradford is a perfect fit for the Seahawks now and long term for two reasons.

One, the Seahawks have a 34 year old quarterback in Matt Hasselbeck who has had more than his fair share of injuries of his career and they have begun to pile on the last two years. With a new philosophy coming in with Jeremy Bates as the offensive coordinator it is a perfect fit to bring in Sam Bradford into the fold as the Seahawks look to build the core of their team through the draft and they need to put the pieces in place this season not a year or two down the road.

Two, the Seahawks have always had their offense up and running which allows the defense to be a lot more successful that it has been in the past three years. The Seahawks have everything in place on offense but a few missing pieces on the offensive line, some which Alex Gibbs (new OL coach who is a genius with the ZBS and doesn’t need high drafted OT and OL to be successful, he uses third, fourth and fifth round offensive linemen) can help with and some that the Seahawks will have to address later in the draft. Other than LT the Seahawks have a secure group of wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs led by Justin Forsett who will be the number one running back next season.

The only thing missing for the Seahawks on offense is a talented young quarterback who can lead this team back to the Super Bowl.

Sam Bradford is the best quarterback in the draft with impeccable accuracy and a highly underrated arm and great awareness for a quarterback and knows where he is at all times.

So with the sixth pick in the 2010 NFL draft and the first pick in the Pete Carroll era in Seattle I have Sam Bradford going to Seattle.

Second option: Joe Haden, CB Florida

7) Cleveland Browns: Joe Haden, CB Florida

Examination: With “Big Mike” now running the show in Cleveland the decision that has to be made with Holmgren and Mangini is who is going to be the quarterback in Cleveland? Brady Quinn, Derek Anderson or ditch both and go with a QB like Clausen in the draft.

Once the two decide on a quarterback then they can decide where they want to go in the draft. Holmgren has always been an offensive minded coach and GM but has a solid draft record and recommendation when he wasn’t the GM but still was the head coach.

Marcus Trufant, Lofa Tatupu and other late round picks. So if Holmgren and Mangini want to fill a void as well as add some high end talent then the pick of Joe Haden from Florida is the perfect pick. Haden has a lot of similarities to Jets corner Darrell Revis.

Second option: Dez Bryant,WR Oklahoma State

8) Oakland Raiders: Carlos Dunlap, DE Florida

Examination: Like I have stated in my previous two mock drafts when it comes to mocking the Raiders pick you have to turn into a 80 year old grumpy outdated GM and Owner who always gets called out for his picks, most recently of Darius Heyward-Bay and Jamarus Russell.

So in this case I’m sticking with my previous selection of Florida defensive end Carlos Dunlap. Dunlap has great talent at defensive end with a 4.7 40 time which would still appease Davis.

Whether Richard Seymour will see-more enough dough to be convinced to come back to Oakland is yet to be seen but even with him Dunlap is the selection.

Second option: Bruce Campbell, OT Maryland

9) Buffalo Bills: Jimmy Clausen, QB Notre Dame

Examination: Much like the Seattle Seahawks at No. 6 overall this is the perfect scenario for the Buffalo Bills. Right now the Buffalo Bills have nothing at the quarterback position.

Now yes new GM Buddy Nix said they have some good QB’s but they never have the protection needed, you can not stand there and tell me that you are muy contento with Ryan Fitzpatrick, Trent Edwards and Brian Brohm at quarterback moving forward.

I don’t think anyone in their right mind would say that.

Now granted they did hire Chad Gailey as the teams new head coach so who knows they might even draft Tim Tebow here.

Now in all seriousness the Buffalo Bills, should the draft fall this way which is has a good chance of doing, need to select Jimmy Clausen with the ninth overall pick.

Second option: Bruce Campbell, OT Maryland

10) Jacksonville Jaguars: Derrick Morgan, DE GT

Examination: Te-Bow…Te-Bow…Te-Bow. That’s the sound you’re going to hear from a lot of Jacksonville Jags fans over the next few months leading up to the draft. However I do think Tebow should and will end up in Jacksonville but this is way to early to take him.

