MAYBE SOME PEOPLE DID EVOLVE FROM APES

Kurt Warner is probably best known to Americans for being the leader of the “Greatest Show on Turf” offense for the St. Louis Rams when they won Super Bowl XXXIV.

Considered probably the best undrafted player in NFL history, Warner was bagging groceries before a stroke of luck turned him into the NFL’s hottest QB.

Warner is also known for his evangelical side, which gained worldwide attention when redirecting an interviewer after Super Bowl XXXIV.

Interviewer: "Kurt, first things first--tell me about the final touchdown pass to Isaac."

Warner: "Well, first things first, I've got to thank my Lord and Savior up above--thank You, Jesus.”

Really-who does this guy think he is?

Together with his wife Brenda, Warner has been active as both a Christian speaker and a volunteer for missionary causes.

Warner’s religious faith has come under fire in the past, as has his (gasp) public support of his wife.

The Warner family

His faith again came under fire last weekend, after a joke he cracked on an NFL pregame show led to an online assault by militant atheists.

Warner was doing a segment Sunday on the NFL Network featuring Steelers QB Ben Roethlesberger, discussing his ability to adapt to defensive schemes.

“I’m not fully buying the evolutionary theory where one species transforms into another,” Warner said. “But if we’re talking about the idea that every species has the ability to adapt over time, well then I’m all in.”

“As a matter of fact, I’ve actually seen this happen in a group I’ve been studying for years: NFL quarterbacks,” he added.

A joke flavored with possible pro-Christian sentiments? 

This guy should be stoned, right?

Or worse.

“People who believe in creationism should just be lined up and shot for being too stupid to live,” one Deadspin commenter wrote, “and are too dangerous to have walking around in society.”

Yes, unlike people who threaten to shoot anyone who does not agree with them. 

Nothing says "open-mindedness" like a death threat.

“Didn’t [K]urt Warner have a ton of concussions in his career? Why do people inject their stupid religious beliefs in their commentary,” another brilliant screed read.

Although, if you think about it, the level of intelligence demonstrated by these twittering idiots does sort of make a case for them being close relatives of monkeys, right?

I'm just saying...

Or did I just insult the monkeys?

Warner’s decorum compared to that of his "critics" on Twitter made a compelling argument for the character-building aspect of religion, as well as further demonstrating how nasty the so-called liberal and tolerant left can be.

And how close-minded the allegedly enlightened truly are.

Christians are strong in their beliefs, but are called to love everyone, including those who demonstrate behavior they may disagree with.

A trait that Warner has demonstrated every publicly captured moment during the fifteen years I have followed his career (this is me, coming out of the closet as a Rams fan).

I feel like I owe a debt to Warner. 

In September of  1999 I was at the lowest point in my life-I'd lost the best friend in my life during the summer of 1998 (to cancer), followed by losing the love of my life a few weeks prior to the football season (we broke up-to my knowledge she is still very much alive and, I sincerely hope, very happy with her life-although it would be ok if she regretted us not working out just a little bit).

Warner's "rags-to-riches" story and the Rams "out-of-nowhere" season made football fun for me to watch again. 

It also helped snapped me out of a dark mood that had lasted far too long. 

I still remember the feeling I had on that last tackle of the Super Bowl. As the confetti showered, I felt like I was finished with all of the baggage I was carrying. 

Don't get me wrong-football is a game. But that fall, it was a diversion I needed, and I thank Kurt for that. 

Setting the game aside, Warner is simply a class act.

Losing his next Super Bowl to the Patriots, he was all class.

Benched by the Rams, he was an exemplary teammate, with never a disparaging word about the man who replaced him. 

Criticized by the St. Louis media for his religious beliefs and for his unwavering support of his wife, he was still a gentleman whenever interviewed. 

Ditto during similar benching situations in New York and Arizona. 

And after all the adversity, he still led Arizona to its first-ever Super Bowl and darn near pulled off an upset.

In the wake of the controversy over the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, Warner never accused the Saints of a cheap shot, simply acknowledging that it was a "violent game."

Warner is active in both the Phoenix and St. Louis communities, and heads the First Things First charity. 

This is a man whose life embodies his Christian faith.

And someone is advocating lining him up and shooting him simply because of a different point of view?

This reminds me of the "debate" in the movie God's Not Dead.

Atheists are not content with their own disbelief-they need everyone to share it with them.

Tolerance is a two-way street, athiests!

Stand tall, Kurt-I know you do not really need my support (you've got Someone far more meaningful than me in your corner), but you have my support anyway, along with my admiration.

Not for your performance as a football player, but for how you conduct yourself as a person.