What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

I posted this over at ES as well, but for more conversation fodder...

When Joe Gibbs came back in '04 he hitched the franchise to the aging arm and legs of Mark Brunell. In the same offseason the Redskins acquired Brunell in a trade, former MVP and Super Bowl champion Kurt Warner was available as a free agent.

Warner was facing similar questions as Brunell about his health, his ability to still be a starting QB and drop-off in productivity. Some of the 'intangibles' cited in bringing Brunell (shared Christian faith, strong leader, etc.) were shared by Warner as well. The sole 'advantage' that Brunell had was his mobility but as we saw, that was greatly overrated as Brunell had numerous leg injuries throughout his Redskin tenure.

How would the Redskins fortunes have changed if they chose Warner over Brunell in that fateful offseason?

For comparisons sake
Kurt Warner ('04-'08)
56 games (51 starts), 64.2 completion percentage, 80 TD, 49 INT

Mark Brunell ('04-'08)
37 games (35 starts), 56.6 completion percentage, 38 TD, 20 INT

Other Redskins QB
Todd Collins ('07)
4 games (3 starts), 63.8 completion percentage, 5 TD, 0 INT

Patrick Ramsey ('04-'05)
13 games (8 starts), 61.1 completion percentage, 11 TD, 12 INT

Jason Campbell ('05-'08)
36 games (36 starts), 59.7 completion percentage, 35 TD, 23 INT

Overall Redskins QB totals
60.3 completion percentage, 89 TD, 55 INT

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

I'm guessing none. The Redskins ran (still run) a conservative offense. Part of why Warner puts up the numbers he does is from throwing the ball often. We tried to run and play good defense, Warner slings it. Anyone in a run, run, pass offense typically won't put up good numbers.

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

I'm guessing he would have done about as good as Brunell due to the fact our O-line's back then were hurting and Brunell was constantly pressured or sacked. Sound familiar....JC last year. Plus we only had one really good WR, Moss. Basically if he has no talent around him he sucks also.

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

Warner would of had a cost free burial at FedEx Field if he came here.

At least Brunell had some legs leftover to move around from the pressure. I don't think he would have lasted here with our offensive focus and the amount of pressure he would of had.

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

I'd take Brunnel over Warner anyday! Warner not only has the ugliest wife I've seen, but she does all his whining and complaining for him too! Can you imagine it? All of us chanting "Ramsey! Ramsey! Ramsey!" and then its time for Warner to do his press conference............................yeah, I'm glad we took Brunnel over him! Even though he's in a championship game right now I'm still glad.

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

If we're talking hindsight I'd say letting Pierce go to the Giants was the biggest mistake we've made in the last few years...

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

If you put a line in front of Warner he is as good as anyone. Warner's problems came cause he kept fumbleling the ball. It looks like he simply needed to be coached up in some areas. Warner is a better QB than Brunell so we might have been able to have a more effective offense and we might have been able to beat Seattle in 05. I think it might have made a difference. Towards the end of 05 Brunell was dreadful to watch.

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

Are you serious?? If we'd took Warner over Brunell, who would've thrown those two TDs to Moss vs. Dallas?? :)

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

What if we brought in Jeff George instead of Brunell?

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

[quote=#21Taylor4Ever;520338]Are you serious?? If we'd took Warner over Brunell, who would've thrown those two TDs to Moss vs. Dallas?? :)[/quote]

Brunell and Troy Vincent will always have a special place in my heart :)

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

Probably would have been mostly the same, although Warner would have likely had a significant better 2004 season since Brunell was hurting that season. Warner's had a stronger career though, so it definitely wouldn't have hurt. Probably wouldn't have helped much either.

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

Instead of trading for Brunell we should have brought in Heath Shuler and Tony Banks to compete for the starting job! Just kidding, I like this thread but I really think Brunell fit our offense at the time better than Warner. Like others have said, the run heavy offense doesn't fit Warner's style. Plus Brunell was running for his life (even on rickety legs he's more mobile than Warner) that first season and Warner would have been killed! There are alot of personnel moves we can question (which is fun and all) but the bottom line is we are who we are right now. Honestly, I like where this team is at right now and with the right moves this offseason we can be even better next year.

HAIL!

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

[quote=GTripp0012;520348]Probably would have been mostly the same, although Warner would have likely had a significant better 2004 season since Brunell was hurting that season. Warner's had a stronger career though, so it definitely wouldn't have hurt. Probably wouldn't have helped much either.[/quote]

I don't get how you're assuming Warner would have had a better season in 2004?

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

[quote=#21Taylor4Ever;520338]Are you serious?? If we'd took Warner over Brunell, who would've thrown those two TDs to Moss vs. Dallas?? :)[/quote]

Exactly!

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

[quote=Miller101;520333]I'd take Brunnel over Warner anyday! Warner not only has the ugliest wife I've seen, but she does all his whining and complaining for him too! Can you imagine it? All of us chanting "Ramsey! Ramsey! Ramsey!" and then its time for Warner to do his press conference............................yeah, I'm glad we took Brunnel over him! Even though he's in a championship game right now I'm still glad.[/quote]

How old are you?

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

I would have loved to have had Warner, if only for a few seasons. Not only is he a good football player but he's an even better person. In fact he his probably one of my favorite athletes of all time along with the likes of Ripken Jr, Art Monk, and a few others. Of course we probably would have run him out of town before he got a chance to regain his confidence like he has in Arizona.

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

I can't help but remember Mark Brunell hobbling along with those braces like a young Forrest Gump. Yes he did win against Dallas that one time but I cursed him for three quarters before he pulled those two throws out of his rear end.

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

[quote=SmootSmack;520353]I don't get how you're assuming Warner would have had a better season in 2004?[/quote]Wasn't hurt.

I mean, 2004Ramsey>2004Brunell and Ramsey is not a better player than either Brunell or Warner.

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

[quote=GTripp0012;520370]Wasn't hurt.

I mean, 2004Ramsey>2004Brunell and Ramsey is not a better player than either Brunell or Warner.[/quote]

But we saw the 2004 Warner play 10 games for the Giants and have something like 9 TDs and 6 INTs, so is that really all that much better than what we saw out of Brunell in '04?

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

[quote=Dirtbag359;520363]I would have loved to have had Warner, if only for a few seasons. Not only is he a good football player but he's an even better person. In fact he his probably one of my favorite athletes of all time along with the likes of Ripken Jr, Art Monk, and a few others. Of course we probably would have run him out of town before he got a chance to regain his confidence like he has in Arizona.[/quote]

Mark Brunell is a great person also, and both have shown over time that they are solid mentors to young QBs on their team.

Re: What if?? Warner vs. Brunell
 

[quote=SmootSmack;520377]But we saw the 2004 Warner play 10 games for the Giants and have something like 9 TDs and 6 INTs, so is that really all that much better than what we saw out of Brunell in '04?[/quote]If I remember correctly, Warner was on a two poor game stretch when he was benched (following a solid, and unexpected, 8 game start), which suggests to me that his numbers were likely a sample issue. Or maybe he was just in decline...but then how do we explain his Arizona numbers?

I have no idea if a healthy Warner is better than a healthy Brunell. Brunell bounced right back the next year, so it's probably not a big deal anyway. I'm not sure Kurt Warner wins more than one more game than 04 Brunell anyway, in the same, pathetic offense.

I suspect Warner is a little bit better. But ultimately, our fans would have crapped on him anyway for the same not-his-fault reasons that Brunell got it. So our results wouldn't have been too much different, save for that pesky 2004 season maybe.