The Jags have a few options here depending on how the draft falls. They could just go ahead and take Tim Tebow to bring back the fans and start to make some profit in Jacksonville. Or they could actually decide to go for talent and need and hope that Tebow falls to them in the second round and take a pass rushing defensive end like Derrick Morgan or Jason Pierre Paul.

I feel that the Jags will take the Georgia Tech product over the USF product in this case.

The Jaguars recorded only 14 team sacks in 2009. Morgan recorded 12.5 sacks alone in his final season at GT so that shows if the Jags want to improve the team to a winning franchise they will need to look at a defensive end, in this case I have them taking Derrick Morgan from Georgia Tech with the tenth pick in draft.

Second option: Tim Tebow, QB Florida

11) Denver Broncos: Rolando McClain, LB Alabama

Examination: This pick is all hanging in limbo with what happens to Brandon Marshall and where he will be traded or not. I still will have McClain mocked here for the Broncos even if Marshall is traded, which I see as a high likely hood.

Also the Broncos will have to figure out about Elvis Dumervill and his situation but overall I have this pick being Alabama ILB Rolando McClain to the Denver Broncos 11th overall.

Second option: Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma State

12) Miami Dolphins: Earl Thomas, S Texas

Examination: Bill Parcells is large and in charge still in Miami so right off the bat that rules out Dez Bryant with this pick because Big Tuna never takes wide receivers high in drafts. Terry Glenn was the exception because the owner at the time, Bob Kraft demanded it when he was the head coach.

Now that Parcells runs the show in Miami he will be looking at NT, FS, CB and LB as the main holes to fill this off season and mainly in the draft.

Today the Dolphins cut disgruntled linebacker Joey Porter so linebacker becomes a little bit more of a glaring need. However I have Rolando McClain going one spot higher to the Denver Broncos so that option is out (in this mock draft at least).

So looking at those positions of need for the Dolphins and then look at the players still on the board. Nose Tackle would be Dan Williams, free safety would be Earl Thomas, corner back would be Donovan Warren and linebacker would be Sean Weatherspoon.

Out of those four and looking at the needs I have decided to go with Texas safety Earl Thomas to the Miami Dolphins 12th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Second option: Dan Williams, NT Tennessee

13) San Francisco 49ers: Trent Williams, OT Oklahoma

Examination: For some reason a lot of people have running back C.J Spiller being selected here by the Niners but the last time I looked Frank Gore was still in the 49ers backfield so that would be a waste of a pick.

However they do have a need on the offensive line and at the tackle position. Trent Williams, along with Bruce Campbell are the two best offensive tackles on the board and for the 49ers Trent Williams fits more into their scheme than Campbell.

Second option: Bruce Campbell, OT Maryland

14) Seattle Seahawks: Jason Pierre Paul, DE South Florida

Examination: In this mock Pete Carroll is batting a thousand in his first ever draft for the Seahawks with Sam Bradford and now Jason Pierre Paul.

The Seahawks had zero pass rush last season and as I pointed out in my Julius Peppers article the Seahawks defensive success starts with the pass rush. Last season the Seahawks recorded 28 sacks, the lowest amount in over five years.

So as Pete Carroll starts his Seahawks era it will be very crucial to get a dominant pass rushing defensive end, or two if the team decides to sign Julius Peppers in free agency.

It has shown in recent years, as I pointed out in my Peppers article that the higher the team sack total the better the defense is as a whole which leads to more wins for the Seahawks.

Second option: Mike Iupati, G Idaho

15) New York Giants: Dan Williams, DT/NT Tennessee

Examination: This will come down to who’s on the board and what happens with Osi Umenyiora. No matter what happens the Giants need to draft a defensive tackle to stop the run because last season the Giants defense gave up over 420 points a franchise high.

So now that defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan is out after only his first season on the job it’s now the focal point of the Giants off season to improve their underachieving defense.

Selecting defensive tackle Dan Williams from Tennessee to stick in the middle of the Giants defensive line will go a long way to improving the run defense and the overall Giants defense for a long time.

