Warner comes up short in another Super Bowl

TAMPA, Fla. - Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner has been part of three of the most exhilarating finishes in Super Bowl history.

Unfortunately for Warner, he's been on the losing end of two of those epic games.

By Randy Covitz, McClatch Newspapers

But even in defeat, Warner was proud of his role in the Cardinals' 27-23 loss to Pittsburgh in Super Bowl XLIII on Sunday night.

"That is what is neat about this game," Warner said. "When you come to this game, you want to be part of the greatest game. I have been fortunate to be a part of three great Super Bowl games. Would I have liked to win more than one? Of course. But I'm proud that I have been a part of some of the greatest Super Bowls ever."

Warner was MVP of Super Bowl XXXIV when the 1999 St. Louis Rams beat the Tennessee Titans on Warner's 73-yard pass to Isaac Bruce, followed by Mike Jones' tackle of Kevin Dyson at the goal line on the final play of the game.

Two years later, he was on the losing end of Tom Brady's game-winning drive that ended with Adam Vinatieri's field goal as time expired in New England's upset of St. Louis.

And on Sunday night, Warner completed 31 of 43 passes for 377 yards and three touchdowns against Steelers, who had the top-ranked overall defense and pass defense and came within 35 seconds of becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to win Super Bowls for two different franchises.

"It's always disappointing when there is a chance at the end, and you are leading late in the game," Warner said. "We got the fortunes to change and gave ourselves a chance. I have to give credit to the Steelers and their tremendous drive at the end. That is what championship teams are all about.

"We made the plays to put ourselves ahead, and they turned around and came back and did the same to win the game. That is what a championship game should be about."

Warner set Super Bowl records for most passing yards in a career with 1,156; most 300-yard games in the Super Bowl with three, and his 1,147 yards set an NFL record for single postseason and his 11 touchdown passes tied the record set by Joe Montana in 1989.

Warner, 37 and a free agent, now has to look to the future with the Cardinals, who have former No. 1 pick Matt Leinart on the roster.

"There are a lot of emotions that go into a decision like that," Warner said of whether he'll return to Arizona next season. "There are things that make you want to come back, and there are things that I am ready to have a break from. I don't want to make any emotional decisions.

"We made it to a place no one thought we would be. It doesn't get any better than this. You want to win, obviously, but we took the best team in the league down to the wire."

Again.