Hey, it's the Super Bowl!

I don’t want the Steelers to win, but they probably will. If you’re making any illegal wagers, I’d take the Steelers at -7. Their defense is just too good…

The reason I don’t want them to win is because I want this argument to be made more interesting: Kurt Warner is a better candidate for the NFL Hall of Fame than Donovan McNabb.

I brought this up a couple of weeks ago to some journalist friends, one of whom is a diehard Eagles fan, and they all thought I was insane. “The stupidest thing anyone has ever said” was one of the phrases tossed around, if I remember correctly. And, on the surface, McNabb appears to be a lock for the HOF. He has a pretty fantastic record as a starting QB (82-45-1), has a 85.9 QB rating (good for 18th all time), has made five pro bowls, has been to four NFC championship games, and has played in a Super Bowl. But if you look a little closer, his argument is less certain. McNabb has never won an MVP or been selected to the All Pro first or second teams. Let’s put that another way: McNabb has never–not once–been considered the best or second best player at his position. He’s never led the league in a significant passing category, including touchdowns or passing yardage. He is a classic choke artist: yes, he’s been to four NFC championship games, but he’s 1-3 in those games. He has lost the only Super Bowl he played in.

Compare his career to Kurt Warner’s, a guy who entered the league at pretty much the same time. You look at Warner’s career–especially those fallow years from 2002-2006 or so–and you think there’s no way he can be in the HOF. How can a man with a half decade record of 8-23 get in? But look closer: He’s playing in his third Super Bowl (at least one of which he has won), has three blisteringly brilliant seasons (and another couple of good ones), and had part of his career hurt by injury. He’s won two MVPs, been selected to three all pro teams, and has a fantastic post-season record. Even with those awful years, he has a passer rating of 93.8, good for 4th all time.

So here’s the question: do you take a guy who’s been in the league, stayed healthy, and racked up wins but choked in the clutch? Or the guy who suffered injuries but put together several of the all-time great campaigns? I’d take Warner. I just don’t see how you can put a guy in the Hall who was never, not once, one of the two best players in the league at his position. That strikes me as mjore than a little absurd.