Second option: Brian Price, DT UCLA

16) Tennessee Titans: Brian Price, DT UCLA

Examination: The Titans need help on defense but Carlos Dunlap, Derrick Morgan and Jason Pierre Paul are all off the board so they can move to defensive tackle and still select a great consolation prize with Brian Price from UCLA.

Price made a great decision to come out a year early and the Tennessee Titans will love this pick if Dunlap, Morgan and Pierre Paul are all of the board.

Second option: Brandon Graham, DE Michigan

17) San Francisco 49ers: Donovan Warren, CB Michigan

Examination: With the 49ers taking an offensive tackle with their first of two first round picks they can now turn their attention to their next need, that being corner back.

This season the 49ers had to resort to signing Dre Bly as well as not having any long term solution opposite of Nate Clements.

So the selection of Donovan Warren gives the 49ers a great cover corner for a long time.

Second option: C.J Spiller, RB Clemson

18) Pittsburgh Steelers: Mike Iupati, G Idaho

Examination: The Steelers can go one of two ways with their first round pick. They can address their need on the offensive line or they can look for a long term replacement for NT Casey Hampton who will be 33 soon.

Even if the Steelers decide to franchise Hampton they still won’t have a long term solution at nose tackle but right now there isn’t any elite or close to elite nose tackles on the board so the Steelers have to turn to the offensive line and that’s where Mike Iupati from Idaho fits perfectly.

Iupati is a stand out offensive guard who can play anywhere on the offensive line so that makes this pick all the better for Pittsburgh.

Second option: Bruce Campbell, OT Maryland (I have him as a lot of teams second option)

19) Atlanta Falcons: Everson Griffen, DE USC

Examination: The Falcons have only one need this off season and that is to greatly improve the pass rush on defense which only recorded 28 sacks in 2009.

The Falcons could go with a linebacker here but defensive end us the number one need and because I don’t see Peppers dawning red next season Everson Griffen is their next best option with all the other defensive ends off the board.

Second option: Sean Weatherspoon, linebacker Missouri

20) Houston Texans: Taylor Mays, S USC

Examination: The ideal pick for the Texans here would be Earl Thomas from Texas but he’s long gone in this draft so they have to slide down to the next best safety which would be hard hitting Taylor Mays from USC.

The Texans have never had that elite safety presents in franchise history so it’s important they add an aggressive hard hitting safety early in the draft.

21) Cincinnati Bengals: Dez Bryant, WR Oklahoma State

Examination: Talk about taking a Brady Quinn fall except this time there isn’t any place between the Broncos and Bengals for Dez Bryant to go so the Bengals hit the lotto with this one . The Bengals are in need of receivers and with the passing of Chris Henry and that age of Chad Ochocinco it’s key that the Bengals pickup a sure handed wide receiver that they can add with Chad as well as build on as the future continues.

Tight end is also an option but I’m not sold on Oklahoma’s Jermaine Gresham over Dez Bryant.

Second option: Jermaine Gresham, TE Oklahoma

22) New England Patriots: C.J Spiller, RB Clemson

Examination: It’s amazing that Spiller would fall all the way to the Patriots at 22 but I don’t see any team dieing for a running back ahead of them and the Seahawks don’t need a running back and the 49ers could grab one later in the draft.

This would be great for New England’s offense because Spiller is an explosive running back but can also catch the ball out of the backfield and be great on special teams which will be the seal for Bill Belichick.

Second option: Jared Odrick, DT Penn State

23) Green Bay Packers: Bruce Campbell, OT Maryland

Examination: I think a lot of teams will be worried about Campbell’s injury history and that he’s another product of the Maryland system, however he is a great offensive tackle which will keep him in the top 25.

This is a dream come true for Green Bay because they don’t have to trade up to get an elite left tackle for the long term to protect Aaron Rogers, something that is a high importance for the Packers this off season.

Second option: Charles Brown, OT USC

24) Philadelphia Eagles: Brandon Graham, DE Michigan

Examination: The winners of every draft, the Philadelphia Eagles have a chance to turn an almost elite player into a break out player, in this case a break out defensive end with Brandon Graham.

