Cardinals' loss doesn't negate quality of Kurt Warner's performance

Kurt Warner didn't quarterback the Arizona Cardinals to a Super Bowl win against Pittsburgh, but his performance likely made him a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

We looked at the issue before Sunday's game, and can address it in more depth now that his third Super Bowl is in the books.

Warner passed for 377 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the Cardinals' 27-23 loss.

He has the top three passing yardage totals in Super Bowl history and on Sunday became the only quarterback to pass for 300 yards this season against the Steelers' top-ranked defense.

What was really impressive about Warner's performance was how he overcame a near-disastrous interception at the end of the first half. He tried what could have been a 1-yard, go-ahead touchdown pass, but saw Steelers linebacker James Harrison intercept him and return the ball 100 yards for a touchdown.

It was the longest play in Super Bowl history and there was substantial sentiment among reporters who covered the game that it might have been the biggest play ever in a Super Bowl.

The confidence of many - perhaps most - quarterbacks would have been shattered by that play. That's close to as bad as it gets for a player at football's most scrutinized position.

But Warner didn't flinch, leading the Cardinals from behind with a superb fourth-quarter performance.

The biggest margin any team has overcome to win a Super Bowl was 10 points. The Cardinals came from 13 points down to take a three-point lead (23-20) with less than three minutes remaining.

The only problem was Warner probably got the Cardinals in the end zone too soon.

Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who's also looking like a likely Hall of Famer, led the Steelers on the game-winning touchdown drive.

But Warner put himself over the top for the Hall on Sunday. He has led two franchises that were in sad shape before he arrived (the Rams and Cardinals) to Super Bowls.

He very nearly was named Super Bowl MVP for the second time.

His bust will fit well in Canton, Ohio, someday, and his rags-to-riches story is virtually incomparable in major pro sports.

The Charlotte Observer's Charles Chandler has been a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee for 11 years.