Why Has No Other Arena League QB Been Given A Legit Shot In The NFL?

[CaptainStubing]

Kurt Warner 'burst' onto the season in 1999 and enjoyed a lengthy career in the NFL, winning awards, setting records, and appearing in 3 super bowls with 2 different teams. Prior to his time in the NFL, Warner spent 3 seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL).

Many theorized that Warner's time in the AFL made him into the great NFL QB he was. The thought was that since the Arena game is played on such a small, crowded field at such a high speed, the game requires a QB to make quick reads, quick decisions, and make highly accurate throws into small windows. Some thought that his years in that environment made the NFL game 'easy' for him, being played on a large field with big lanes and big windows.

So, why hasn't any other Arena QB's had the same success making the transition?

Was Warner a fluke and we will never see another AFL QB make the transition in our lifetime?

Are NFL clubs still just too stuck in their ways to think outside of the box?

 

[rmilia1]

Jordan Palmer played in the AFL I think. All he needs is a shot coach!!!! LOL

 

[BobGnarly]

Is the AFL even still a thing?

 

[CaptainStubing]

Is the AFL even still a thing?

yep, there is still a few different Arena leagues. i think the main AFL league took a year off and restructured.

 

[RobToxin]

Kurt Warner was never actually given a shot. He was not supposed to be the starter. He became the starter when Trent Green got injured in the preseason in 99.

Warner also benefited in St Louis for having an amazing amount of weapons at his disposal. Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Az Hakeem and Marshall Faulk.

When Marc Bulger took over, that offense continued to to put up some great numbers until the talent level declined.

In Arizona, Warner had some bad seasons until Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald were added to the roster.

Warner was a fluke but he was a fluke who made the most of his opportunity.

 

[CaptainStubing]

Kurt Warner was never actually given a shot. He was not supposed to be the starter. He became the starter when Trent Green got injured in the preseason in 99.

he had earned the #2 spot prior to taking over for the injured Green. not sure any other ex-AFL qb has even been a #2 nfl QB, where you are one play away from being 'the man'.

In Arizona, Warner had some bad seasons until Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald were added to the roster.

huh? Boldin and Fitzgerald were already there when Warner got there ..........

 

[RobToxin]

That's right. I forgot he went to the Giants before he went to Arizona.

 

[Wazmankg]

I imagine plenty of Arena guys have been given a tryout. That bus generally heads the other way though.

 

[Scooby-Doo]

Kurt Warner was never actually given a shot. He was not supposed to be the starter. He became the starter when Trent Green got injured in the preseason in 99.

Warner also benefited in St Louis for having an amazing amount of weapons at his disposal. Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Az Hakeem and Marshall Faulk.

When Marc Bulger took over, that offense continued to to put up some great numbers until the talent level declined.

In Arizona, Warner had some bad seasons until Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald were added to the roster.

Warner was a fluke but he was a fluke who made the most of his opportunity.

Warner was immediately successful when he became the starter in AZ. Before Warner with the same team, Leinart, McCown, Tim Rattay, etc. did nothing.

Warner did 2 things very well.... 1) He could read defenses as good as any QB in history both pre-snap and post-snap. 2) He was deadly accurate. Most arena league QB's don't possess those skills.

BTW - Warner dominated the arena league when he was there.

 

[gohusk]

Kurt Warner was never actually given a shot. He was not supposed to be the starter. He became the starter when Trent Green got injured in the preseason in 99.

Warner also benefited in St Louis for having an amazing amount of weapons at his disposal. Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Az Hakeem and Marshall Faulk.

When Marc Bulger took over, that offense continued to to put up some great numbers until the talent level declined.

In Arizona, Warner had some bad seasons until Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald were added to the roster.

Warner was a fluke but he was a fluke who made the most of his opportunity.

I'm sick of hearing about the weapons at his disposal. He left Arizona with the same weapons there and they went from one of the best passing teams in the league to what was probably the worst. Give credit where it's due. He was more important to The Greatest Show on Turf than any of the guys you mentioned. Watching him was like watching a video game when he was on.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

along the same line of questioning. Especially right now with so many crappy QBs on rosters. Why haven't we heard of some top CFL QBs coming to the NFL?

Warren Moon was a CFL player that succeeded in the NFL.

 

[gohusk]

along the same line of questioning. Especially right now with so many crappy QBs on rosters. Why haven't we heard of some top CFL QBs coming to the NFL?

Warren Moon was a CFL player that succeeded in the NFL.

People throw around the race card too often, but with him I do think the fact that he was black was the reason he ended up in the CFL. He obviously had the arm coming out of college. The country's changed a lot in the last 35 years.

 

[Schmoopy1000]

People throw around the race card too often, but with him I do think the fact that he was black was the reason he ended up in the CFL. He obviously had the arm coming out of college. The country's changed a lot in the last 35 years.

yeah imagine all the records he would hold if he came out of college directly into the NFL.

 

[Tacoma_canuck]

I think it has less to do with the lower leagues than it does the individual. The arena leagues and CFL are lesser talented leagues where guys can go who can't make it on an NFL roster. I wouldn't classify Warner as a fluke, he landed in the perfect situation and the guy had the certain"it" factor in him that allowed him to succeed. All the other crap the media laid on us about his story means nothing. Warner did great for nis short time and I dismiss the time with the G-men because he was being set up to fail there anyway. They just wanted him to hold the fort until they got their guy (Eli) ready. A no-win situation if ever there was one. I was glad to see AZ give Kurt the chance and he made the most of it.
As for Moon, there is absolutely no doubt that the league at that time was racially motivated. The last thing they wanted was a superstar black QB stealing the spotlight from the white bread, all-american boys but it's the past and there isn't a damn thing anyone can do to change history. Hell, when you really think about it, we still haven't ventured that far from those days. Yes, now we are able to have the Cam Newtons, RG3's and what-not go high in the draft and become instant stars, provided they continue to perform at a high level and don't stray. But one little slip-up and they will be tossed out like old trash in a heartbeat. Jamarcus Russell, Vince Young, Josh Freeman, yeah they are busts but they will likely never see an NFL field again while their white counterparts who are also just as terrible will get extra chances as back-ups somewhere or even starters. RG3 is already being slammed and called a bust. Some criticism is warranted but that team, the coaching situation and ownership are a terrible environment. If it was some clean cut white kid, people would be making excuses and saying, let's just wait a bit and let him get more experience. It has nothing to do with talent. It is and probably always will be part of our world. It's not right but these young black kids will always have to try and be better, not just as good as their white counterparts to succeed in this world.