The Eagles will need to upgrade their defensive line opposite of Trent Cole and if they don’t sign Julius Peppers in free agency they will be hot for a defensive end in the draft and Brandon Graham would be an excellent selection for the Eagles.

25) Baltimore Ravens: Jermaine Gresham, TE Oklahoma

Examination: The Ravens are in the same position as the Bengals are, in need of receiving options for Joe Flacco. Derrick Mason is on the fence again in terms of retirement and Todd Heap isn’t getting any younger.

With all the options of receivers on the board Gresham is the best of all them still remaining and a player who can come in right away and make an impact.

Second option: Arrelious Benn, WR Illinois

26) Arizona Cardinals: Charles Brown, OT USC

Examination: Well now that we all know Warner has retired to join the Jay Leno football league and that Matt Leinart will once again be given the chance to be the starting quarterback for the Cardinals in 2010.

However now that they know who the quarterback will be they will need to improve their offensive line which is really shaky with Mike Gandy giving up over nine sacks this season and having Levi Brown being at right tackle.

Brown can come right in as a rookie and start at left tackle which will be important for the Cardinals moving forward.

27) Dallas Cowboys: Maurkice Pouncey, G Florida

Examination: Here’s a player who’s stock will rise or fall depending on how the rest of the draft plays out ahead of him.

The Cowboys need help on the offensive line and Pouncey is the best offensive lineman available while bringing a lot of talent with him, he’s only a small reach.

Second option: Arrelious Benn, WR Illinois

28) San Diego Chargers: Jared Odrick, DE Penn State

Examination: The Chargers have two ways they could go with this pick. They could address their need a running back with LaDanian Tomlinson’s release coming soon but C.J Spiller isn’t on the board and Jahvid Best is really a home run hitting running back not a first and second down back.

So that leaves their need on the defensive line as the best option for this pick. Outside of defensive end Luis Castillo the Chargers don’t have a great defensive end threat on both sides of the line so it’s important for them to go out and select a guy like Odrick who can come in and be that guy.

Second option: Jerry Hughes, DE TCU

29) New York Jets: Arrelious Benn, WR Illinois

Examination: The Jets made the right decision by going with Mark Sanchez last season but now their next goal is to get him a long term wide receiver that he can build and grow with as his Jet career moves along.

The Jets acquired Braylon Edwards from the Browns for a second round pick in the 2010 Draft and now he’s set to become an unrestricted free agent if the Jets don’t resign him.

However while Edwards did help the Jets he still doesn’t have good hands and that worries a lot of people for the Jets but even if the Jets decide to resign Edwards long term they are still going to need a young productive wide receiver opposite of Edwards and Benn fits the bill.

Second option: Jerry Hughes, DE TCU

30) Minnesota Vikings: Kyle Wilson, CB Boise State

Examination: Here’s another player to watch fly up draft boards, Kyle Wilson from Boise State is probably the second best corner in the draft but because not many teams have needs for corners he’ll fall to the mid to late first round and that’s good news for the Minnesota Vikings.

Cedric Griffin is an above average corner in this leage, not the best of the best but still above average. However after his ACL surgery it’s going to take 8-10 months before he can return so not only did they need another corner opposite of Griffin but now they are most likely going to need someone to step in at the one to take his place.

Wilson is that guy who can fill in for Griffin and to a great job until he gets back. Then after Griffin is able to return Wilson just slides over to the two, opposite of Griffin and continue.

It’s a win-win for the Vikings.

31) Indianapolis Colts: Bryan Bulaga, OT Iowa

Examination: The Colts don’t have that many big needs, their biggest need is signing Manning which shouldn’t be too hard. Who knows maybe he’ll take a page from Seattle Mariners ace lefty Cliff Lee “I want a ten year deal for about $200 billion, haha I don’t know”.

However after Manning the Colts do need to improve on their offensive line and especially at left and right tackle which Bulaga can play both.

So I’m sure Bill Polian will do wonders again and Bryan Bulaga will eventually be their left tackle for the long term.

