Kurt Warner Wrong to Blast Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning's Hall of Fame Credentials

Let's get something straight right off the bat: Eli Manning isn't Hall of Fame worthy... yet.

The two-time Super Bowl MVP is only 31 years old and seven full seasons as a starter into his NFL career.

He's an eight-year veteran, but didn't start a game in his rookie season until Week 11. The quarterback in front of him at that time, Kurt Warner, isn't swayed by Eli's second ring.

Warner appeared on Arizona Sports 620 in Phoenix for Burns and Gambo and had more than a few words against Eli's Canton credentials (via Pro Football Talk):

"

"Yeah, he made the plays down the stretch, no question about it,” added Warner, who spent the 2004 season with Eli in New York.  “He’s had two great playoff runs, or his team has had two great playoff runs.  But I also look at the rest of his career.  I mean, he has an 82 . . . quarterback rating throughout his career.  You know, he’s had five of his eight seasons where he has thrown 16 interceptions or more.  His completion percentage on his career is 58 percent.  To me, those aren’t Hall of Fame numbers and by that I mean every time you step on the field you’re a game changer, you’re a difference maker.  And I don’t believe Eli Manning has been that guy until this year.  I think this year is the first time in his career when he’s become that guy."

Warner said that, if Eli performs like he did this year for five more seasons, then he’ll be worthy of inclusion among the league’s all-time greats.  Without that, Warner thinks Eli should be kept out due to the fact that he has been “extremely inconsistent throughout his career.”

"

Those statistics are very real, but so are these: Eli has completed over 60 percent of his passes, thrown for over 4,000 yards and at least 27 touchdowns with one Super Bowl ring and one Super Bowl MVP award in the last three seasons.

This is only the beginning of Eli's greatness. While his numbers don't yet reflect a bust in Canton, Eli still has plenty of years left to get on that level.

Warner is not pointing out anything we don't already know. The problem with Warner speaking out is that he's not in the Hall of Fame yet himself.

The former Ram, Giant and Cardinal is a two-time league MVP, one-time Super Bowl winner and two-time Super Bowl loser. While Warner was a great player, he also had arguably the most dynamic all-around running back in the league for a number of years in St. Louis as well as a future Hall of Fame left tackle and two All-Pro wide receivers.

His stop in New York doesn't count for anything, but his run with the Cardinals was surprising and impressive.

But barring injury, Eli will crush Warner's final statistics.

If Eli plays to Warner's retiring age, approximately 38 years old, that would give Eli nearly double the amount of time he's already starred in the league.

There is no telling how good Eli Manning will be when all is said and done. Kurt Warner's numbers will likely land him in the Hall of Fame one day, but he's not there yet.

Warner hasn't earned the right to deny the reigning Super Bowl MVP something he himself hasn't even accomplished.