The NFL used to worry about developing quarterbacks. Now, scouts are looking to NFL-Europe, Canada and the Arena League and finding out the NFL isn’t the only place where good football is played.
St. Louis Rams’ backup Kurt Warner continues to be the success story of the season, but he’s not the only one.
Warner’s three touchdown passes against Cincinnati made him the first quarterback in 50 years to throw for three touchdown passes in each of his first three NFL games.
Warner played three seasons of indoor ball for the Iowa (Des Moines) Barnstormers of the Arena League and also played a season with Amsterdam in NFL-Europe after catching on in St. Louis.
“A lot of games in the Arena League, as an offense, you have to score almost every time you get the ball. So you build that mentality that no one can stop you,” Warner said.
Warner couldn’t even get a look in NFL-Europe, formerly the World League, until the Rams assigned him during the 1998 spring season.
“It was my way to open some eyes to people that I could compete on the big field,” Warner said.
The “50-yard Indoor War” helped Warner adjust to the speed of the pro game.
“No question about it, with the dimensions smaller, you had to get back, make your reads quick, and be real accurate with your throws because the windows of opportunity in that league aren’t very big,” he said.
– Jeff Garcia played five years with Calgary in the Canadian League. His three touchdown passes to lead the 49ers over Tennessee on Sunday proved that Doug Flutie wasn’t the only quarterback north of the border.
– Brad Johnson continues to lead the league in passing for the Washington Redskins. A ninth-round draft choice of the Minnesota Vikings in 1992, Johnson played with London in the World League in 1995.
– Jon Kitna blossomed for Barcelona of the World League in 1997 and was Mike Holmgren’s choice to lead the Seattle Seahawks, alone atop the AFC West after Kitna’s two touchdown passes beat Oakland Sunday night.
– Stoney Case was assigned by Arizona to Barcelona in 1997, but didn’t play because of a sore shoulder. Case’s touchdown pass Sunday in overtime gave Baltimore a win over Atlanta.
After signing with the Bears as a free agent in 1993, Florida product Shane Matthews was invited to play in the World League by a former University of Florida coach, Galen Hall. Matthews wanted to go, but Bears’ ex-coach Dave Wannstedt nixed the idea, saying he wanted Matthews to participate in off-season workouts.
Indoor phenom: Warner’s victory Sunday in Cincinnati was a rare outdoor appearance. He has had 73 starts as a college, Arena League, NFL-Europe and NFL starter. Cincinnati marked only his 17th outdoor start.
He started only one year at Northern Iowa and six of his 12 starts were inside the UNI-Dome. He started 48 games for the Arena Barnstormers. He started 10 games for the Amsterdam Admirals in NFL-Europe, all outdoors. As a Ram, his first two starts were inside the Trans World Dome. Warner called outdoors “a better feeling. It’s what football’s all about. But I’ve played so many games inside and on turf, and I love playing inside.”
Griese on skids: A day after saying there was “no shot” he would replace Brian Griese as starting quarterback for the Broncos, Denver coach Mike Shanahan said: “I’m going to have to do something. Exactly what it is I don’t know because I don’t know myself yet.”
Wake up, coach: Some coaches get stubborn and then there is George Seifert. Determined to rotate running backs Tshimanga Biakabutuka and Fred Lane, Seifert watched his Carolina Panthers take a 21-0 first-quarter lead against Washington on Sunday on touchdown runs of 60, 1, and 45 yards by Biakabutuka. Last week, Biakabutuka had two touchdown runs of more than 60 yards.
“All I prefer is what works,” Seifert said.
Seifert’s preseason plan was to rotate the two backs until one emerged as a feature back. Yet after Biakabutuka’s stunning first quarter, he was benched for Lane, who gained 9 yards in four carries as the Panthers lost momentum. Biakabutuka finished with 142 yards in 12 carries.
Rookie QBs: While Cade McNown is getting no closer to starting for the Bears, Cincinnati’s Akili Smith was named Monday as the second quarterback from the rookie class to start. Coach Bruce Coslet named Smith to replace Jeff Blake for his 0-4 Bengals.
Smith’s first start will be Sunday against the 0-4 Cleveland Browns and rookie Tim Couch.
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Smith said he is eager to play against the Browns. He says Cleveland was unfair to him and his agent during negotiations leading up to the Browns’ decision to make Couch their top draft choice.
“I’d be happy to beat them every time we play,” Smith said.
McNabb next: Dolton’s Donovan McNabb is getting closer to getting his shot with the 0-4 Eagles after coach Andy Reid’s offense has gone 47 possessions without a touchdown. McNabb replaced starter Doug Pederson Sunday. Reid still likes Pederson’s contributions.
“I can’t pay Doug enough for what he’s already done this season,” Reid said.
Graham on bubble: Giants’ coach Jim Fassel will announce on Wednesday whether Wheaton’s Kent Graham will keep his starting quarterback job over Kerry Collins.
Collins came off the bench after Graham threw his third interception Sunday and eventually led a game-winning drive that Brad Daluiso capped with his third field goal, giving the Giants a 16-15 win over the Eagles.
“First of all, I’m not going to make any decision on emotion. I’ll always walk away from that,” Fassel said.
Graham wasn’t surprised by the benching.
“In all honesty, I am the one who hurt us,” Graham said.
Young rest: Steve Young probably will get another week’s rest from his fourth concussion in 35 months. The 49ers’ quarterback sat out Sunday’s game while Garcia became the fifth backup to sub for Young since he became the starter in 1991.
The 49ers are 12-4 without Young, playing with Steve Bono, Elvis Grbac, Ty Detmer, Jim Druckenmiller and Garcia.
Said Young’s agent Leigh Steinberg: “Two years ago I told him I thought he should retire. This is what he wants to do. As we talked about books we read over the summer and his plans to take over the Internet, it’s not like his mental acuity has dropped off. Steve is not in denial on this issue and the seriousness of it. He’s well aware he has an exciting life outside of football. Steve would like to play the next five years. The only thing that will stop him is if a doctor tells him he’s reached the point with concussions that he’ll risk permanent damage.”