32) New Orleans Saints: Sean Weatherspoon, OLB Missouri

Examination: Well the Saints won a Super Bowl, now before they can think of going back to back they first have to survive their off season which consists of over 23 total free agents.

The Saints have a solid linebacking core right now but they do need another play maker in the front seven and Weatherspoon is that play maker.

NOTE: I received a lot of comments on both of my first and second editions of my mock drafts saying I need to update my mock draft. Well here is how I do it, I don’t have one draft that I edit over and over and over because eventually it gets confusing. So now I post a new mock draft with links to my first two and as time goes on I add the rest and etc. But this is just a note to everyone that I post a new mock draft, not edit the same one over and over.

You can follow Lars at Twitter http://twitter.com/larshanson

Check out Lars’ sports blog: http://hansonsportsblog.blogspot.com/

Brett Favre or Kurt Warner? Who has had the better NFL career?

In the NBA you have Kobe or LeBron. In the NHL you have Crosby vs Ovechkin. For the most part in the NFL it’s always been Brady vs Manning deciding who’s the best quarterback in the NFL.

I decided to go beyond the usual comparison of who is the best quarterback in the NFL right now with Manning and Brady. I decided to compare two forty year old quarterbacks who’ve been making “comebacks” for three years now.

Warner with Arizona and Favre with Green Bay, NY Jets and most recently Minnesota.

I’ve never heard someone compare Brett Favre and Kurt Warner so I decided to be the first and even though I was born and raised by my father (Randy Hanson) who was a Green Bay Packers fan now turned Oakland Raiders fan I don’t have a bias for or against either quarterback.

Adding the two future HOF’s together you get two Super Bowl titles, five MVP’s, 16 Pro Bowl selections, 101,673 passing yards, 705 TD’s and 445 Int’s along with tons of other milestones and stats.

Just the shier volume of those stats says a lot about the two quarterbacks. However the question is which one has had a better NFL career?

Before I break down both players I would like to explain the question. When comparing who has had the better career I’m going by stats, Super Bowls, awards and team success (determined by win/loss record).

With that being said it’s time to break down arguably two of the best QB’s in NFL history along the likes of Joe Montana, Joe Namath and John Elway among many others.

Brett Favre:

69,329 passing yards (1st all time)
497 passing touchdowns (1st all time)
6,083/9,811 completions
86.4 QB rating

11 Pro Bowl selections
3 first team all pro selections
3 second team all pro selections
3x NFL MVP
2x NFC champion
Super Bowl XXXI winner (31)
181 career wins
13 playoff wins
Madden 2009 cover boy(just for humor)

Examination: The good old boy from Gulfport Mississippi was a second round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons in the 1991 NFL draft. Favre only lasted one year in Atlanta, attempting only four passes in that time. He was traded to the Green Bay Packers for running back Tony Smith and a first round draft pick. Favre’s NFL career started off unlike any other.

After being traded to Green Bay he replaced starting quarterback Don Majkowski in the second game of the 1992 season and after Majkowski had to be finished for the season by week three Favre became the starting quarterback and finished his first season in Green Bay with a 9-7 record missing the playoffs by only one game. He was elected to his first Pro Bowl that season.

Favre led the Packers to their first playoff birth in 1993 while earning his second consecutive Pro Bowl selection. That off season Favre agreed to a $19 million dollar, five year deal.

In 1994 Favre led the Packers to consecutive playoff appearances. A first since the Vince Lombardi era.

From 1995 to 1997 Brett Favre won three consecutive MVP awards in which was arguably one of the best times in his career, which also came at a price.

In May of 1996 Favre went into rehabilitation for Vicodin addiction, which caused a seizure during a hospital visit for various injuries.

From 1998-2002 Favre was entering the middle portion of his now storied NFL career and in 2001 Brett Favre signed a “lifetime contract” with the Green Bay Packers. $180 million, ten year contract to remain a Green Bay Packer, essentially for the rest of his NFL life. Something that would eventually be broken.

