ESPN NFL

The St. Louis Rams killed two birds with one stone Tuesday when they announced that Kurt Warner would be released after June 1. They not only jettisoned the former two-time MVP, but they also rid themselves of what had become an untenable quarterback controversy.

Warner's fall was as unlikely and as sudden as his meteoric rise to the top of the profession. He was an unknown backup in 1999 until Trent Green hurt his knee in the preseason. He went on to have the best three-year run of any passer in NFL history, leading his team to the Super Bowl twice.

But a series of hand injuries caught up with him in 2002 and Warner suffered through a miserable season. Then last year he was benched and never got his job back.

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