Warner on Rams era - 'It was the greatest six years of my life'

ST. LOUIS -- Sitting at a podium before leading the St. Louis Rams to their second Super Bowl in three years, there was no sense of satisfaction for Kurt Warner.

No, no. The two-time NFL MVP wanted five rings with the Rams.

No one was scoffing at that show of bravado in early 2002, not after what he'd already accomplished. In short order, Warner transformed himself from an Arena League standout who once supplemented his income stocking grocery store shelves at the Hy-Vee to the biggest star in the league.

In 2001, Warner threw for 4,830 yards, second-most in NFL history. He had 41 touchdown passes in 1999 and 36 more in 2001 as ringmaster of the team nicknamed the Greatest Show on Turf.

Warner's fall from prominence, precipitated by injuries along with the rise of Marc Bulger, was just as fast. So on Thursday, two days after being released by the Rams and minutes after a news conference to announce he had signed with the New York Giants, he said good-bye to the city where he created so many lasting memories.

"After the things that happened for three or four years, if you would have ever said I'd have played for anybody else, I'd have said you were crazy," Warner said. "It was just a special place in time.

"We did some awesome things that I don't think are ever going to be forgotten."

Before Warner started his storybook run, the Rams had endured a decade of losing seasons. Entering the 1999 season they were in the running for the most futile NFL franchise over that period. Although the Rams took his job away for good after he fumbled six times in last year's opener, coincidentally against the Giants, they can't take away any of the feats.

At the top of his list is a 414-yard passing day in the Rams' 23-16 Super Bowl victory over the Titans after the 1999 season, a victory made possible by his circus hookup with Ricky Proehl for the game-winning touchdown in the NFC championship game.

Making the most of the Rams' talented wide receiver duo of Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, he twice passed for 400 yards in a regular season game. He had 27 more 300-yard games.

Those highlights, and not his 0-7 record in his last seven starts with the Rams, are what he'll carry from the St. Louis years.

"Oh man, there's so many things," Warner said. "There's just so many good things and fun things that happened that I'll never forget that part of it, and the feeling is going to be missed.

"It was the greatest six years of my life."

Warner has no regrets about any of the possible off-field reasons for his departure. Beyond the injuries to his hand that cost him half of the 2002 season and the concussion that landed him on the bench for good in 2003, there were controversies such Warner's speech on Super Bowl Sunday earlier this year in which he said coaches told the deeply religious quarterback to concentrate more on the playbook than the Bible, and a handful of public outbursts from his wife, Brenda.

In 2002, Brenda Warner broke into a radio show to say it was she, and not coach Mike Martz, who insisted the Rams X-ray her husband's broken hand. Last year, she told another radio station that Warner would welcome a trade.

"The biggest thing is we look at our role as so much bigger than football," Warner said. "The benefits and the blessings she was able to bring far outweigh any of the negative stuff that may have transpired and I don't second-guess any of that.

"We were in St. Louis to make a difference and influence lives, and I believe we did that."

Warner also said he leaves with no ill will.

"I'm indebted to the Rams," he said. "They're the one and only team to give me an opportunity, and to be in the position I'm in now, I have no animosity at all.

"I'll be forever grateful. I leave there with a lot of strong feelings, and that won't diminish."

In fact, Warner is not leaving the city yet. His stay in New York could be only one year as mentor for Eli Manning, so he'll continue to live in St. Louis until he finds a longterm football home elsewhere.

Warner also said half of his charitable foundation, "First Things First," will remain in St. Louis.