On December 21st 2003 Brett’s father died of a heart attack. The next day Favre elected to play on Monday Night Football in one of if not the most memorable games in NFL history, if not at least for Brett Favre. On that night, a day after Favre lost his father he threw for four touchdowns in the first half, 399 total yards in a 41-7 win over the Oakland Raiders.

After the game he said “I knew that my dad would have wanted me to play. I love him so much and I love this game. It’s meant a great deal to me, to my dad, to my family, and I didn’t expect this kind of performance. But I know he was watching tonight”.

2007 could be nicknamed Brett Favre’s milestone year for the simple face that he broke at least three major NFL records in one year. Favre passed John Elway on the all time wins list with 149 against the Giants. Favre passed Dan Marino’s all time touchdown record on September 30th against the Vikings in which he connected with Greg Jennings on a 15 yard slant route to give Favre his 421st touchdown pass in his career.

Favre’s first attempt at retirement came in 2008 when the Packers decided to go with Aaron Rogers as the starting quarterback, at the same time keeping Favre’s contract and not granting him his release.

On August 7th 2008 the Packers traded Favre to the New York Jets for a conditional fourth round pick. In New York Favre started out hot but that diminished toward the end of the season when he was having problems with his throwing shoulder.

One year after trading for Favre the Jets released the quarterback and he was able to sign with any of the 32 NFL teams should he decide to. However Favre made it very clear which team he was going to play for if the deal came right.

That team was the Minnesota Vikings.

After informing Vikings officials that he was retired he later changed his mind and on August 18th 2009 the Vikings and Favre came to an agreement on a two year $25 million dollar contract.

Now five months later the Vikings wait has paid off with the team only one win away from a shot at Super Bowl title.

So reflecting on Brett Favre’s illustrious, history and towards the end controversial career, it’s without a doubt in anyone’s mind that Brett Favre is a sure lock for the NFL hall of fame in Canton Ohio. The only thing standing in the way is Favre’s retirement which no one knows when that will truly happen.

However, is Favre’s career better than Kurt Warner’s? Let’s see.

Kurt Warner:

32,344 passing yards
208 touchdown passes
2,666/4,070 completions
93.7 QB rating

5 Pro Bowl selections
2x MVP
2x first team all pro
Super Bowl XXXIV champion
Super Bowl XXXIV MVP

Examination: Starting out as an undrafted free agent in the 1994 NFL draft being signed by the Green Bay Packers. When Warner was signed he was the fourth quarterback on the depth chart along with Brett Favre(wow two HOF QB’s on the same team), Mark Brunell and Ty Detmer.

Warner was released before the start of the 1994 season. However Steve Mariucc, who at the time was the Packers quarterbacks coach with Mike Holmgren told Warner that he had a lot of potential but was not ready to be an NFL quarterback, not yet.

After Warner was released by the Packers a well known part of his life his the fact that he was working at Hy-Vee stocking shelves.

Warner signed on with an Arena Football league team called the Iowa Barnstormers where he had great success in his short tenure with the league. He’s 12th on the all time list of best AFL players of all time.

In 1998 Warner signed on with the St Louis Rams and was then sent to the NFLE Amsterdam Admirals where he excelled to the top of the league. He returned to the NFL as the Rams third string quarterback.

Warner, much like Favre got the opportunity to start in 1999 when newly signed quarterback Trent Green went down with a torn ACL during the pre season. Warner was named the starting quarterback with the support of Marshall Faulk, Torry Holt and others on the Rams offense.

What do you know the luck of these two quarterbacks continued an in 1999 Kurt Warner exploded onto the scene throwing 41 touchdowns and 4,353. That was the beginning of what was nicknamed the “Greatest Show on Turf”.

In the following season Warner continued his top performance by leading the Rams into the playoffs but due to their poor defensive team the Rams lost to the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the playoffs.

In 2001 Warner led the Rams to an NFL best 6-0 start for three years in a row and a 14-2 record to end the season. The Rams would wind up losing a heart breaker in Super Bowl XXXVI when Adam Vinatieri kicked the game winning field goal to give the Pats the win and the title.

