Could Warner barnstorm his way into Hall of Fame?

Entering Week 15, Warner led the NFL in completions (347), attempts (505) and completion percentage (.687); ranks second in passing yards (4,020) and passer rating (99.1); and is third in touchdown passes (25). He also has led the Cardinals to the NFC West title, giving them their first playoff berth since 1998, their first division title since 1975 and their first home playoff game since 1947.

"I think I've played as well as I have ever played this season," Warner said. "I am in as much control and throwing with as much confidence as I ever have."

Wow. That's saying a lot for a guy who won two season MVPs (1999 and 2001) and one Super Bowl MVP (XXXIV) while directing the "Greatest Show on Turf" for six seasons with the Rams.

Then again, what else would one expect from Warner? He's healthy, surrounded by talented receivers such as Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, and was given an opportunity he said he wasn't expecting again at his age. Coach Ken Whisenhunt named 25-year-old Matt Leinart his starter heading into training camp but left the door cracked for Warner to prove himself -- again.

For a guy whose career had been left for dead in favor of Marc Bulger in St. Louis, Eli Manning in New York and Leinart once before in Arizona, Warner needed only the opportunity to compete with the whippersnapper.

"When you have a player that has his credentials, that is a two-time MVP winner, that has won a Super Bowl, that says he wants to compete, that is the type of player that you want other players on your team to see," Whisenhunt said. "Here is a guy that still, even though he has done it before, he is showing other guys he isn't afraid to compete."

Warner has the attention of Vikings coach Brad Childress, who agrees that Warner is playing as well as ever.

"He is a tremendous anticipatory thrower," Childress said. "He had a great sense of timing with the [receivers] at St. Louis, and I see the same kind of timing right here with the Fitzgeralds and the Boldins, the tight ends and running backs when they involve them."

Warner's pace for attempts (621), completions (427), touchdown passes (30), passing yards (4,947), completion percentage and passer rating each would break franchise records. When it comes to career NFL marks, he ranks second in completion percentage (.656), third in passer rating (94.0), fifth in 300-yard games (48) and fourth in yards per attempt (8.09). His mark of 9.9 yards per attempt in 2000 was the highest since Norm Van Brocklin in 1954.

Only seven players have won more than one NFL MVP since the Associated Press began the award in 1957. Favre has three and six others have two. Four of those -- Jim Brown, Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana and Steve Young -- are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Favre and Peyton Manning are considered first first-ballot selections.

But what about Warner? What about the guy who left Green Bay in 1994 and returned to Iowa, where he supplemented a fledgling football career by stocking shelves at night for minimum wage at the local Hy-Vee grocery store? What about the guy who made a name for himself with the Arena Football League's Iowa Barnstormers and the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe?

What about the guy who became an NFL starter at 28 and won a Super Bowl because he just wouldn't go away?

Will he end up in Canton with Brown, Unitas, Montana, Young, Favre and Manning?

Warner still has a hard time believing his name stands next to theirs as multiple MVP winners.

"Any time I see things like that, I am always kind of amazed and I hit my knees and I thank God just for the opportunity He has given me," Warner said. "I don't know what to say beyond that."