For the next two seasons Warner fell off the table, dropping from his Super Bowl caliber talent down to eventually being replaced in 2003 by Marc Bulger.

In 2004 the Rams elected to release Warner and in two short days later he signed with the New York Giants. He was named the teams starting quarterback in 2004 but was eventually replaced by Eli Manning due to two game losing streak. Before that Warner had the team winning five of their first seven games.

In 2005 Warner’s career would take him to the desert out west when he signed a four million dollar one year contract with the Arizona Cardinals and Dennis Green. Warner was mediocre at best and due to a groin injury he was replaced as the starter by Josh McCown.

Green named McCown the starter for the rest of the 05 season but with McCown struggling two games into his new role as the starter Cardinals head coach Dennis Green gave the job back to Warner. Warner finished the season on a high note defeating his former Rams team before he went down with an MCL injury in week 15.

On February 14th 2006 the Cardinals and Warner came to an agreement on a three year $22 million dollar contract.

To start out the 2006 season Warner broke 20,000 passing yards in only his 76th game becoming the second fastest to reach 20,000 yards.

However two weeks later Warner was replaced by rookie quarterback Matt Leinart where he would remain the start until he went down with a shoulder injury in week 16 giving Warner another start to finish the season.

To start 2007 Matt Leinart was named the Cardinals starting quarterback but due to poor performance in both week three and week four Warner had to finish both games for the struggling quarterback. Leinart was placed on IR and Warner finished out the 2007 season with almost all career highs in touchdowns, yards and completion percentage.

Starting 2008 new Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt named Matt Leinart the starting quarterback for the third year in a row but this time Whisenhunt said that Warner could be the starting quarterback come week one.

And that’s exactly what happened.

In 2008 Warner led the Cardinals to their first division title and playoff birth since 1998. The Cardinals where the biggest underdog in the playoffs and not one person, analyst or fan outside of Arizona gave them a shot but they did what any underdog did and prove everyone wrong.

Warner’s career year kept on going and he led the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl appearance against the Pittsburgh Steelers. For about five minutes in the fourth quarter the Cardinals had the lead but Ben Roethlisberger pulled a miracle in the last minute of the game.

Roethlisberger connected on an amazing reception with Santonio Holmes with :42 seconds left in the game to give the Steelers the lead.

In the off season he contimplated retirement but said he would only play for the Arizona Cardinals. Warner eventually resigned with the Cardinals on March 4th 2009 on a two year $23 million dollar deal.

Warner led the Cardinals back to the playoffs and another NFC West title in 2009. Warner became apart of NFL history when he led the Cardinals to a 51-45 win over the Green Bay Packers. The two teams combined for 96 points, the highest combine total in NFL playoff history.

However the Cardinals lost to the Saints in the divisional round of the playoffs, knocking the team out of another shot at back to back Super Bowls.

Now with Kurt Warner out of the playoff picture it’s time to move into his decision to either retire or come back in 2010 to finish out his contract.

With Matt Leinart still on the roster and Warner being battle tested at the age of 38 some question if he will comeback and that last week Warner hinted that he might retire this off season.

Conclusion: As I’ve been writing this article I’ve gotten to see the two greatest stories in NFL history in my opinion. Favre being drafted and traded to the Packers where he was the third string QB turned hall of famer. Warner went from being an undrafted free agent signie with the Packers to stacking shelves for $5.50 an hour at Hy-Vee before turning into a Super Bowl and NFL MVP quarterback with the Rams and later the Cardinals.

Both of these two quarterbacks are going to be hall of famers but for now both still remain in the game, Favre still fighting for another shot at the Super Bowl.

So what’s the answer to the question at hand? Who has had the better NFL career? Brett Favre or Kurt Warner?

For me it has to be Brett Favre. The guy has broken all major quarterback records and is still playing at an extremely high level at the age of 40. Jerry Rice retired at 41. Will Favre give it another shot? Well I’m betting that will depend on if he’s lifting the Lombardi trophy on February 7th.

To you, who has had the better NFL career? You decide.

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